Isaac Bessant, a farmer of San Bernardino County, was born in Barclay, England in 1816. He was married there in 1844 to Miss Mary A. Mitchell, and in 1853 they sailed from Liverpool and after a voyage of forty-two days landed in New Orleans. They went by steamer to St. Louis, and at the end of six weeks to Keokuk, Iowa. Here Mr. Bessant worked at brick-making and burning lime, etc. He then bought a team and went by land, 300 miles, to Council Bluffs, where he arrived July 4, 1853, and from that place crossed the plains to Utah, where he arrived October 22, 1853. March 5, 1857, they left Utah for the “Golden State,” where, in San Bernardino County, he has operated as a successful farmer and dealer in lands, and stock raising. With others he has endured the hardships of the early days, and has made a home for himself, and given his children, most of whom are married and well settled in life in this valley, a good start in life. His children are Stephen, James and John; these three were born in England; Joseph and Iram, both born in Utah; and Sarah, born in California, now Mrs. George Cooley, of San Bernardino. Mr. Bessant built a new residence on Base Line a year ago, and had only just moved into it when, September 22, 1888, death took from him the partner of his youth. He is now well along on the shady side of the hill of life.
