William Fowler
William Fowler
Ellen Bradshaw- Wife of William Fowler
Harriet Wright- Mother of Ellen Bradshaw
Henry Bradshaw- Father of Ellen Bradshaw
Sunday, June 27
Pictures
William Fowler
William Fowler
Ellen Bradshaw- Wife of William Fowler
Harriet Wright- Mother of Ellen Bradshaw
Henry Bradshaw- Father of Ellen Bradshaw
Appendices
Appendix A: Monument
The following section was taken directly from the account sent to Florence Cheney in 1948 by Louisa (Cox) Tatten, a cousin to Florence Cheney.
In June 1921, in a meeting of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, we had been singing this hymn, when one of our older members-sister Lucy (Allen) Cox (Albert Allen's sister) made the remark that the man who wrote that hymn is buried in our cemetery. Mrs. Louisa (Cox) Tatten being her daughter, asked if she knew where the grave was. She said not exactly. President [Louisa ]. Tatten and her counselors made inquires and found [it through] Mrs. George Bench. Mrs. J. Madsen knew about where it was. We kept on until we found it through he cemetery records. We then bought a small marker and Mrs. Tatten asked these ladies to accompany her to the grave, and placed the marker. The following decoration day 1922 in connection with the city program, we had the hymn sung. General Brown had the orator Morney Lewis Larsen tell some of his life, and that we had placed the small marker.
[about this time] A time came when the Relief Society throughout the church were studying the LDS hymns about 1920. Mrs. Madsen's niece, tells of Kate C. Snow of Salt Lake City coming to her [wrote to her] for the story of William Fowler's life. This story was told at the Ensign stake meeting of the Relief Society. Mrs. (Dr. ) Roberts made a motion that Mrs. Snow put the matter before President Grant to see if the Relief Society might have the privilege of soliciting subscriptions for a monument for brother Fowler. Dr. Roberts accompanied Mrs. Snow to see Pres. Grant, Penrose, and Ivans and they agreed that the Church should take the matter in hand. [President] R. L. Anderson was asked to [take the matter in hand and]superintend the erection of the monument. He secured the services of E. L. Parry to execute the work. It was finished May 30, 1923. It was made of Utah granite and cost two hundred dollars. Mrs. Jorgen Madsen's granddaughter was asked to unveil it. (None of the relatives were present) Pres. Lewis Anderson of the Manti Temple and Bishop Peterson [were standing] to the right, Pres. JB Jacobson [was standing] to the left of the monument as it was unveiled. .
Appendix B: A Sketch Of William Fowler
(Read at the unveiling of the William Fowler Monument
on Memorial day 1923 at the Manti Cemetery. )
William Fowler, author of 'We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, was born in Auburn, Australia, May 9 1830 . He first heard the gospel of the LDS church in 1848, was baptized July 29, 1849, was married to Ellen Bradshaw in 1854, in England; having gone there when a young man. With his wife and three children he emigrated to Utah, leaving London England June 4, 1863; arriving in Salt Lake City Oct. 3 1863. Soon after arriving they located here in Manti. He contracted a cold crossing the plains and never fully recovered. Tuberculosis set in, which caused his death.
He was a cutler by trade, very proficient, but like most people in the church, pioneers for lack of tools and machinery; this coupled with ill health caused them at times to suffer for the necessities of life. The neighbors and friends helped than as much as their limited means would allow. Mrs. Jorgen Madsen has told us that, when she was a child, her mother being a near neighbor sent her many times with food and other things for their comfort. One day when sent on one of these errands, Brother Fowler was playing his violin and his wife was singing the words of his hymn, they were trying to fit it to the melody he knew 'The Officers Funeral’. This incident stands out in Mrs. Madsen's memory. This hymn became one of the most popular in the church gatherings, and how we all love to sing it today. Summing up the contents; 1st verse; Thanks to God. 2nd verse; consolation and hope. 3rd verse; song of praise.
There were two brothers who came from England in the early 60's, one William and the other Henry. William was the one who composed the hymn. 'We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet. ' An officer in high rank was killed in battle between the English and French allies at the close of the war between the Russians (or against them). This song was sung, called 'The Officers Funeral' on that solemn occasion.
The hymn William wrote is immortalized in the memory of the saints in the Latter Day Saint Psalmody by the name of Fowler. C. Fred Schade, first assistant Superintendent of Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association of Ogden Stake.
Brother Fowler died August 1865 here in Manti on the corner where William B. Lavery built his home. Mrs. Madsen helped us find the grave. Not many of the Manti people of the last decade knew that he was buried in Manti.
Appendix C: Descendancy of William Fowler
and Ellen Bradshaw
CHILD # 1 Harriet Adeline married-(Charles A. Allen)
William Albert
Clara Diantha
Charles*
Ellen Lenora
Florence Harriet
Ammon*
Jane*
Hyrum*
Grace Ethel
CHILD # 2 Henry Ammon
(1)- (Mary S. Frackrell)
David Arno
William Rey
Joseph Eben
Laura Ellen
Henry Asa
Susanna Mary
Fanny Harriet
Bertha Elizabeth
Harry Cyrenus
Carl Fernando
Fred Milton
(2)- (Eliza Norwood Simpson (a widow- she had two children sealed)
Leo
Ralph
Florence
Heber
Ellen Simpson
Carl Simpson
(3)- (Emily M. Cowley Bench-widow of Wm. Enos Bench)
CHILD #3 Florence married-(Jedediah G. Adair)
Lovern
Orson
Elisa
William
George
Randolph
Miriam
Bertha
Leila
Harriet
Rolls
Ethel
ELLEN BRADSHAW- (2) William Bench Sr.
William Enos Bench
(Emily M. Cowley)
Grace Ellen
Melvin Enos
Millen Orvil
Clara Vivian
Delbert Ambrose
Wesley Merrit
Myrtle Venecia
Stella Emily
William Cowley
*had no children
Appendix D: MEMORIES FROM GRANDMA From Helen Cheney
“Grandma said that William Fowler served a mission for seven years. She was cross because people altered records saying that he could not have been a missionary that long and that he could not have been a missionary while he was married. They did things differently then. Grandma also said that William did most of his missionary work after his marriage in the evenings after work and on weekends, so he could still support his family. Grandma added a post script that people didn't keep very good records back then, or sometimes they got destroyed.”
“She said further that [William] preached while on board ship. . . that the captain attended the first meeting he had while at anchor. William was afraid they would be put off. Some said they ought to have gotten out to sea first. But the captain talked to William and told him it was all right, that he was always glad to have the Mormons on board for he had a safe journey when he took them over. They had no trouble having meetings on the way over.”
[side note] “Grandma would write in notebooks with lined paper and find pictures from magazines and glue them in. I remember one she wrote about William because of the picture she cut out of a tall ship. I [Helen] do not recall reading it. I was fairly young then, maybe ten.
“Keep in mind that a “Grandma history” if typed, may have been altered by mom[May Cheney] or Aunt Eva [Eva Cheney Tyler] according to what they thought was correct. If it is in her own handwriting and is very legible, believe “that” one. If you can find out when she wrote the history it might help to decide it's accuracy. If she was writing in a notebook it was before Aunt Afton died and extremely accurate. If on the back of genealogy sheets, the dating is harder to establish but it may be compared to other writings. Also see collections of her poems, for they were frequently actually stories of happenings in her life or her ancestors. They were also written in the forties or fifties or even earlier. Accuracy was more important to her than rhyming or rhythm.”
Appendix E : The name FOWLER
The name Fowler originated from an early ancestor who tended the Kings Fowls. Surnames often derived from occupation or place of residence, or sometimes from a physical appearance. Originally people only had one name. There is a story that in the earliest days of England, the King invited all the people around for a dinner. So many had the same name, that he decided they must take a second name to differentiate between them.
The following section was taken directly from the account sent to Florence Cheney in 1948 by Louisa (Cox) Tatten, a cousin to Florence Cheney.
In June 1921, in a meeting of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, we had been singing this hymn, when one of our older members-sister Lucy (Allen) Cox (Albert Allen's sister) made the remark that the man who wrote that hymn is buried in our cemetery. Mrs. Louisa (Cox) Tatten being her daughter, asked if she knew where the grave was. She said not exactly. President [Louisa ]. Tatten and her counselors made inquires and found [it through] Mrs. George Bench. Mrs. J. Madsen knew about where it was. We kept on until we found it through he cemetery records. We then bought a small marker and Mrs. Tatten asked these ladies to accompany her to the grave, and placed the marker. The following decoration day 1922 in connection with the city program, we had the hymn sung. General Brown had the orator Morney Lewis Larsen tell some of his life, and that we had placed the small marker.
[about this time] A time came when the Relief Society throughout the church were studying the LDS hymns about 1920. Mrs. Madsen's niece, tells of Kate C. Snow of Salt Lake City coming to her [wrote to her] for the story of William Fowler's life. This story was told at the Ensign stake meeting of the Relief Society. Mrs. (Dr. ) Roberts made a motion that Mrs. Snow put the matter before President Grant to see if the Relief Society might have the privilege of soliciting subscriptions for a monument for brother Fowler. Dr. Roberts accompanied Mrs. Snow to see Pres. Grant, Penrose, and Ivans and they agreed that the Church should take the matter in hand. [President] R. L. Anderson was asked to [take the matter in hand and]superintend the erection of the monument. He secured the services of E. L. Parry to execute the work. It was finished May 30, 1923. It was made of Utah granite and cost two hundred dollars. Mrs. Jorgen Madsen's granddaughter was asked to unveil it. (None of the relatives were present) Pres. Lewis Anderson of the Manti Temple and Bishop Peterson [were standing] to the right, Pres. JB Jacobson [was standing] to the left of the monument as it was unveiled. .
Appendix B: A Sketch Of William Fowler
(Read at the unveiling of the William Fowler Monument
on Memorial day 1923 at the Manti Cemetery. )
William Fowler, author of 'We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, was born in Auburn, Australia, May 9 1830 . He first heard the gospel of the LDS church in 1848, was baptized July 29, 1849, was married to Ellen Bradshaw in 1854, in England; having gone there when a young man. With his wife and three children he emigrated to Utah, leaving London England June 4, 1863; arriving in Salt Lake City Oct. 3 1863. Soon after arriving they located here in Manti. He contracted a cold crossing the plains and never fully recovered. Tuberculosis set in, which caused his death.
He was a cutler by trade, very proficient, but like most people in the church, pioneers for lack of tools and machinery; this coupled with ill health caused them at times to suffer for the necessities of life. The neighbors and friends helped than as much as their limited means would allow. Mrs. Jorgen Madsen has told us that, when she was a child, her mother being a near neighbor sent her many times with food and other things for their comfort. One day when sent on one of these errands, Brother Fowler was playing his violin and his wife was singing the words of his hymn, they were trying to fit it to the melody he knew 'The Officers Funeral’. This incident stands out in Mrs. Madsen's memory. This hymn became one of the most popular in the church gatherings, and how we all love to sing it today. Summing up the contents; 1st verse; Thanks to God. 2nd verse; consolation and hope. 3rd verse; song of praise.
There were two brothers who came from England in the early 60's, one William and the other Henry. William was the one who composed the hymn. 'We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet. ' An officer in high rank was killed in battle between the English and French allies at the close of the war between the Russians (or against them). This song was sung, called 'The Officers Funeral' on that solemn occasion.
The hymn William wrote is immortalized in the memory of the saints in the Latter Day Saint Psalmody by the name of Fowler. C. Fred Schade, first assistant Superintendent of Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association of Ogden Stake.
Brother Fowler died August 1865 here in Manti on the corner where William B. Lavery built his home. Mrs. Madsen helped us find the grave. Not many of the Manti people of the last decade knew that he was buried in Manti.
Appendix C: Descendancy of William Fowler
and Ellen Bradshaw
CHILD # 1 Harriet Adeline married-(Charles A. Allen)
William Albert
Clara Diantha
Charles*
Ellen Lenora
Florence Harriet
Ammon*
Jane*
Hyrum*
Grace Ethel
CHILD # 2 Henry Ammon
(1)- (Mary S. Frackrell)
David Arno
William Rey
Joseph Eben
Laura Ellen
Henry Asa
Susanna Mary
Fanny Harriet
Bertha Elizabeth
Harry Cyrenus
Carl Fernando
Fred Milton
(2)- (Eliza Norwood Simpson (a widow- she had two children sealed)
Leo
Ralph
Florence
Heber
Ellen Simpson
Carl Simpson
(3)- (Emily M. Cowley Bench-widow of Wm. Enos Bench)
CHILD #3 Florence married-(Jedediah G. Adair)
Lovern
Orson
Elisa
William
George
Randolph
Miriam
Bertha
Leila
Harriet
Rolls
Ethel
ELLEN BRADSHAW- (2) William Bench Sr.
William Enos Bench
(Emily M. Cowley)
Grace Ellen
Melvin Enos
Millen Orvil
Clara Vivian
Delbert Ambrose
Wesley Merrit
Myrtle Venecia
Stella Emily
William Cowley
*had no children
Appendix D: MEMORIES FROM GRANDMA From Helen Cheney
“Grandma said that William Fowler served a mission for seven years. She was cross because people altered records saying that he could not have been a missionary that long and that he could not have been a missionary while he was married. They did things differently then. Grandma also said that William did most of his missionary work after his marriage in the evenings after work and on weekends, so he could still support his family. Grandma added a post script that people didn't keep very good records back then, or sometimes they got destroyed.”
“She said further that [William] preached while on board ship. . . that the captain attended the first meeting he had while at anchor. William was afraid they would be put off. Some said they ought to have gotten out to sea first. But the captain talked to William and told him it was all right, that he was always glad to have the Mormons on board for he had a safe journey when he took them over. They had no trouble having meetings on the way over.”
[side note] “Grandma would write in notebooks with lined paper and find pictures from magazines and glue them in. I remember one she wrote about William because of the picture she cut out of a tall ship. I [Helen] do not recall reading it. I was fairly young then, maybe ten.
“Keep in mind that a “Grandma history” if typed, may have been altered by mom[May Cheney] or Aunt Eva [Eva Cheney Tyler] according to what they thought was correct. If it is in her own handwriting and is very legible, believe “that” one. If you can find out when she wrote the history it might help to decide it's accuracy. If she was writing in a notebook it was before Aunt Afton died and extremely accurate. If on the back of genealogy sheets, the dating is harder to establish but it may be compared to other writings. Also see collections of her poems, for they were frequently actually stories of happenings in her life or her ancestors. They were also written in the forties or fifties or even earlier. Accuracy was more important to her than rhyming or rhythm.”
Appendix E : The name FOWLER
The name Fowler originated from an early ancestor who tended the Kings Fowls. Surnames often derived from occupation or place of residence, or sometimes from a physical appearance. Originally people only had one name. There is a story that in the earliest days of England, the King invited all the people around for a dinner. So many had the same name, that he decided they must take a second name to differentiate between them.
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Allen, Harriet Adeline Fowler Autobiography of Harriet Adeline Fowler Allen written when she was 84 years old. 1940. Typed by L. May Cheney.
Berrett, John Watts Diary of John Watts Berrett (Mormon Immigration Index CD-ROM)
Bramall, W. [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star 25:25 (June 20, 1863) pp. 399-400 (HDL}(Mormon Immigration Index)
Bramall, W. [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star 25:34 (Aug 22, 1863) p. 541-43 (HDL) (Mormon Immigration Index)
[1] Cheney, Florence Harriet Allen Life Story of William Fowler and Ellen Bradshaw Fowler handwritten and then later typed by Del. Tyler. Florence Cheney died in 19—
“Preface: In preparing this story of the life of my Grandfather William Fowler; I have striven to obtain from reliable sources the main facts of his life; From my mother's history, written by herself, from things she has told me concerning them; and by writing to sister Louisa Tatten of Manti, concerning the erection of the monument to his honor. She supplied me with a copy of the sketch read at the unveiling of it. I have prepared this story to the best of my ability.
Florence H Allen Cheney (Granddaughter)”
[2] Cheney, Florence Biography of William Fowler: a short history of William Fowler
[3] Cheney, Florence Biography of Ellen Bradshaw: a short history of Ellen Bradshaw
[4] Cheney, Florence Allen History of Ellen Bradshaw Fowler 1953.
[5] Cheney, Florence Allen A History Sketch of The Life of Harriet Adeline Fowler Allen prepared in 1956. [Harriet Adeline Fowler (Allen): a biography by Florence H. Allen Cheney and Eva Cheney Tyler is the same history save a little of the wording which was altered when it was retyped.
Author's note: “Mother wrote her own life history when she was 84 years old, but she purposely left out a lot of details, saying, “My life was such a trying one it is painful to recall it.” And at her age, it was difficult to recall it. But to preserve some of her rich experiences, and the hardships she had to endure, makes it seem necessary for me to tell her story in a little more detail.
“Since my earliest recollection, until her death, I was very close and intimate with her. Hence the major part of this work is from memory.
“February, 1956 is the one hundredth anniversary of her birth.”
Florence Cheney
Cheney, Helen. Memories of Stories her Grandmother, Florence H. Allen Cheney, told her from the time she was six until she died. Noting that her memory was quite good until Helen was 16 when grandma started to get a bit confused. (E-mail to Nina Harris on 21-23 June, 2002.)
Chene', Helen Re: a quick hello 26 Aug 2003
Church Educational System History in the Fullness of Times. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, USA p. 389.
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers A Sketch of William Fowler: read at the time they placed a monument on his gravesite in Manti in 1922.
Dickens, Charles The Uncommercial Traveler: No Thoroughfare (Mormon Immigration Index (CD- ROM)). [The Uncommercial Traveler and Reprinted Pieces etc. (Oxford University Press 1987)pp. 220-32)]
Dowden, Naomi D. Autobiography of Naomi D. Dowden (Mormon Immigration Index CD-ROM) [Our Pioneer Heritage compiled by Kate B. Carter vol. 7 pp. 48-49]
Fowler, W. “Come Let Us Be Happy Together” Millennial Star 15 Oct p. 672.
Fowler, W. ”Zion” The Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol 17 p. 32.
Fowler, W.” The Setting Up of God's Kingdom” The Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol 17 p. 464.
Hafen, Leroy E. and Hafen, Ann W. Handcarts to Zion. 1960 USA University of Nebraska Press.
Kimball, Stanley B. , Ph. D. Historic Resource Study: Mormon Pioneer Historic Trail May 1991 United States Department of the Interior/ National Park Service.
Lambert, Tim A Brief History of Sheffield accessed 20 June 2010.
Larkin, Elijah Diary of Elijah Larkin. (Mormon Immigration Index(CD-ROM)) [Diaries of Elijah Larkin pp. 454-76, 506-07 (HDA)].
Mclachlan, William Reminiscences and Journal of William McLachlan. [vol. 1 pp. 77-117,120,139. (msl514) (HDA)] (Mormon Immigration Index(CD-ROM)).
Mormon Immigration Index. (Source: BMR, Book#1047 pp. 277-316 (FHL#025,691);
Customs#747 (FHL# 175,587)) Including: The Amazon, passenger manifest; Dickens, Charles The Uncommercial Traveler: also various diaries of passengers on the Amazon. CD- ROM; LDS Church, 2002.
Rogers, Virginia F. I: a chart of genealogical information. , 1 June 1967, revised July 1975.
Rogers, Virginia Fowler. John Fowler: a history, copies from info. Including family bible and from “a report made by Lt. Col. M. E. S. Laws, Historical Researcher, of a search he made in Public Record Office, London, Eng. , War Office records, (discharge Papers), The MusterRolls, Admission Books, Chelsea Hospital, (pertaining to 82nd Reg. )”
Sheffield Cutlery Faltware & Silvergifts: Stainless Steel Cutlery accessed 23 June 2010.
Slaughter, William W. and Landon, Michael Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail. (Companion volume to the PBS Documentary by Lee Groberg, Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 1997. )
Sloan, Edward L. Diary of Edward L. Sloan [p. 242-267, 269-73 (HDA)] (Mormon Immigration Index (CD-ROM)).
Smith, Joseph F. Teachings of the Modern Prophets: Joseph F. Smith The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, USA 2000.
Stories of Latter-day Saint Hymns Published while Heber J. Grant was President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, USA. pp. 45-47.
Wall, Francis George Autobiography of Francis George Wall (Mormon Immigration Index CD- ROM)[Wall, Francis George [Autobiography] Our Pioneer Heritage compiled by Kate B. Carter vol. 7. (Salt Lake City: Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, 1964) p. 364 (HDL)]
West, Charles Henry John. Reminiscences of Charles Henry John West [Reminiscences p 5-7 (HDA) (Mormon Immigration Index (CD-ROM)).
Wikipedia,-- Dropsy, Edema, Consumption (Tuberculosis), Summer Complaint, Dysentery, Bridle accessed 20 June 2010, 26 June 2010.
Woods, Fred E.” Seagoing Saints” The Ensign Sept 2001 p. 60.
Allen, Harriet Adeline Fowler Autobiography of Harriet Adeline Fowler Allen written when she was 84 years old. 1940. Typed by L. May Cheney.
Berrett, John Watts Diary of John Watts Berrett (Mormon Immigration Index CD-ROM)
Bramall, W. [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star 25:25 (June 20, 1863) pp. 399-400 (HDL}(Mormon Immigration Index)
Bramall, W. [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star 25:34 (Aug 22, 1863) p. 541-43 (HDL) (Mormon Immigration Index)
[1] Cheney, Florence Harriet Allen Life Story of William Fowler and Ellen Bradshaw Fowler handwritten and then later typed by Del. Tyler. Florence Cheney died in 19—
“Preface: In preparing this story of the life of my Grandfather William Fowler; I have striven to obtain from reliable sources the main facts of his life; From my mother's history, written by herself, from things she has told me concerning them; and by writing to sister Louisa Tatten of Manti, concerning the erection of the monument to his honor. She supplied me with a copy of the sketch read at the unveiling of it. I have prepared this story to the best of my ability.
Florence H Allen Cheney (Granddaughter)”
[2] Cheney, Florence Biography of William Fowler: a short history of William Fowler
[3] Cheney, Florence Biography of Ellen Bradshaw: a short history of Ellen Bradshaw
[4] Cheney, Florence Allen History of Ellen Bradshaw Fowler 1953.
[5] Cheney, Florence Allen A History Sketch of The Life of Harriet Adeline Fowler Allen prepared in 1956. [Harriet Adeline Fowler (Allen): a biography by Florence H. Allen Cheney and Eva Cheney Tyler is the same history save a little of the wording which was altered when it was retyped.
Author's note: “Mother wrote her own life history when she was 84 years old, but she purposely left out a lot of details, saying, “My life was such a trying one it is painful to recall it.” And at her age, it was difficult to recall it. But to preserve some of her rich experiences, and the hardships she had to endure, makes it seem necessary for me to tell her story in a little more detail.
“Since my earliest recollection, until her death, I was very close and intimate with her. Hence the major part of this work is from memory.
“February, 1956 is the one hundredth anniversary of her birth.”
Florence Cheney
Cheney, Helen. Memories of Stories her Grandmother, Florence H. Allen Cheney, told her from the time she was six until she died. Noting that her memory was quite good until Helen was 16 when grandma started to get a bit confused. (E-mail to Nina Harris on 21-23 June, 2002.)
Chene', Helen Re: a quick hello 26 Aug 2003
Church Educational System History in the Fullness of Times. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, USA p. 389.
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers A Sketch of William Fowler: read at the time they placed a monument on his gravesite in Manti in 1922.
Dickens, Charles The Uncommercial Traveler: No Thoroughfare (Mormon Immigration Index (CD- ROM)). [The Uncommercial Traveler and Reprinted Pieces etc. (Oxford University Press 1987)pp. 220-32)]
Dowden, Naomi D. Autobiography of Naomi D. Dowden (Mormon Immigration Index CD-ROM) [Our Pioneer Heritage compiled by Kate B. Carter vol. 7 pp. 48-49]
Fowler, W. “Come Let Us Be Happy Together” Millennial Star 15 Oct p. 672.
Fowler, W. ”Zion” The Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol 17 p. 32.
Fowler, W.” The Setting Up of God's Kingdom” The Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol 17 p. 464.
Hafen, Leroy E. and Hafen, Ann W. Handcarts to Zion. 1960 USA University of Nebraska Press.
Kimball, Stanley B. , Ph. D. Historic Resource Study: Mormon Pioneer Historic Trail May 1991 United States Department of the Interior/ National Park Service.
Lambert, Tim A Brief History of Sheffield
Larkin, Elijah Diary of Elijah Larkin. (Mormon Immigration Index(CD-ROM)) [Diaries of Elijah Larkin pp. 454-76, 506-07 (HDA)].
Mclachlan, William Reminiscences and Journal of William McLachlan. [vol. 1 pp. 77-117,120,139. (msl514) (HDA)] (Mormon Immigration Index(CD-ROM)).
Mormon Immigration Index. (Source: BMR, Book#1047 pp. 277-316 (FHL#025,691);
Customs#747 (FHL# 175,587)) Including: The Amazon, passenger manifest; Dickens, Charles The Uncommercial Traveler: also various diaries of passengers on the Amazon. CD- ROM; LDS Church, 2002.
Rogers, Virginia F. I: a chart of genealogical information. , 1 June 1967, revised July 1975.
Rogers, Virginia Fowler. John Fowler: a history, copies from info. Including family bible and from “a report made by Lt. Col. M. E. S. Laws, Historical Researcher, of a search he made in Public Record Office, London, Eng. , War Office records, (discharge Papers), The MusterRolls, Admission Books, Chelsea Hospital, (pertaining to 82nd Reg. )”
Sheffield Cutlery Faltware & Silvergifts: Stainless Steel Cutlery
Slaughter, William W. and Landon, Michael Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail. (Companion volume to the PBS Documentary by Lee Groberg, Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 1997. )
Sloan, Edward L. Diary of Edward L. Sloan [p. 242-267, 269-73 (HDA)] (Mormon Immigration Index (CD-ROM)).
Smith, Joseph F. Teachings of the Modern Prophets: Joseph F. Smith The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, USA 2000.
Stories of Latter-day Saint Hymns Published while Heber J. Grant was President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, USA. pp. 45-47.
Wall, Francis George Autobiography of Francis George Wall (Mormon Immigration Index CD- ROM)[Wall, Francis George [Autobiography] Our Pioneer Heritage compiled by Kate B. Carter vol. 7. (Salt Lake City: Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, 1964) p. 364 (HDL)]
West, Charles Henry John. Reminiscences of Charles Henry John West [Reminiscences p 5-7 (HDA) (Mormon Immigration Index (CD-ROM)).
Wikipedia,-- Dropsy, Edema, Consumption (Tuberculosis), Summer Complaint, Dysentery, Bridle
Woods, Fred E.” Seagoing Saints” The Ensign Sept 2001 p. 60.
Farewell
About two years after William Enos was born [about Sept 1871]. Ellen tripped on the doorstep and fell face down, she was very ill and gave birth to a stillborn baby.
Ellen was never well after that. Harriet reports, ”She developed diabetes and dropsy. She suffered a great deal, often falling unconscious.” (Allen). Dropsy is an abnormal amount of swelling in the body. Falling unconscious sounds like fainting spells.
Ellen suffered for a long time, and was not able to work. Harriet kept the house and Ellen told her how to do things she had questions about. The children would care for their mother. Harriet recalls, ”She was tenderly treated by my stepfather. He got several kinds of reputed medicine” for her.
Ellen was very thirsty all the time (symptom of diabetes). During the summer of 1873 she would be completely bedfast.
Eventually Ellen grew too weak to talk. For some two days Ellen had not said anything. On the morning of July 23rd, she was lying very still with William Bench beside her, when she said in an audible voice, “I'm coming William.” Her husband seated by her side knew she did not refer to him, but her first husband, William Fowler.. She then passed away.
At this point Harriet came in from the kitchen, and had a wonderful experience. She saw her father standing at the foot of the old fashioned bedstead. With his arms folded across the end of it. He was dressed, she said as she had remembered seeing him. In his plain suit and little plaid tie. She was so glad to see him looking natural that she turned to tell her sister, Florence, in the kitchen to come, but when she turned back she couldn't see him. She was sorely disappointed, because her sister could not remember him well.
They had a very sad July 24th that year because that was they day they had to bury their mother. She was buried beside her first husband. Harriet says “In the fartherest west row of the Manti cemetery.” It was a very hot day. Following the services which were held about noon, The people gave themselves over to sports and other festivities that had been planned for Pioneer Day. .
The children put their beds outside; unable to sleep in the house where their mother had laid in state. They continued to sleep outside until it became too cold at nights.
Harriet wrote, “Then the world was a great big place. I had no other relatives in a hundred miles, only my sister, my brother, Henry Ammon Fowler. My little brother William E. Was nearly 4 years old. He was allowed to live with me till winter, when I went to school again, and then his father took him to his other home. He would not let me have him ever again.” William Bench told them that they would have a hard enough task caring for themselves, let alone little Willie too. The children would miss their little brother.
Harriet, Henry Ammon, and Florence would make do for themselves now. William Bench did not help them anymore. Harriet felt responsible for her brother and sister now, but her brother would also work to support them. Harriet was then 17 years old. Harriet would marry the next year on July 12th and Henry Ammon and Florence would continue to live in town.
William Bench kept and raised the little boy whom they called Willie.
Ellen was 38 years old when she died. She had lived a very great life. She had proved her faith, loyalty, integrity and devotion to her religion and family.
Ellen was never well after that. Harriet reports, ”She developed diabetes and dropsy. She suffered a great deal, often falling unconscious.” (Allen). Dropsy is an abnormal amount of swelling in the body. Falling unconscious sounds like fainting spells.
Ellen suffered for a long time, and was not able to work. Harriet kept the house and Ellen told her how to do things she had questions about. The children would care for their mother. Harriet recalls, ”She was tenderly treated by my stepfather. He got several kinds of reputed medicine” for her.
Ellen was very thirsty all the time (symptom of diabetes). During the summer of 1873 she would be completely bedfast.
Eventually Ellen grew too weak to talk. For some two days Ellen had not said anything. On the morning of July 23rd, she was lying very still with William Bench beside her, when she said in an audible voice, “I'm coming William.” Her husband seated by her side knew she did not refer to him, but her first husband, William Fowler.. She then passed away.
At this point Harriet came in from the kitchen, and had a wonderful experience. She saw her father standing at the foot of the old fashioned bedstead. With his arms folded across the end of it. He was dressed, she said as she had remembered seeing him. In his plain suit and little plaid tie. She was so glad to see him looking natural that she turned to tell her sister, Florence, in the kitchen to come, but when she turned back she couldn't see him. She was sorely disappointed, because her sister could not remember him well.
They had a very sad July 24th that year because that was they day they had to bury their mother. She was buried beside her first husband. Harriet says “In the fartherest west row of the Manti cemetery.” It was a very hot day. Following the services which were held about noon, The people gave themselves over to sports and other festivities that had been planned for Pioneer Day. .
The children put their beds outside; unable to sleep in the house where their mother had laid in state. They continued to sleep outside until it became too cold at nights.
Harriet wrote, “Then the world was a great big place. I had no other relatives in a hundred miles, only my sister, my brother, Henry Ammon Fowler. My little brother William E. Was nearly 4 years old. He was allowed to live with me till winter, when I went to school again, and then his father took him to his other home. He would not let me have him ever again.” William Bench told them that they would have a hard enough task caring for themselves, let alone little Willie too. The children would miss their little brother.
Harriet, Henry Ammon, and Florence would make do for themselves now. William Bench did not help them anymore. Harriet felt responsible for her brother and sister now, but her brother would also work to support them. Harriet was then 17 years old. Harriet would marry the next year on July 12th and Henry Ammon and Florence would continue to live in town.
William Bench kept and raised the little boy whom they called Willie.
Ellen was 38 years old when she died. She had lived a very great life. She had proved her faith, loyalty, integrity and devotion to her religion and family.
William Bench
William Bench was a good friend to both William and Ellen. They considered him a very good man. He helped them out a lot. He persuaded Ellen to marry him as a plural wife so that he could legally care for her. They were married on 14 November 1868.
Harriet says, “He was not poor. We soon had the half block fenced, corrals built, pens for pigs; etc. We had a good garden and two cows. Our house was not enlarged, but we soon had a new stove to cook on. Before we had cooked on the fireplace. William Bench had always been a very good friend to my father, as he always was to anyone who needed help. He had a wife and 3 married sons, also one daughter married, and one grown daughter at home. He owned a blacksmith shop and was a good smith. He had horses, cows, sheep, and a nice home. It was not against the laws them, of the Church or the land to have more families than one.” (Allen).
The two cows Wiliam Bench gave Ellen would help out considerably. They very much appreciated being able to have milk and butter..
William Bench's first wife never gave her consent for Ellen and her husband to be married. She always treated Ellen as an intruder and never became friendly. When the children had to help him in the field, she was very strict with them. If they brought any crusts home or any part of their lunch, she put it on their plates and made them eat it before she gave them anything else. This nettled Ellen considerably.
William Bench was very fond of Ellen and told her he wished he had met her when she was sweet sixteen. As with others who had more families than one, William Bench took turns going home to each wife. Ellen took good care of him when he came to home to her. William Bench had difficulty in his job; his hands chapped badly. He would come home to Ellen on his turn and after washing up would say to Harriet, "Come dress your dolls." Then Harriet would tie up his sore fingers with clean white rags.
The following September they had a son, William Enos Bench. (Sept 1869). Harriet writes “He was greatly loved by us all”
At this time Harriet worked outside of the home a lot, “buying my own clothes, and helping to get clothes for my sister Florence, who was four years younger than” Harriet also “helped my mother at home. William Bench was a very good stepfather, and was always kind to my mother”(Allen).
At some point, Harriet began going out with a young man. His name was Charles “Albert” Allen. Albert's family also lived in Manti and when he was courting Harriet he often visited their home. Ellen “was well acquainted with his folks. He had many relatives in Manti.”
Harriet says, “He was not poor. We soon had the half block fenced, corrals built, pens for pigs; etc. We had a good garden and two cows. Our house was not enlarged, but we soon had a new stove to cook on. Before we had cooked on the fireplace. William Bench had always been a very good friend to my father, as he always was to anyone who needed help. He had a wife and 3 married sons, also one daughter married, and one grown daughter at home. He owned a blacksmith shop and was a good smith. He had horses, cows, sheep, and a nice home. It was not against the laws them, of the Church or the land to have more families than one.” (Allen).
The two cows Wiliam Bench gave Ellen would help out considerably. They very much appreciated being able to have milk and butter..
William Bench's first wife never gave her consent for Ellen and her husband to be married. She always treated Ellen as an intruder and never became friendly. When the children had to help him in the field, she was very strict with them. If they brought any crusts home or any part of their lunch, she put it on their plates and made them eat it before she gave them anything else. This nettled Ellen considerably.
William Bench was very fond of Ellen and told her he wished he had met her when she was sweet sixteen. As with others who had more families than one, William Bench took turns going home to each wife. Ellen took good care of him when he came to home to her. William Bench had difficulty in his job; his hands chapped badly. He would come home to Ellen on his turn and after washing up would say to Harriet, "Come dress your dolls." Then Harriet would tie up his sore fingers with clean white rags.
The following September they had a son, William Enos Bench. (Sept 1869). Harriet writes “He was greatly loved by us all”
At this time Harriet worked outside of the home a lot, “buying my own clothes, and helping to get clothes for my sister Florence, who was four years younger than” Harriet also “helped my mother at home. William Bench was a very good stepfather, and was always kind to my mother”(Allen).
At some point, Harriet began going out with a young man. His name was Charles “Albert” Allen. Albert's family also lived in Manti and when he was courting Harriet he often visited their home. Ellen “was well acquainted with his folks. He had many relatives in Manti.”
Providing for the Family
Ellen had been providing for the family with William sick. Now she would continue to do so. She could go out to work instead of staying in the house all the time however. She did sewing for 50 cents a day.
Unbleached muslin was a dollar a yard and calico also expensive. She found it hard to buy clothing for the children as well as their food.
In October of 1865, Harriet came down with scarlet fever. She wrote, ” It was in October that year, I was working in the potato field with other children for William Bench and I took sick. He told me to go to the wagon and lie down. I don't remember how I got home, but I was very ill with scarlet fever for several weeks.” (Allen).
An Indian war had broken out in the spring of 1865 and would continue for seven years. Now it was October 1865 and Harriet was now down with scarlet fever. The family was isolated in their home. Harriet wrote,” As our house was outside of the limits of where the guard was stationed, we did not dare have a light show at night, and no one came to help Mother that I know of, as it was a bad disease. Indeed, I was much worse and suffered more than when I had diphtheria. I was then 9, and would be 10 the following February.”
Before and after Harriet's illness the family may have gone into town at nights and sleep at the home of a friend in case of Indian attack. Florence Cheney reports that they did so many times, but when and for how long was not clear.
Harriet said, “I distinctly remember hearing their war dance. Their camp was about a mile and a half south and east of our house, as we were on the extreme east street of town, near the mouth of the canyon where City Creek comes down. They danced and yelled all night long, but when morning came, they were gone, and there was the last we saw of Indians for several years,” But at this time they still had Indian trouble.” They drove off cattle and horses, and in a few cases killed the express-men. The people suffered a lot in those years. Some settlements were broken up that were never rebuilt where they were not strong enough to defend themselves.” (Allen)
“Some way Mother had a cow, but among others, she was stolen by the
Indians”(Allen).
Harriet was nearly 10 now and “had not yet been baptized. As soon as I was well enough to be out. I wanted to have it done, and as my brother was nearly eight, only a few weeks off, we were both baptized in November, 1865. 1 do not remember the day.”
About this time they “were advised to move closer into town. . . The Indians were at war for seven years. We did not see a peaceable Indian in town for that long only some prisoners once in the jail.” (Allen).
Harriet wrote that following advice to move into town they moved into their 4th house in Manti. “We moved to a house on the extreme south. There was a large log room and an adobe room on the side. Always there was fireplace in the houses in those days. It was on the southeast corner of the block. We had the south half of the block. There was brush all over it. The snow fell very deeply in the winter, remaining on all through till April. We did not have overshoes. I do not recall anyone having them. Sometimes when the creek was frozen up we had to haul water from the City Creek, which ran through the center of town, four blocks from our home, on a hand sleigh with the churn and the bucket tied on, for our food and drink, but we could use snow for other purposes.” (Allen)
Harriet wrote, “Sometimes Mother could afford to hire someone to haul wood when the snow was deep, but often we had to take a rope and go on the foothill about a mile off, and drag the tops the men had trimmed off their loads for our firewood.” (Allen).
“Mother could not get enough to buy clothes, and we must have food, so she went with scant clothing to work those cold winter days, and made over some of her clothes for we girls. Sometimes people were very kind and gave her something extra, over the 50 cents a day, then once in a while some thoughtless ones would even let her come home and wait for her pay. Some days when she left us, we only had some potatoes to roast in the fire until she returned at night. She had no overshoes either, and I had thought since I became a mother that she worked so hard and suffered so much that she wore out sooner.” (Allen)
Despite their struggles, Ellen still sent her children to school. Having her children educated was obviously very important to her. Not only did she have to pay something to send them to school, but they could not go out to work to help out the family. Harriet wrote, " When I was 10 I went to school to Emeret Cox in an upstairs room of her father's large house.” (Allen).
Florence reports that “Ellen was a very neat housekeeper; Her pots and pans were scoured and polished till they shone. One of her neighbors had a habit of borrowing her big brass bucket -especially on Saturday. One day she had need of it, and sent Harriet to get it. The woman was unwilling to let it go. She was bathing her small children in it. Harriet came home and shocked her mother with the news.” What! Bathe her children in my clean bucket. The idea! She won't get it again.”
As the winter came on and it got cold Ellen could not make enough to buy cloth for the girls’ underclothing. So, she took her own off and made them down for the girls .
In the spring of 1867 Ellen went to seek work at Salt Lake City. She put little Harriet out to work. Harriet was then eleven. She wrote, " The winter I was 11, I lived with a Mrs. James Edwards 8 months, and all the wages I received was a pair of course shoes and a made over woolen dress” (Allen). Harriet got sore eyes so she could scarcely see out in the sunlight. She walked along the fence and clung to the rails to find her way to feed the pigs. She did, all kinds of hard jobs. She scrubbed wood floors and helped out in general. When there was nothing else to do the woman had her cut the v stems from all the feathers in the pillows. Harriet wrote, ”Mother went to Salt Lake City to work, but as soon as she returned I went home, then we all went to Salt Lake City to remain nearly a year.”
Florence says, “Ellen seems to have been in Salt Lake in 1868 for her blessing indicates such.” Florence must have got a copy of Ellen's patriarchal blessing which indicated that it was given in Salt Lake in 1868. Ellen also visited the endowment house and received her endowments on 13 June 1868.
Harriet wrote, “My mother was a good singer, and quite a bit of that year she belonged to the Tabernacle Choir. She had a rich contralto voice, and could sing either soprano or alto. She could learn the music from the notes. A few times I accompanied her to the rehearsals. The huge organ was a marvel to me. The wind was furnished by a man turning a huge fan.
“We stayed in Salt Lake nearly a year. During that time my mother sewed and made lace and did all kinds of work to make a living. My uncle Henry C. Fowler lived in Salt Lake. He worked in the tithing office as clerk, and at night he was doorkeeper at the Salt Lake Theater. Accordingly he let Mother in, and sometimes one of we children as he might always let in one. That year I remember seeing '"Ten Nights in a Bar Room”, “The Sea Of Ice”, “The Lady of Lyons.” (Allen). Florence Cheney says that Ellen “appreciated being able to enjoy high class entertainment.”
Harriet wrote, “I lived with Mrs. Wells the winter I was 12, and got a dollar and a quarter a week, which helped Mother to get clothes for Sister Florence and me. That was in the 12th ward, and Mother lived in the 14th ward that winter ” (Allen). So we know that Ellen and Harriet were living in separate homes, but would still see each other often.
Harriet said, “I remember Mother sewing for Mrs. Godhe a lot. They seemed to have a large family, and Mr. Godhe was in partnership with Mr. Mitchell, and they owned a store. I remember my mother speaking of an ouiga board that the folks would sit around a table and put their hands touching the board, and then curious things would happen. My mother was there to sew not to be entertained, She never took part in anything like that.” Later President Grant gave a discourse in which he mentioned that his mother worked for these same people. Harriet remarked, ” As President Grant has told in one of his discourses that it was an evil spirit that acted upon them, as his mother also sometimes worked for the same people. He is about 10 months younger than I am, so these things happened along the same time. Godhe eventually apostatized; also Mr. Mitchell. It was never safe or wise to tamper with such things ” (Allen).
After staying in Salt Lake for about a year they returned to Manti. From then on Harriet says that she worked in different homes.
Back in Manti, Ellen taught school one year. Harriet wrote, ”Mother taught school the year I was 12, and I had always been a fairly good reader, so I helped her with the younger children.” . . . “In the next summer I learned to spin wool yarn. I was so small I had to stand on a stool to put the band on, when it came off the big wheel.” After that year Ellen went back to sewing for a living.
Ellen continued to send her children to school when she could. Harriet wrote, "Sometimes I went to school for a few months in a year. But I dearly loved to read, and eagerly read everything I could find. We took the first volume of the “Juvenile Instructor”, a small sheet about 12”X10”, eight pages. I was so eager to read it I sometimes read by moonlight, as candles were scarce. We took no other papers. I learned to read the letters from England before I could write. It cost 25 cents to bring or send a letter, and money was very scarce.”
Harriet told how things went on. They still struggled to have enough to live on. Harriet says, “I used to go with other children to glean in the wheat fields. We would gather the heads and tie them in bunches, all we could hold in the hand. Then when we carried it home, put it on the roof of the house to dry; then beat it out and fan it in the wind. A bucketful thus earned seemed a lot. Then I would carry it to the mill and ask the miller to put in all the bran so we could have more flour. I am sure now the miller often put in more than I had brought. . .” (Allen)
“Some way we had a cow, and as others did, we had to let her go out to find food. One day she got in a swamp and mired so deep she could not get out. A kind friend took some hay and a rope, He put the rope around her head and pulled her out. We tried to get her to eat, but she had been in too long and she soon died, and Mother and I both had to cry. We did not get another cow until later, when my mother married William Bench.”
Unbleached muslin was a dollar a yard and calico also expensive. She found it hard to buy clothing for the children as well as their food.
In October of 1865, Harriet came down with scarlet fever. She wrote, ” It was in October that year, I was working in the potato field with other children for William Bench and I took sick. He told me to go to the wagon and lie down. I don't remember how I got home, but I was very ill with scarlet fever for several weeks.” (Allen).
An Indian war had broken out in the spring of 1865 and would continue for seven years. Now it was October 1865 and Harriet was now down with scarlet fever. The family was isolated in their home. Harriet wrote,” As our house was outside of the limits of where the guard was stationed, we did not dare have a light show at night, and no one came to help Mother that I know of, as it was a bad disease. Indeed, I was much worse and suffered more than when I had diphtheria. I was then 9, and would be 10 the following February.”
Before and after Harriet's illness the family may have gone into town at nights and sleep at the home of a friend in case of Indian attack. Florence Cheney reports that they did so many times, but when and for how long was not clear.
Harriet said, “I distinctly remember hearing their war dance. Their camp was about a mile and a half south and east of our house, as we were on the extreme east street of town, near the mouth of the canyon where City Creek comes down. They danced and yelled all night long, but when morning came, they were gone, and there was the last we saw of Indians for several years,” But at this time they still had Indian trouble.” They drove off cattle and horses, and in a few cases killed the express-men. The people suffered a lot in those years. Some settlements were broken up that were never rebuilt where they were not strong enough to defend themselves.” (Allen)
“Some way Mother had a cow, but among others, she was stolen by the
Indians”(Allen).
Harriet was nearly 10 now and “had not yet been baptized. As soon as I was well enough to be out. I wanted to have it done, and as my brother was nearly eight, only a few weeks off, we were both baptized in November, 1865. 1 do not remember the day.”
About this time they “were advised to move closer into town. . . The Indians were at war for seven years. We did not see a peaceable Indian in town for that long only some prisoners once in the jail.” (Allen).
Harriet wrote that following advice to move into town they moved into their 4th house in Manti. “We moved to a house on the extreme south. There was a large log room and an adobe room on the side. Always there was fireplace in the houses in those days. It was on the southeast corner of the block. We had the south half of the block. There was brush all over it. The snow fell very deeply in the winter, remaining on all through till April. We did not have overshoes. I do not recall anyone having them. Sometimes when the creek was frozen up we had to haul water from the City Creek, which ran through the center of town, four blocks from our home, on a hand sleigh with the churn and the bucket tied on, for our food and drink, but we could use snow for other purposes.” (Allen)
Harriet wrote, “Sometimes Mother could afford to hire someone to haul wood when the snow was deep, but often we had to take a rope and go on the foothill about a mile off, and drag the tops the men had trimmed off their loads for our firewood.” (Allen).
“Mother could not get enough to buy clothes, and we must have food, so she went with scant clothing to work those cold winter days, and made over some of her clothes for we girls. Sometimes people were very kind and gave her something extra, over the 50 cents a day, then once in a while some thoughtless ones would even let her come home and wait for her pay. Some days when she left us, we only had some potatoes to roast in the fire until she returned at night. She had no overshoes either, and I had thought since I became a mother that she worked so hard and suffered so much that she wore out sooner.” (Allen)
Despite their struggles, Ellen still sent her children to school. Having her children educated was obviously very important to her. Not only did she have to pay something to send them to school, but they could not go out to work to help out the family. Harriet wrote, " When I was 10 I went to school to Emeret Cox in an upstairs room of her father's large house.” (Allen).
Florence reports that “Ellen was a very neat housekeeper; Her pots and pans were scoured and polished till they shone. One of her neighbors had a habit of borrowing her big brass bucket -especially on Saturday. One day she had need of it, and sent Harriet to get it. The woman was unwilling to let it go. She was bathing her small children in it. Harriet came home and shocked her mother with the news.” What! Bathe her children in my clean bucket. The idea! She won't get it again.”
As the winter came on and it got cold Ellen could not make enough to buy cloth for the girls’ underclothing. So, she took her own off and made them down for the girls .
In the spring of 1867 Ellen went to seek work at Salt Lake City. She put little Harriet out to work. Harriet was then eleven. She wrote, " The winter I was 11, I lived with a Mrs. James Edwards 8 months, and all the wages I received was a pair of course shoes and a made over woolen dress” (Allen). Harriet got sore eyes so she could scarcely see out in the sunlight. She walked along the fence and clung to the rails to find her way to feed the pigs. She did, all kinds of hard jobs. She scrubbed wood floors and helped out in general. When there was nothing else to do the woman had her cut the v stems from all the feathers in the pillows. Harriet wrote, ”Mother went to Salt Lake City to work, but as soon as she returned I went home, then we all went to Salt Lake City to remain nearly a year.”
Florence says, “Ellen seems to have been in Salt Lake in 1868 for her blessing indicates such.” Florence must have got a copy of Ellen's patriarchal blessing which indicated that it was given in Salt Lake in 1868. Ellen also visited the endowment house and received her endowments on 13 June 1868.
Harriet wrote, “My mother was a good singer, and quite a bit of that year she belonged to the Tabernacle Choir. She had a rich contralto voice, and could sing either soprano or alto. She could learn the music from the notes. A few times I accompanied her to the rehearsals. The huge organ was a marvel to me. The wind was furnished by a man turning a huge fan.
“We stayed in Salt Lake nearly a year. During that time my mother sewed and made lace and did all kinds of work to make a living. My uncle Henry C. Fowler lived in Salt Lake. He worked in the tithing office as clerk, and at night he was doorkeeper at the Salt Lake Theater. Accordingly he let Mother in, and sometimes one of we children as he might always let in one. That year I remember seeing '"Ten Nights in a Bar Room”, “The Sea Of Ice”, “The Lady of Lyons.” (Allen). Florence Cheney says that Ellen “appreciated being able to enjoy high class entertainment.”
Harriet wrote, “I lived with Mrs. Wells the winter I was 12, and got a dollar and a quarter a week, which helped Mother to get clothes for Sister Florence and me. That was in the 12th ward, and Mother lived in the 14th ward that winter ” (Allen). So we know that Ellen and Harriet were living in separate homes, but would still see each other often.
Harriet said, “I remember Mother sewing for Mrs. Godhe a lot. They seemed to have a large family, and Mr. Godhe was in partnership with Mr. Mitchell, and they owned a store. I remember my mother speaking of an ouiga board that the folks would sit around a table and put their hands touching the board, and then curious things would happen. My mother was there to sew not to be entertained, She never took part in anything like that.” Later President Grant gave a discourse in which he mentioned that his mother worked for these same people. Harriet remarked, ” As President Grant has told in one of his discourses that it was an evil spirit that acted upon them, as his mother also sometimes worked for the same people. He is about 10 months younger than I am, so these things happened along the same time. Godhe eventually apostatized; also Mr. Mitchell. It was never safe or wise to tamper with such things ” (Allen).
After staying in Salt Lake for about a year they returned to Manti. From then on Harriet says that she worked in different homes.
Back in Manti, Ellen taught school one year. Harriet wrote, ”Mother taught school the year I was 12, and I had always been a fairly good reader, so I helped her with the younger children.” . . . “In the next summer I learned to spin wool yarn. I was so small I had to stand on a stool to put the band on, when it came off the big wheel.” After that year Ellen went back to sewing for a living.
Ellen continued to send her children to school when she could. Harriet wrote, "Sometimes I went to school for a few months in a year. But I dearly loved to read, and eagerly read everything I could find. We took the first volume of the “Juvenile Instructor”, a small sheet about 12”X10”, eight pages. I was so eager to read it I sometimes read by moonlight, as candles were scarce. We took no other papers. I learned to read the letters from England before I could write. It cost 25 cents to bring or send a letter, and money was very scarce.”
Harriet told how things went on. They still struggled to have enough to live on. Harriet says, “I used to go with other children to glean in the wheat fields. We would gather the heads and tie them in bunches, all we could hold in the hand. Then when we carried it home, put it on the roof of the house to dry; then beat it out and fan it in the wind. A bucketful thus earned seemed a lot. Then I would carry it to the mill and ask the miller to put in all the bran so we could have more flour. I am sure now the miller often put in more than I had brought. . .” (Allen)
“Some way we had a cow, and as others did, we had to let her go out to find food. One day she got in a swamp and mired so deep she could not get out. A kind friend took some hay and a rope, He put the rope around her head and pulled her out. We tried to get her to eat, but she had been in too long and she soon died, and Mother and I both had to cry. We did not get another cow until later, when my mother married William Bench.”
I Will Not Go Back
Ellen was sad and very much alone in Zion. She had to make a great struggle to care for her children.
She also missed her family back in England. She was often homesick. Florence Cheney tried to capture her feelings in a poem:
“She'd sung the old songs, sometimes starting bravely,
But always ending, at last, in tears;
The home piano, had been their real comfort,
Where oft they'd sung, in by-gone years.”
Ellen wrote to her family in England sometimes when she could afford the 25 cents it took to send a letter. She would tell them some of her struggles, but not all. She knew that they would criticize her choice in joining the Church and immigrating and their criticism was hard to take.
Ellen's parents tried to help her by sending money, but the letters were always robbed. She got the letters, but not the money they sent. She wrote to her family telling them not to try sending money. They tried sending packages, but the packages didn't arrive either.
As time went on her folks wrote her begging her to return to England and to a comfortable home with them; if she would denounce the strange religion. They offered to let her brother, James, come to fetch her back.
But despite her struggles, Ellen loved Zion. Zion was the place she and William had dreamed of going for so long. The gospel burned bright in their hearts and leaving would make all the sacrifices meaningless. And the gospel continued to burn bright in Ellen's heart. She taught her children to treasure it greatly. She was very brave and full of faith as she refused their last offer to return.” No,” She said “We made a great sacrifice to come to Zion; now I'll not go back.” “William would not want me to either.”
The thought of her husband, William, helped give her strength. She kept his memory alive in her children. She spoke of him often and how he loved the gospel.
She also missed her family back in England. She was often homesick. Florence Cheney tried to capture her feelings in a poem:
“She'd sung the old songs, sometimes starting bravely,
But always ending, at last, in tears;
The home piano, had been their real comfort,
Where oft they'd sung, in by-gone years.”
Ellen wrote to her family in England sometimes when she could afford the 25 cents it took to send a letter. She would tell them some of her struggles, but not all. She knew that they would criticize her choice in joining the Church and immigrating and their criticism was hard to take.
Ellen's parents tried to help her by sending money, but the letters were always robbed. She got the letters, but not the money they sent. She wrote to her family telling them not to try sending money. They tried sending packages, but the packages didn't arrive either.
As time went on her folks wrote her begging her to return to England and to a comfortable home with them; if she would denounce the strange religion. They offered to let her brother, James, come to fetch her back.
But despite her struggles, Ellen loved Zion. Zion was the place she and William had dreamed of going for so long. The gospel burned bright in their hearts and leaving would make all the sacrifices meaningless. And the gospel continued to burn bright in Ellen's heart. She taught her children to treasure it greatly. She was very brave and full of faith as she refused their last offer to return.” No,” She said “We made a great sacrifice to come to Zion; now I'll not go back.” “William would not want me to either.”
The thought of her husband, William, helped give her strength. She kept his memory alive in her children. She spoke of him often and how he loved the gospel.
William Settles in Manti
The Dixie Train led by Daniel McArthur arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 3rd. The Sketch of William Fowler by the DUP, indicates that William arrived in Salt Lake on October 3rd. Harriet says, “When we finally reached the Valley we came down Emigration Canyon to what is now Sugar House Ward. My mother's Uncle Samuel Perks, who had married a sister of Grandmother Wright had come to Utah several years earlier . . . We visited with the family a few days and then Uncle Samuel P. took us up to the city” (Allen).
Brigham Young appears to have made it a regular thing to meet the wagon trains as they arrived. Harriet wrote, "President Young was always looking for someone to help with the colonies he had sent to various locations, and so looked among the incoming Saints to find men skilled in different arts and trades.” At this time he met William Fowler. Harriet mentions, “as there were a number of the leaders who had become acquainted with my father when on their missions in England,” he was not unknown to Brigham Young. He was met as “a friend” (Cheney, H). Brigham Young considered his good education and knowledge of music as well as his ill health. He then called him “to go to Manti to teach school and music.” This way William could contribute to the building up of Zion and also support his family in a way which was not too physically demanding.
Figure 8 William Fowler
William was too ill at this time to care for his brother Henry's family anymore. Martha and her two or three remaining children stayed in Salt Lake City where they could best get help and care for themselves until Henry could join them.
Harriet wrote, “After staying in Salt Lake six weeks at a Brother Long's we were sent [to Manti]. A man by the name of Isaac Laing with a pair of white mules took us in a covered wagon to Manti in November, 1863. When we arrived in Manti we stayed with a Brother Works, who by-the-way was a brother-in-law of President Young's . Then we got a house from a man by the name of John Alder”. (They would move several times while in Manti, so this would be their first home there. ) This house was a two-room log home.
“Father's health was poor still, and Mother had to help him a great deal. We would fold up the bedding and put it in the kitchen and arrange the seating of the children some way to sit on boards or chairs. I do not remember how many we had, but quite a roomful.” This was a tuition school from which they might earn a meager living.” We were glad to take anything we could use to eat or wear for pay. Father taught school all that winter. For many years that was all the time any school was held.” (Allen). [Ellen would eventually to most to all of the teaching when William got really ill]
“In the spring of '64 we moved to a house on the east side of town, a large log room.” With a fireplace of course. (Allen), [second house in Manti]
In the winter of 1864-1865 the school had only been in session for a little while and then they had to close down. A diphtheria plague swept the town and 22 people died. All gatherings were discontinued because of this plague. This made it doubly hard for the Fowlers, not only were all the children sick, but there only source of income was shut off. The people of Manti finally “tried a week solution of blue vitrol to gargle the throat and a laxative.” Harriet says that she, “Ammon and Florence had the disease but Mother used the remedy and also gave us olive oil. Father was so ill he could not even cut wood. Mother took in sewing and went out to do anything she could get to do to help with our living. The ward helped us a lot. I remember a Brother Denison being very kind. He got some others to help and got us a lot of wood. Also Brother Smith was very helpful. Once they brought us two chickens. We had been given a chicken several times to make soup for Father, but two surprised us. He told us a weasel had got in his hen house and sucked the blood from nine hens in the night so they could not use all and kindly brought some to use. It was an “ill wind,” but good for someone.
“William Bench was also a very good friend to anyone in need, and often came with a basket of delicacies for my dear father. That winter was a very trying one for us as Father was so ill Mother could not leave home very much. The snow was real deep. We got a small pig to use scraps we could not eat. One morning my brother Ammon came in and said, “The little pig is kneeling up in the corner saying his prayers, I guess.” Mother went out and found it frozen to death.
“In the spring of '65 we moved to another house farther north on the same street, an adobe house with two rooms. We children had recovered from diphtheria, but Father was steadily losing strength.” (Allen) [third home in Manti]
Though very sick William still played his violin.” Mrs. Jorgan Madsen has told us that, when she was a child, her mother being a near neighbor [to William Fowler] sent her many times with food and other things for their comfort. One day when sent on one of these errands, Brother Fowler was playing his violin and his wife was singing the words of his hymn [We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet}, they were trying to fit it to the melody he knew 'The Officers Funeral'“(DUP, sketch (see appendix)).
William contracted Tuberculosis (known as consumption at the time). Ellen worked outside the home for a while. She mostly did sewing since she was a good seamstress. (Peoples clothes were all made by hand then. ) However the sewing proved to be insufficient for their needs especially when William got ill enough for her to have to remain home to care for him.
Harriet and Ammon gathered all they could to burn for fuel. They hauled the tops of trees trimmed off by woodcutters from the foothills. They also tied a rope around the dry sagebrush and go round and round until it was pulled out. Then they would tie several together and drag them home to burn.
The neighbors often brought chicken or some other delicacy for William since he was so sick. The summer heat was very oppressive.” In July he got the dysentery and for six weeks was bedfast. He became so thin that Mother could lift him in or out of bed though she was a little woman” Ellen was five feet two inches and William was Five foot five inches tall.” There were no trees to shade the house from the intense heat, so Mother would make a pallet on the east room floor and carry him in there in the afternoons.” The east side of the house would have been a little cooler than the west side.
“On August 27, a Sunday it was, he was unable to speak, but motioned for Mother to get him a pencil and paper and she held it up for him to write on. I never forgot one sentence. (He had been suffering so long) He wrote.” Pray for me to die quick.”
“There were several friends in that Sunday, and some stayed with us. The other two children had gone to bed, but I sensed he was worse, and begged Mother to let me sit on the middle doorstep I would be very quiet, I promised, so I saw my dear Father die in my mother's arms. My first sight of death. I never forgot it.”
William was only 35 years old when he died. He was buried in the Manti cemetery.
As Latter-day Saints his children were concerned that He “had not been well enough to go to Salt Lake for his endowments, which at that time were given in the old endowment house. So when my brother was old enough and the St. George Temple was working, he had endowments for our father. As Mother had been to Salt Lake and had her endowments, I stood for her and Ammon for Father, and we were sealed for them. Then my Father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph S. Allen and Lucy D. Allen stood for our own parents, and we three children were sealed to our own parents.” (Allen). The endowments for William were done on 3 April 1879 along with the sealings. (Ellen had her own endowments done before then. The baptisms and endowments would be repeated in Aug 1968. )
Brigham Young appears to have made it a regular thing to meet the wagon trains as they arrived. Harriet wrote, "President Young was always looking for someone to help with the colonies he had sent to various locations, and so looked among the incoming Saints to find men skilled in different arts and trades.” At this time he met William Fowler. Harriet mentions, “as there were a number of the leaders who had become acquainted with my father when on their missions in England,” he was not unknown to Brigham Young. He was met as “a friend” (Cheney, H). Brigham Young considered his good education and knowledge of music as well as his ill health. He then called him “to go to Manti to teach school and music.” This way William could contribute to the building up of Zion and also support his family in a way which was not too physically demanding.
Figure 8 William Fowler
William was too ill at this time to care for his brother Henry's family anymore. Martha and her two or three remaining children stayed in Salt Lake City where they could best get help and care for themselves until Henry could join them.
Harriet wrote, “After staying in Salt Lake six weeks at a Brother Long's we were sent [to Manti]. A man by the name of Isaac Laing with a pair of white mules took us in a covered wagon to Manti in November, 1863. When we arrived in Manti we stayed with a Brother Works, who by-the-way was a brother-in-law of President Young's . Then we got a house from a man by the name of John Alder”. (They would move several times while in Manti, so this would be their first home there. ) This house was a two-room log home.
“Father's health was poor still, and Mother had to help him a great deal. We would fold up the bedding and put it in the kitchen and arrange the seating of the children some way to sit on boards or chairs. I do not remember how many we had, but quite a roomful.” This was a tuition school from which they might earn a meager living.” We were glad to take anything we could use to eat or wear for pay. Father taught school all that winter. For many years that was all the time any school was held.” (Allen). [Ellen would eventually to most to all of the teaching when William got really ill]
“In the spring of '64 we moved to a house on the east side of town, a large log room.” With a fireplace of course. (Allen), [second house in Manti]
In the winter of 1864-1865 the school had only been in session for a little while and then they had to close down. A diphtheria plague swept the town and 22 people died. All gatherings were discontinued because of this plague. This made it doubly hard for the Fowlers, not only were all the children sick, but there only source of income was shut off. The people of Manti finally “tried a week solution of blue vitrol to gargle the throat and a laxative.” Harriet says that she, “Ammon and Florence had the disease but Mother used the remedy and also gave us olive oil. Father was so ill he could not even cut wood. Mother took in sewing and went out to do anything she could get to do to help with our living. The ward helped us a lot. I remember a Brother Denison being very kind. He got some others to help and got us a lot of wood. Also Brother Smith was very helpful. Once they brought us two chickens. We had been given a chicken several times to make soup for Father, but two surprised us. He told us a weasel had got in his hen house and sucked the blood from nine hens in the night so they could not use all and kindly brought some to use. It was an “ill wind,” but good for someone.
“William Bench was also a very good friend to anyone in need, and often came with a basket of delicacies for my dear father. That winter was a very trying one for us as Father was so ill Mother could not leave home very much. The snow was real deep. We got a small pig to use scraps we could not eat. One morning my brother Ammon came in and said, “The little pig is kneeling up in the corner saying his prayers, I guess.” Mother went out and found it frozen to death.
“In the spring of '65 we moved to another house farther north on the same street, an adobe house with two rooms. We children had recovered from diphtheria, but Father was steadily losing strength.” (Allen) [third home in Manti]
Though very sick William still played his violin.” Mrs. Jorgan Madsen has told us that, when she was a child, her mother being a near neighbor [to William Fowler] sent her many times with food and other things for their comfort. One day when sent on one of these errands, Brother Fowler was playing his violin and his wife was singing the words of his hymn [We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet}, they were trying to fit it to the melody he knew 'The Officers Funeral'“(DUP, sketch (see appendix)).
William contracted Tuberculosis (known as consumption at the time). Ellen worked outside the home for a while. She mostly did sewing since she was a good seamstress. (Peoples clothes were all made by hand then. ) However the sewing proved to be insufficient for their needs especially when William got ill enough for her to have to remain home to care for him.
Harriet and Ammon gathered all they could to burn for fuel. They hauled the tops of trees trimmed off by woodcutters from the foothills. They also tied a rope around the dry sagebrush and go round and round until it was pulled out. Then they would tie several together and drag them home to burn.
The neighbors often brought chicken or some other delicacy for William since he was so sick. The summer heat was very oppressive.” In July he got the dysentery and for six weeks was bedfast. He became so thin that Mother could lift him in or out of bed though she was a little woman” Ellen was five feet two inches and William was Five foot five inches tall.” There were no trees to shade the house from the intense heat, so Mother would make a pallet on the east room floor and carry him in there in the afternoons.” The east side of the house would have been a little cooler than the west side.
“On August 27, a Sunday it was, he was unable to speak, but motioned for Mother to get him a pencil and paper and she held it up for him to write on. I never forgot one sentence. (He had been suffering so long) He wrote.” Pray for me to die quick.”
“There were several friends in that Sunday, and some stayed with us. The other two children had gone to bed, but I sensed he was worse, and begged Mother to let me sit on the middle doorstep I would be very quiet, I promised, so I saw my dear Father die in my mother's arms. My first sight of death. I never forgot it.”
William was only 35 years old when he died. He was buried in the Manti cemetery.
As Latter-day Saints his children were concerned that He “had not been well enough to go to Salt Lake for his endowments, which at that time were given in the old endowment house. So when my brother was old enough and the St. George Temple was working, he had endowments for our father. As Mother had been to Salt Lake and had her endowments, I stood for her and Ammon for Father, and we were sealed for them. Then my Father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph S. Allen and Lucy D. Allen stood for our own parents, and we three children were sealed to our own parents.” (Allen). The endowments for William were done on 3 April 1879 along with the sealings. (Ellen had her own endowments done before then. The baptisms and endowments would be repeated in Aug 1968. )
Across The Plains
During this period of Church History, Down and Back “Church Trains. . . were sent from Utah in April with provisions for the yearly immigration, and they returned with immigrants in the summer and early fall.” The Church brought Europeans to Utah “at a reduced cost because of the voluntary donation of labor, teams, and supplies from the Saints [already in the Salt Lake Valley].” (Church History in the Fullness of Times, p. 3 89).
The immigrants from 'The Amazon' arrived on July 31. Then they “rested. . . doing washing, patching, mending and preparing for the tedious journey across the plains” (Dowden).
William Fowler and his family were assigned to the Dixie Train led by Daniel McArthur. According to the Historic Resource Study: Mormon Pioneer Train the Daniel D. McArthur wagon train left with about 500 people and 75 wagons. The Teamsters had all sorts of food provisions already bought and ready to load. The Dixie Train led by Daniel McArthur would leave Florence on August 6th and arrive in Salt Lake on October 3rd.
Harriet says, “we were crowded in a lumber wagon with my Aunt Martha's three children, Mother's three children, and all our earthly possessions for both families.” That made nine people assigned to their wagon besides the teamster who drove it.
Figure 7 Map of Pioneer Trek
Harriet wrote, "The teams of oxen and covered wagons were waiting at Florence, Nebraska, in a large open plain. We had been delayed so long on the sea. I had not seen an ox with such long horns, and they did look fierce to me.” Harriet goes on to name the oxen that drove their wagon.”We had three yoke of oxen at first- the wheelers were a large pair of red and white cattle, and the other two pair were red and brindle oxen. They were name, respectively, Dine and Lion, Buck and Berry, Dick and Derry. We lost Dick and Derry before we reached the mountains.”
All but the very ill were encouraged to walk, so as to lighten the load for the overburdened animals. Young children were also encouraged to walk all they could. In fact they were obliged to since many people were ill and could not walk fast enough to keep up with the train. [Riding was also uncomfortable with the jolting over trails. ]
Harriet writes that the women and children slept in the wagon at night. There was no room for William, so he slept on the ground outside with the teamster that drove their wagon. She says that it “rained a lot” on the plains and that William got wet every time.
The company was called together each day for morning and evening prayers and each night the wagons were to be drawn into a circle to form a corral. Harriet described how they made the circle at night as follows; “There were fifty wagons in the train. They were divided into two wings. The left and right wing, Each morning as the bugle sounded to start, the right wing would move out to the road and at night, when we were ready to camp, the lead team would leave the road and turn to the right and the wagons in that wing would follow and form a half circle, the lead team coming back to the road; then the left wing would turn to the left and go in a half circle and the lead team came to the road where the first team were, thus forming a complete circle. The tongues were turned in, and the cattle were unyoked and turned out to feed and water. There was always a guard with them. They would be brought into the big corral to yoke them up”(Allen).
Eight a.m. was a normal time for the wagons to get rolling each morning.
A normal ration of food for an adult was 1 1A pounds of flour and 1 pound of bacon a day besides other eatables.
“We never traveled on Sundays”, Harriet writes.” We as well as the cattle needed the Sabbath Day rest, and the teaching and encouragement of the brethren.”
They had to wade many streams. The teams could barely pull the loads over. They came to the Loup fork about 100 miles after Florence. The “bottom was quicksand.” Harriet wrote. That made it very difficult to cross over. Harriet continued, “It was the Loup Fork of the Platte River. Every one had to get out of the wagons. The men rode across to test the footing, on horses. They hitched a long string of oxen to each wagon and their men rode on each side to urge the teams, for if their wheels should stop they would begin to sink through the quicksand and they would not be able to move it. I remember we all took off our shoes and stockings, tied them together, and hung them around our necks. Father took my little sister, Florence, astride his neck, with her arms clinging to him, and led my brother Ammon by the hand. Then Mother held to my hand and we waded through the stream. To us who were not used to seeing running water, only in a little stream with a big bridge over it, it seemed dreadful. Some who were too sick to wade across were carried on horseback, for no one dared to ride [in the wagons] Least the wagons might sink. It took all day to cross” (Allen).
The Company “often saw buffalo” (Allen). One day a large herd came in sight. The captain ordered the train to halt. He then ordered all the women and children to get in the wagons for safety. The “men rode out towards the herd and fired at them to try to turn them away from their course. It had been thought nothing could turn a herd of buffalo from their direct course. They had run over wagons in their mad race, but the Lord as ever, was guarding His people and they swerved to the right and did not come near the wagons. The men got several for meat for the camp” (Allen).
About 93 miles after crossing the Loup fork the company came to Wood River (Hafen). Here they found quantities of wild plums growing. Crossing the plains they lacked vegetables. The teamsters from Zion had brought large supplies of food; flour, bacon, salt, vinegar etc. but of course there was no milk or butter or vegetables. Harriet wrote “We no doubt suffered for the lack of fresh vegetables. One time they [the teamsters from Utah] told us not to eat too freely of the great quantities of wild plums we found at Wood River. They were very good and no doubt some ate too many at first. Our mother only gave us a few each day, so we were not made ill.” Ellen was a wise mother with good discipline; her children obeyed her without question. Others in the camp however overate and were made ill.
Wood and brush which people would normally use to build fires was very scarce on the plains. Pioneers crossing the plains had to collect buffalo chips to burn. Harriet says, “Many times in our travels there was a scarcity of fuel, and we had to gather the dried droppings from the cattle. When they were allowed to burn down to a hot bed of embers and the smoke was all gone, the food could be cooked with no bad odor.”
The lack of milk was “very hard on babies” Harriet says. Perhaps she was talking about her little cousin, Kate. Who would sicken on the journey.
While they were on the plains, Martha's baby, Kate, just 15 months old, died of Summer Complaint. Harriet wrote, “ Aunt Martha's little babe, about 15 months old, got sick with teething and dysentery, and died on the plains as many others did on that toilsome journey.” (Allen). The company halted while the men scooped out a shallow grave. The babe was wrapped up in a clean sheet and laid in. Dirt was hastily thrown over it, and they were ready to march forward. While the burying was being done, both families of children raced around gathering wild flowers to strew over the little grave. Then the drivers whip was raised and his big voice boomed out a, “Gee” as the wagons were again pulled back on the trail.
William had always enjoyed good health, but that was soon to change. Harriet wrote, “My father caught cold wading the streams and sleeping out nights, He contracted tuberculosis, so Mother could not have as much help from him as before.” He coughed so much, he couldn't keep up with the wagons and had to ride.
With William in the wagon Harriet could no longer ride. In Harriet's biography it says that, “The first day her feet grew very tired and blistered in the course shoes. The next day the blisters broke and bled and stuck to her shoes. After awhile the brave little feet could walk all day without a whimper.” Later she would walk without shoes at all. One family story says that Harriet would get thistles in her feet and could not stop to pull them out until evening when the wagons stopped. (Cheney, Helen).
Harriet says, “Once we camped at a place where there were some mineral springs and lots of the cattle became sick and some died. I do not remember if this is where we lost our one yoke of oxen or not. When we at last came to where we could see the distant mountains there was great rejoicing, though we had many days yet to travel before we reached them” (Allen).
Mary E. Fretwell Davis, who traveled with the McArthur wagon train said that “when we got in sight of the mountains, the Utah boys [teamsters from Utah] gave a great shout, and up went their hats in the air. The mountains and canyons looked wonderful to us. After walking through canyons and over mountains, we came to a mountain [from which] we could see Salt Lake City, and over the valley.” She says that when they went down to the city and camped that President Brigham Young and others came to meet them. President Young gave them all good advice.
The immigrants from 'The Amazon' arrived on July 31. Then they “rested. . . doing washing, patching, mending and preparing for the tedious journey across the plains” (Dowden).
William Fowler and his family were assigned to the Dixie Train led by Daniel McArthur. According to the Historic Resource Study: Mormon Pioneer Train the Daniel D. McArthur wagon train left with about 500 people and 75 wagons. The Teamsters had all sorts of food provisions already bought and ready to load. The Dixie Train led by Daniel McArthur would leave Florence on August 6th and arrive in Salt Lake on October 3rd.
Harriet says, “we were crowded in a lumber wagon with my Aunt Martha's three children, Mother's three children, and all our earthly possessions for both families.” That made nine people assigned to their wagon besides the teamster who drove it.
Figure 7 Map of Pioneer Trek
Harriet wrote, "The teams of oxen and covered wagons were waiting at Florence, Nebraska, in a large open plain. We had been delayed so long on the sea. I had not seen an ox with such long horns, and they did look fierce to me.” Harriet goes on to name the oxen that drove their wagon.”We had three yoke of oxen at first- the wheelers were a large pair of red and white cattle, and the other two pair were red and brindle oxen. They were name, respectively, Dine and Lion, Buck and Berry, Dick and Derry. We lost Dick and Derry before we reached the mountains.”
All but the very ill were encouraged to walk, so as to lighten the load for the overburdened animals. Young children were also encouraged to walk all they could. In fact they were obliged to since many people were ill and could not walk fast enough to keep up with the train. [Riding was also uncomfortable with the jolting over trails. ]
Harriet writes that the women and children slept in the wagon at night. There was no room for William, so he slept on the ground outside with the teamster that drove their wagon. She says that it “rained a lot” on the plains and that William got wet every time.
The company was called together each day for morning and evening prayers and each night the wagons were to be drawn into a circle to form a corral. Harriet described how they made the circle at night as follows; “There were fifty wagons in the train. They were divided into two wings. The left and right wing, Each morning as the bugle sounded to start, the right wing would move out to the road and at night, when we were ready to camp, the lead team would leave the road and turn to the right and the wagons in that wing would follow and form a half circle, the lead team coming back to the road; then the left wing would turn to the left and go in a half circle and the lead team came to the road where the first team were, thus forming a complete circle. The tongues were turned in, and the cattle were unyoked and turned out to feed and water. There was always a guard with them. They would be brought into the big corral to yoke them up”(Allen).
Eight a.m. was a normal time for the wagons to get rolling each morning.
A normal ration of food for an adult was 1 1A pounds of flour and 1 pound of bacon a day besides other eatables.
“We never traveled on Sundays”, Harriet writes.” We as well as the cattle needed the Sabbath Day rest, and the teaching and encouragement of the brethren.”
They had to wade many streams. The teams could barely pull the loads over. They came to the Loup fork about 100 miles after Florence. The “bottom was quicksand.” Harriet wrote. That made it very difficult to cross over. Harriet continued, “It was the Loup Fork of the Platte River. Every one had to get out of the wagons. The men rode across to test the footing, on horses. They hitched a long string of oxen to each wagon and their men rode on each side to urge the teams, for if their wheels should stop they would begin to sink through the quicksand and they would not be able to move it. I remember we all took off our shoes and stockings, tied them together, and hung them around our necks. Father took my little sister, Florence, astride his neck, with her arms clinging to him, and led my brother Ammon by the hand. Then Mother held to my hand and we waded through the stream. To us who were not used to seeing running water, only in a little stream with a big bridge over it, it seemed dreadful. Some who were too sick to wade across were carried on horseback, for no one dared to ride [in the wagons] Least the wagons might sink. It took all day to cross” (Allen).
The Company “often saw buffalo” (Allen). One day a large herd came in sight. The captain ordered the train to halt. He then ordered all the women and children to get in the wagons for safety. The “men rode out towards the herd and fired at them to try to turn them away from their course. It had been thought nothing could turn a herd of buffalo from their direct course. They had run over wagons in their mad race, but the Lord as ever, was guarding His people and they swerved to the right and did not come near the wagons. The men got several for meat for the camp” (Allen).
About 93 miles after crossing the Loup fork the company came to Wood River (Hafen). Here they found quantities of wild plums growing. Crossing the plains they lacked vegetables. The teamsters from Zion had brought large supplies of food; flour, bacon, salt, vinegar etc. but of course there was no milk or butter or vegetables. Harriet wrote “We no doubt suffered for the lack of fresh vegetables. One time they [the teamsters from Utah] told us not to eat too freely of the great quantities of wild plums we found at Wood River. They were very good and no doubt some ate too many at first. Our mother only gave us a few each day, so we were not made ill.” Ellen was a wise mother with good discipline; her children obeyed her without question. Others in the camp however overate and were made ill.
Wood and brush which people would normally use to build fires was very scarce on the plains. Pioneers crossing the plains had to collect buffalo chips to burn. Harriet says, “Many times in our travels there was a scarcity of fuel, and we had to gather the dried droppings from the cattle. When they were allowed to burn down to a hot bed of embers and the smoke was all gone, the food could be cooked with no bad odor.”
The lack of milk was “very hard on babies” Harriet says. Perhaps she was talking about her little cousin, Kate. Who would sicken on the journey.
While they were on the plains, Martha's baby, Kate, just 15 months old, died of Summer Complaint. Harriet wrote, “ Aunt Martha's little babe, about 15 months old, got sick with teething and dysentery, and died on the plains as many others did on that toilsome journey.” (Allen). The company halted while the men scooped out a shallow grave. The babe was wrapped up in a clean sheet and laid in. Dirt was hastily thrown over it, and they were ready to march forward. While the burying was being done, both families of children raced around gathering wild flowers to strew over the little grave. Then the drivers whip was raised and his big voice boomed out a, “Gee” as the wagons were again pulled back on the trail.
William had always enjoyed good health, but that was soon to change. Harriet wrote, “My father caught cold wading the streams and sleeping out nights, He contracted tuberculosis, so Mother could not have as much help from him as before.” He coughed so much, he couldn't keep up with the wagons and had to ride.
With William in the wagon Harriet could no longer ride. In Harriet's biography it says that, “The first day her feet grew very tired and blistered in the course shoes. The next day the blisters broke and bled and stuck to her shoes. After awhile the brave little feet could walk all day without a whimper.” Later she would walk without shoes at all. One family story says that Harriet would get thistles in her feet and could not stop to pull them out until evening when the wagons stopped. (Cheney, Helen).
Harriet says, “Once we camped at a place where there were some mineral springs and lots of the cattle became sick and some died. I do not remember if this is where we lost our one yoke of oxen or not. When we at last came to where we could see the distant mountains there was great rejoicing, though we had many days yet to travel before we reached them” (Allen).
Mary E. Fretwell Davis, who traveled with the McArthur wagon train said that “when we got in sight of the mountains, the Utah boys [teamsters from Utah] gave a great shout, and up went their hats in the air. The mountains and canyons looked wonderful to us. After walking through canyons and over mountains, we came to a mountain [from which] we could see Salt Lake City, and over the valley.” She says that when they went down to the city and camped that President Brigham Young and others came to meet them. President Young gave them all good advice.
From New York to Florence
When the Saints landed at New York, they met with Latter-day Saint agents who received them and transferred them on “to steam boats and railcars to continue their journey west.” (Woods). On July 21st at 6 a.m., they took a steamboat up the Hudson river. They then transferred to the “Hudson River Railroad” at 9 a.m. Elijah Larkin, who was on the trip, makes mention of the “mountains, hills and valleys” they passed by. He thought the scenery quite nice. After being at sea for over a month and coming to a whole new country, he was eager to see all he could. At 4:45 p.m. the train stopped at Poughkeepsie.
William's daughter, Harriet wrote in her Autobiography, “Father still took care of a certain number of the Saints all through the States. Some people seem so helpless, in a strange place. He was always busy getting food, helping to get the people in as comfortable places as possible “ At each stop the leaders would get out and buy as many provisions as they could.
They never knew exactly when the train would leave so children had to be kept very close to the train or left onboard whenever it stopped. Ellen was very good at watching out for her children and they behaved well. Many Saints were “scared at being left behind” (West). One group of leaders, out looking for food to buy, actually missed the train at one stop and had to catch the next train to catch up. The conductor was not very happy with them.
They left Poughkeepsie at 4:30 am on the 22nd and passed the “Catskill Mountains” where Elijah Larkin noted the “grape, holly hock” and other plants “that are cultivated in England, growing wild on both sides of [the train]”. The train made another stop at Strivesent Landing, which was unplanned. It seems that there had been some heavy floods recently and it had washed out at least one bridge. At 2 p.m. the train arrived in Albany, NY. Many leaders got off the train to look for food to buy, but found all the stores closed. The “citizens” were feeling hostile toward the “soldiers” stationed there and had closed all the stores.
Harriet wrote “It was during the Civil War in the United States, and the accommodations for the Saints were poor. Sometimes we were put in cattle cars, no seats, nor any comforts at all. Just our bedrolls and canvas trunks for seats and no place to cook, only as we could stop sometimes to change cars”(Allen).
The “women were afraid that their husbands would be drafted for the war every day” says William McLachlan, a fellow immigrant. Charles West, another immigrant in the group, reported that “on account of the Civil War going on we had to rough it. While traveling part of the time in sheep cars.”
They obviously were able to ride in passenger cars some of the time but had to go on the cattle (sheep) cars as well. Because of the Civil War passenger cars were not always available. The railroad people were “afraid of good cars being burned by Confederates” (West). The cattle cars were just swept out and they had straw on the floor.
A fellow passenger by the name of Naomi D. Dowden reported that at Albany they were loaded onto cattle cars. At 6 p.m. the train left Albany and stopped the next day the 23rd in Rochester for another engine. They stopped again in Albion for two hours. The leaders bought food while there. Here they saw “Niagara Falls about 12 miles up the river” (Larkin).
About 4:30 p.m. a luggage car caught fire and damaged quite a bit of luggage. The railroad company paid 200$ in compensation to the Saints. They left the damaged car in Hamilton and traveled on. William Fowler's luggage was not among those listed as damaged.
On July 24th at 12 p.m. the Saints arrived in Detroit. In the evening they “crossed [the] Detroit river in a steamer” (Larkin). On the other side of the river they found that there was a “shortage of carriages [railroad cars]” and it caused a bit of confusion.
The train arrived in Chicago at 1 p.m. on the 25th of July.
On the 26th they arrived in Quincy. The people were low on food, especially bread. The leaders bought some bread at the depo at Quincy. However all other stores were closed because it was Sunday.
From Quincy they “crossed the Mississippi River in two companies on the ferry boat” (Larkin). On the other side in the town of Hannibal, the Saints were put on “cattle cars” for the 16 miles to Palmyra. From there the passengers took one train and the baggage came on another. The trip was very rough and “tiresome” since the “rails having been tore up by the Army and only a temporary road laid” (Larkin).
Charles West says that because of the war there was not all that much food available at the stops and that they had to “rough it” by going short. The train stopped at St. Joseph at midnight (just as it became the 28th). The leaders got out and “purchased all the bread for sale in the city”(Larkin). At 7 a.m. 2/3rds of the immigrant Saints got on the steamboat “Hudson” while the others got on the next steamboat. They would stop at a German village along the way and buy all the “crackers, cheese, butter and eggs they could.” The Saints were very grateful because they were “very hungry” but it was only half what they needed (Larkin).
On the 29th they stopped at Nebraska City and again bought food. At daybreak on the 30* they made a stop at Council Bluffs. This location was of interest to the Saints since it used to be the place from which the Saints set off for the Rockies. However they would continue on to the new jumping off place, Florence,(Nebraska). On the 31st at Sam they made it to Florence landing.
A fellow passenger, William Mclachlan, was very sad. His son who had been sick for the entire journey, died during the last leg of the train trip. Here he found a place to bury him. He records that William Fowler offered the prayer over the grave of his son William Gilbert McLachlan.
They then made the short trip to Florence proper. Once in Florence they were greeted with a good meal by the Saints assigned there. They found that the teamsters from Zion had been waiting for them for two or three weeks. From here the immigrants would be assigned to different wagon companies and set up camp around Florence. William Fowler was probably assigned to the Dixie train led by Daniel McArthur.
William's daughter, Harriet wrote in her Autobiography, “Father still took care of a certain number of the Saints all through the States. Some people seem so helpless, in a strange place. He was always busy getting food, helping to get the people in as comfortable places as possible “ At each stop the leaders would get out and buy as many provisions as they could.
They never knew exactly when the train would leave so children had to be kept very close to the train or left onboard whenever it stopped. Ellen was very good at watching out for her children and they behaved well. Many Saints were “scared at being left behind” (West). One group of leaders, out looking for food to buy, actually missed the train at one stop and had to catch the next train to catch up. The conductor was not very happy with them.
They left Poughkeepsie at 4:30 am on the 22nd and passed the “Catskill Mountains” where Elijah Larkin noted the “grape, holly hock” and other plants “that are cultivated in England, growing wild on both sides of [the train]”. The train made another stop at Strivesent Landing, which was unplanned. It seems that there had been some heavy floods recently and it had washed out at least one bridge. At 2 p.m. the train arrived in Albany, NY. Many leaders got off the train to look for food to buy, but found all the stores closed. The “citizens” were feeling hostile toward the “soldiers” stationed there and had closed all the stores.
Harriet wrote “It was during the Civil War in the United States, and the accommodations for the Saints were poor. Sometimes we were put in cattle cars, no seats, nor any comforts at all. Just our bedrolls and canvas trunks for seats and no place to cook, only as we could stop sometimes to change cars”(Allen).
The “women were afraid that their husbands would be drafted for the war every day” says William McLachlan, a fellow immigrant. Charles West, another immigrant in the group, reported that “on account of the Civil War going on we had to rough it. While traveling part of the time in sheep cars.”
They obviously were able to ride in passenger cars some of the time but had to go on the cattle (sheep) cars as well. Because of the Civil War passenger cars were not always available. The railroad people were “afraid of good cars being burned by Confederates” (West). The cattle cars were just swept out and they had straw on the floor.
A fellow passenger by the name of Naomi D. Dowden reported that at Albany they were loaded onto cattle cars. At 6 p.m. the train left Albany and stopped the next day the 23rd in Rochester for another engine. They stopped again in Albion for two hours. The leaders bought food while there. Here they saw “Niagara Falls about 12 miles up the river” (Larkin).
About 4:30 p.m. a luggage car caught fire and damaged quite a bit of luggage. The railroad company paid 200$ in compensation to the Saints. They left the damaged car in Hamilton and traveled on. William Fowler's luggage was not among those listed as damaged.
On July 24th at 12 p.m. the Saints arrived in Detroit. In the evening they “crossed [the] Detroit river in a steamer” (Larkin). On the other side of the river they found that there was a “shortage of carriages [railroad cars]” and it caused a bit of confusion.
The train arrived in Chicago at 1 p.m. on the 25th of July.
On the 26th they arrived in Quincy. The people were low on food, especially bread. The leaders bought some bread at the depo at Quincy. However all other stores were closed because it was Sunday.
From Quincy they “crossed the Mississippi River in two companies on the ferry boat” (Larkin). On the other side in the town of Hannibal, the Saints were put on “cattle cars” for the 16 miles to Palmyra. From there the passengers took one train and the baggage came on another. The trip was very rough and “tiresome” since the “rails having been tore up by the Army and only a temporary road laid” (Larkin).
Charles West says that because of the war there was not all that much food available at the stops and that they had to “rough it” by going short. The train stopped at St. Joseph at midnight (just as it became the 28th). The leaders got out and “purchased all the bread for sale in the city”(Larkin). At 7 a.m. 2/3rds of the immigrant Saints got on the steamboat “Hudson” while the others got on the next steamboat. They would stop at a German village along the way and buy all the “crackers, cheese, butter and eggs they could.” The Saints were very grateful because they were “very hungry” but it was only half what they needed (Larkin).
On the 29th they stopped at Nebraska City and again bought food. At daybreak on the 30* they made a stop at Council Bluffs. This location was of interest to the Saints since it used to be the place from which the Saints set off for the Rockies. However they would continue on to the new jumping off place, Florence,(Nebraska). On the 31st at Sam they made it to Florence landing.
A fellow passenger, William Mclachlan, was very sad. His son who had been sick for the entire journey, died during the last leg of the train trip. Here he found a place to bury him. He records that William Fowler offered the prayer over the grave of his son William Gilbert McLachlan.
They then made the short trip to Florence proper. Once in Florence they were greeted with a good meal by the Saints assigned there. They found that the teamsters from Zion had been waiting for them for two or three weeks. From here the immigrants would be assigned to different wagon companies and set up camp around Florence. William Fowler was probably assigned to the Dixie train led by Daniel McArthur.
On To Zion
In 1863 William and Ellen decided that the time had come to gather to Zion with the other Saints. William sold all of his instruments except for his beloved violin to buy necessities for the journey to Zion. They bought sturdy shoes and clothes for the trip. Harriet was given long sleeve dresses and course shoes. Harriet's long curls were cut off. Florence's probably were too. A ship was chartered by a Latter-day Saint agent and the family went to the seashore (probably Liverpool )for leave taking.
However the ship was examined and found to be unseaworthy. Since they had sold all their extra things, settled their rent and William had quit his job,; they had no place to return to. They went by train to Ellen's parent's home and stayed with them, while another ship was being secured. They had a long last visit with her parents. This was a bittersweet time for Ellen since she knew that she would never see them again. After three weeks, word came that a ship was ready, 'Ellen bid her folks a very sad goodbye; and they headed to London where the ship 'The Amazon' was docked. Harriet writes, "It took us one day's ride on the train to go to where the ship was anchored. Mother's brother, James Bradshaw, accompanied us on the train” (Allen).
William took his brother Henry's wife, Martha, and their three or four children with them to Zion. His brother was filling a mission in England at the time. William had promised to care for Henry's family until Henry's mission was over and he could join them.
It was hard for Martha to come and leave Henry. The children too cried bitterly. Henry
would never see baby Kate again; she would die crossing the plains. Ellen would comfort and
assist her sister-in-law all she could.
There were fourteen people with the last name of Fowler listed on the passenger manifest including two William's one born in 1829 and another in 1839. Our William was most likely the one listed as being born in 1829, since that is the closest to his real birth date. William's wife, Ellen, was listed (born 1834) and his children: Harriet (1856), Henry A. (1858) and Florence (1861). Henry's wife, Martha (1829) is listed and his children Mary E. (1852) [Harriet called her “Emma”], John F. (1857) and Kate (1863)
Genealogist, Virginia Rogers, stated that William's brothers “John and George are presumed to have stayed in England, although at least one is known to have at least visited his mother's country, Ireland.”
William and his family boarded the ship, 'The Amazon' on the 2nd or 3rd of June. On the 3rd The company was seen by the “Government Emigration Officers who eulogized their order, harmony and general appearance, after which President [George Q.] Cannon. . . organized the company” (Mormon Immigration Index). William Bramall (Bramwell) was made the leader of the Saints with Edward L. Sloan and Richard Palmer as counselors. The 895 Saints on board were divided into 15 wards by what decks they were staying on. William Fowler was made president of the 10th ward.
The novelty of a ship full of Latter-day Saints leaving from the London docks excited a great amount of interest among strangers and officials in London. Usually the Saints chartered ships out of Liverpool, however there was an unprecedented scarcity of ships of the type they needed in Liverpool that spring. Years earlier while laboring in London Elder Eli B. Kelsey prophesied that a ship would leave from those very London docks loaded with Saints. The Saints did not know about this prophesy until after they had chartered it (Immigration Index).
While standing on the deck of the ship, Harriet remembered a particular incident, “when the large crowd of people were standing on the dock, some climbing the long ladder that was braced against the side of the ship. As they loaded in the Saints' baggage, the huge ship gradually settled lower. There were some among the crowd who were not Saints. Father caught sight of a man among the crowd whose right arm hung limp by his side, and called Mother's attention to him. It was a man by the name of Hepburn or Jorman—I do not remember which, as both had been very bitter opponents of the Church- apostates. I remember Father telling how his arm came to be useless.” (Story is written earlier in this history. )
On the 3rd Charles Dickens went “Down by the Docks” to see the Mormon immigrants that were leaving for America. He wrote about it in The Uncommercial Traveler: No Thoroughfare. It was a “hot morning” and the immigrants were swarming about the docks and the “gangways” were crowded with immigrants, most with children, carrying bread, cheese and other cargo onboard. Mr. Dickens had conversations with some of the immigrants and watched as the government officials checked the passengers. A doctor checked the passengers health (possibly checking for the plague or other communicable diseases) and all were allowed onboard. Dickens mentioned how orderly the people were and how they all had their papers ready. There is “no disorder, hurry, or difficulty.” He found himself surprised at the people. They were not what he expected at all. He wrote, "A few of the poor children were crying, but otherwise the universal cheerfulness was amazing.” Dickens called the immigrants “the pick and flower of England.”
The Captain agreed, “most of these came aboard yesterday evening,” he said.” They came from various parts of England in small parties that had never seen one another before, Yet they had not been a couple of hours on board, when they established their own police, made their own regulations, and set their own watches at all the hatchways. Before nine o'clock the ship was as orderly and quiet as a man-of-war.” (Dickens).
They were assigned berths (sleeping places) on the ship. Harriet said they, “lived on the second floor” (Allen). Harriet found her little berth right beside the big “bung hole.” (The bunghole was a large square hole in the side of the ship where the trunks and bedding were brought in. ) She was scared of sleeping there. Ellen assured her that the thing was made very tight. Harriet asked whether a big storm might not push the plug out. “Oh No,” Ellen said soothingly.” We are going to Zion. God won't let anything hurt us.” Harriet said, “Father told us our bunks were on the place where the load had been taken through, but he had taught us that our heavenly Father was watching over his Saints. For instance, He prompted Brother Cannon, the agent, to investigate the condition of the first vessel and found it not good, though the owners must have known the condition of the ship when they hired it to him.” (Allen).
The next day, June 4th 1863 The Amazon departed from London, England and headed down the Thames River. John Watts Berrett, a passenger on board, reports that it was a “fine day.” That first day everyone was still settling in and checking for stowaways.
On June 5th nearly everyone became seasick.” After leaving the White Cliffs of Dover and getting into the English Channel, we began to get a little seasick” (West). Many people were afflicted for the entire voyage. Fortunately, William was unaffected and was able to help care for his family and the members of his ward. Harriet, who was seven at the time, was seasick most of the way. William would carry her up on deck for fresh air very often. (Harriet figured that her father did not become seasick, because he had been on ships before when traveling with his family growing up. )
As president of the 10th ward, William would have many responsibilities during the voyage. The presidents checked on all of the members of their ward daily. They attended to the sick and checked on the needs of all their members. They also checked on single sisters to make sure that no sailors had been bothering them.
Water was handed out beginning at 5:30 am every morning. The officer in charge would give out the word for each ward to receive their water. When he called the tenth ward for water William went for it.
Breakfast and cleaning were taken care of each morning. Prayer was at 7 a.m. every morning The wards took turns on which ward would get water and make breakfast first, second, third, etc.” it works very well considering the vast number of people there are to cook or be cooked for with our limited facilities” writes William Bramall. .
They had big cooking stoves on the upper floors, and water tanks. The women prepared the food and then carried it up to the top deck where the stoves were. There were men to do the cooking. After it was cooked the women would carry it down to tables below. One time Ellen started down the iron stairs with a steaming milk pan full of rice pudding wrapped in a new towel. Her hands were full so she could not hold onto the railing. The ship gave a lurch and she took a fall. The pudding landed on a dining table below where folks were eating. Ellen was badly hurt. She had to keep to her bed for a week or more and never regained her pan and towel.” Mother was so sick from the fall that Father did not go to look for the pan and towel, but the folks did not trouble to hunt them up and give them to us. We find even among Saints, some are selfish.” (Allen).
Evening prayers were at 8 p.m. every night.
Sacrament services and meetings were held on Sunday's often combining three or more wards. They were given instruction on what to expect on the journey ahead as well as regular sermon type subjects. Captain Hovey and other sailors stopped by to look in on the meetings. Before leaving London William gave a sermon and when the Saints saw the Captain they were afraid that they would be put off the ship. Some thought they should have waited until after they sailed. The Captain however reassured them that he had no problem with their preaching and that he was glad to take a group of Saints because he always had a safe journey with Saints on board (Cheney, H. ).
The Captain of the Amazon was H. K. Hovey. In a letter, William Bramall wrote, “The captain, hitherto, has proved himself to be a gentleman in every sense of the word, has been very kind, and has given me all I have asked of him for the comfort of the people-he is very kind indeed to all. He did not forget to drill the sailors, and give them their orders relative to insulting, or in any way interfering with the passengers; if they did, he told them what they might expect, which was something not very pleasant.”
The men in the company often took turns on guard duty. Mostly they stopped unruly behavior and kept the women from coming onto the hurricane deck after 9 p.m. at night and sailors from going below.
A brass band made up of Latter-day Saints from South Wales was on board. They played in the evenings and cheered the Saints on their journey. Shortly after they sailed a choir was organized. A William Fowler is recorded as being part of the choir and taking over for the director once when the director did not show up for practice. The passenger manifest lists two William Fowler's on board, but since our William was musically inclined and older than the other, it is likely to be our William. Everyone enjoyed the music provided.” All feel well; the music from the brass band, songs and hymns succeed each other to cheer the hearts of the saints and enliven the voyage, and the captain has often expressed his satisfaction with the people” (Bramall)
On June 7th the ship stopped at the Isle of Wight because of strong winds. On June 9th they were again underway.
“Sunday June 7th, Early this morning Sister Caroline Harris gave birth to a daughter at 4:30 am” (McLachlan). On June 16th “Heber Franklin Tavey aged 5 months, Child of Peter and Frances Tavey of London died of relaxation and diarrhea and was buried at 4 p.m.” (Sloan).
Harriet said, “ There was only one death in the company-a baby-and one birth-and oddly, both occurred in our ward. I remember Father carrying me up to the burial service. The body was firmly wrapped in a blanket, then a canvas, Then strapped to a board and a cannonball fastened to the foot of the board. After the services were over, it was let slip over the side of the ship”(Allen).
The journey was enlivened by whale sightings on June 27th and again on July 1st. Porpoises were sighted on July 2nd.
The ship had to work against headwinds for most of the way which tended to push it off course. On Sunday the 28th of June at 8 p.m. a sudden gale hit with approaching hurricane violence it was short lived but all the sails were furled except the jibs. The flying jib was torn to ribbons. The rain came down hard. Some sailors heard some of the Saints singing and thought that they didn't take the storm seriously. Anyway the storm was short lived and everyone went to sleep fine. (Sloan).
Many women brought sewing and needlework to help pass the time. William was very busy caring for his family and his ward. If he did have any free time he might have used his time to read, or practice his violin.
On the 3rd of July the ship had been stopped in a calm for some time. The captain lowered the water ration for adults from 3 to 2 quarts a day until they should get moving again. The captain promised plenty of water for washing up before the Saints left the ship however. It soon rained and many saints caught the water for washing. By the 6th the wind was blowing again and they moved more quickly (Mclachlan, Larkin and Sloan).
They celebrated the 4th of July by raising the flag of their soon to be home 'America. ' The band played the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Hail Columbia”. There was also dancing and merriment during the day and evening (Larkin).
On July 6th the ship ran into fog off the coast of New Foundland. They stayed in the fog for several days.
Harriet noted that “There were horses and chickens and hogs on the ship. There would be a great deal of waste from so large a company, so they could easily feed the creatures.” On July 15th she said, “One day when Father had taken me up, I heard the horses neighing. When Father asked the captain why, he said the horses could smell land and vegetation. That was three days before we landed” (Allen). The Amazon landed on the 18th of July 1963.
Florence Cheney says that, “Adverse winds hindered their progress, and then they would
stop in a calm. Because of adverse winds the journey across the ocean took seven weeks, [actually 6 weeks 2 days or 44 days].” Florence says that, “Sea biscuits were brought into use as they ran short of food. This bread is unleavened and baked very hard so it won't spoil, it has to be soaked in soup or water before edible” (Cheney 1). However, no account by others on board the ship say anything about running short of food. In fact potatoes were being handed out just a few days before they arrived in New York. There was no shortage of water either as the Captain let them have all they wanted just before leaving, so they could wash up (Larkin).
Figure 6 Castle Garden, immigration depot in New York
Although they were hindered some on the ocean, it wasn't an exceptionally long voyage. A ship that left several days before them arrived a few days after they did.
The Amazon arrived in New York, New York on 18 July 1863 after 44 days at sea. New York had become “the preferred port of entry. It served as the primary U. S. port of arrival for Latter-day Saint immigrants from 1855 to 1890. It was here that the immigration depot known as Castle Garden was located.” (Woods).
At this time there were “riots” going on in New York over “wages” and “4500 troops [were reportedly] already there to quell the riot” (Larkin). News of the riots “caused great excitement” but the Saints stayed on board ship until the riots were over.” The immigrants considered it providential that they were delayed on the ocean until after the riot had subsided”(Dowden).
On Sunday the 19th of July Elder William C. Stains came on board and gave the Saints some counsel as to how they should go on after leaving the ship (Berrett).
On the 20th of July people finished their packing and washing up and transferred to a “barge” and went across the river to “Castle Garden.” At Castle Garden there were already a great many immigrants camped on the westside, so the Saints camped on the other side (Larkin). While at Castle Garden the Saints exchanged their British money for American money (among other things). They only camped there one night; sleeping “on the floor” (McLachlan).
However the ship was examined and found to be unseaworthy. Since they had sold all their extra things, settled their rent and William had quit his job,; they had no place to return to. They went by train to Ellen's parent's home and stayed with them, while another ship was being secured. They had a long last visit with her parents. This was a bittersweet time for Ellen since she knew that she would never see them again. After three weeks, word came that a ship was ready, 'Ellen bid her folks a very sad goodbye; and they headed to London where the ship 'The Amazon' was docked. Harriet writes, "It took us one day's ride on the train to go to where the ship was anchored. Mother's brother, James Bradshaw, accompanied us on the train” (Allen).
William took his brother Henry's wife, Martha, and their three or four children with them to Zion. His brother was filling a mission in England at the time. William had promised to care for Henry's family until Henry's mission was over and he could join them.
It was hard for Martha to come and leave Henry. The children too cried bitterly. Henry
would never see baby Kate again; she would die crossing the plains. Ellen would comfort and
assist her sister-in-law all she could.
There were fourteen people with the last name of Fowler listed on the passenger manifest including two William's one born in 1829 and another in 1839. Our William was most likely the one listed as being born in 1829, since that is the closest to his real birth date. William's wife, Ellen, was listed (born 1834) and his children: Harriet (1856), Henry A. (1858) and Florence (1861). Henry's wife, Martha (1829) is listed and his children Mary E. (1852) [Harriet called her “Emma”], John F. (1857) and Kate (1863)
Genealogist, Virginia Rogers, stated that William's brothers “John and George are presumed to have stayed in England, although at least one is known to have at least visited his mother's country, Ireland.”
William and his family boarded the ship, 'The Amazon' on the 2nd or 3rd of June. On the 3rd The company was seen by the “Government Emigration Officers who eulogized their order, harmony and general appearance, after which President [George Q.] Cannon. . . organized the company” (Mormon Immigration Index). William Bramall (Bramwell) was made the leader of the Saints with Edward L. Sloan and Richard Palmer as counselors. The 895 Saints on board were divided into 15 wards by what decks they were staying on. William Fowler was made president of the 10th ward.
The novelty of a ship full of Latter-day Saints leaving from the London docks excited a great amount of interest among strangers and officials in London. Usually the Saints chartered ships out of Liverpool, however there was an unprecedented scarcity of ships of the type they needed in Liverpool that spring. Years earlier while laboring in London Elder Eli B. Kelsey prophesied that a ship would leave from those very London docks loaded with Saints. The Saints did not know about this prophesy until after they had chartered it (Immigration Index).
While standing on the deck of the ship, Harriet remembered a particular incident, “when the large crowd of people were standing on the dock, some climbing the long ladder that was braced against the side of the ship. As they loaded in the Saints' baggage, the huge ship gradually settled lower. There were some among the crowd who were not Saints. Father caught sight of a man among the crowd whose right arm hung limp by his side, and called Mother's attention to him. It was a man by the name of Hepburn or Jorman—I do not remember which, as both had been very bitter opponents of the Church- apostates. I remember Father telling how his arm came to be useless.” (Story is written earlier in this history. )
On the 3rd Charles Dickens went “Down by the Docks” to see the Mormon immigrants that were leaving for America. He wrote about it in The Uncommercial Traveler: No Thoroughfare. It was a “hot morning” and the immigrants were swarming about the docks and the “gangways” were crowded with immigrants, most with children, carrying bread, cheese and other cargo onboard. Mr. Dickens had conversations with some of the immigrants and watched as the government officials checked the passengers. A doctor checked the passengers health (possibly checking for the plague or other communicable diseases) and all were allowed onboard. Dickens mentioned how orderly the people were and how they all had their papers ready. There is “no disorder, hurry, or difficulty.” He found himself surprised at the people. They were not what he expected at all. He wrote, "A few of the poor children were crying, but otherwise the universal cheerfulness was amazing.” Dickens called the immigrants “the pick and flower of England.”
The Captain agreed, “most of these came aboard yesterday evening,” he said.” They came from various parts of England in small parties that had never seen one another before, Yet they had not been a couple of hours on board, when they established their own police, made their own regulations, and set their own watches at all the hatchways. Before nine o'clock the ship was as orderly and quiet as a man-of-war.” (Dickens).
They were assigned berths (sleeping places) on the ship. Harriet said they, “lived on the second floor” (Allen). Harriet found her little berth right beside the big “bung hole.” (The bunghole was a large square hole in the side of the ship where the trunks and bedding were brought in. ) She was scared of sleeping there. Ellen assured her that the thing was made very tight. Harriet asked whether a big storm might not push the plug out. “Oh No,” Ellen said soothingly.” We are going to Zion. God won't let anything hurt us.” Harriet said, “Father told us our bunks were on the place where the load had been taken through, but he had taught us that our heavenly Father was watching over his Saints. For instance, He prompted Brother Cannon, the agent, to investigate the condition of the first vessel and found it not good, though the owners must have known the condition of the ship when they hired it to him.” (Allen).
The next day, June 4th 1863 The Amazon departed from London, England and headed down the Thames River. John Watts Berrett, a passenger on board, reports that it was a “fine day.” That first day everyone was still settling in and checking for stowaways.
On June 5th nearly everyone became seasick.” After leaving the White Cliffs of Dover and getting into the English Channel, we began to get a little seasick” (West). Many people were afflicted for the entire voyage. Fortunately, William was unaffected and was able to help care for his family and the members of his ward. Harriet, who was seven at the time, was seasick most of the way. William would carry her up on deck for fresh air very often. (Harriet figured that her father did not become seasick, because he had been on ships before when traveling with his family growing up. )
As president of the 10th ward, William would have many responsibilities during the voyage. The presidents checked on all of the members of their ward daily. They attended to the sick and checked on the needs of all their members. They also checked on single sisters to make sure that no sailors had been bothering them.
Water was handed out beginning at 5:30 am every morning. The officer in charge would give out the word for each ward to receive their water. When he called the tenth ward for water William went for it.
Breakfast and cleaning were taken care of each morning. Prayer was at 7 a.m. every morning The wards took turns on which ward would get water and make breakfast first, second, third, etc.” it works very well considering the vast number of people there are to cook or be cooked for with our limited facilities” writes William Bramall. .
They had big cooking stoves on the upper floors, and water tanks. The women prepared the food and then carried it up to the top deck where the stoves were. There were men to do the cooking. After it was cooked the women would carry it down to tables below. One time Ellen started down the iron stairs with a steaming milk pan full of rice pudding wrapped in a new towel. Her hands were full so she could not hold onto the railing. The ship gave a lurch and she took a fall. The pudding landed on a dining table below where folks were eating. Ellen was badly hurt. She had to keep to her bed for a week or more and never regained her pan and towel.” Mother was so sick from the fall that Father did not go to look for the pan and towel, but the folks did not trouble to hunt them up and give them to us. We find even among Saints, some are selfish.” (Allen).
Evening prayers were at 8 p.m. every night.
Sacrament services and meetings were held on Sunday's often combining three or more wards. They were given instruction on what to expect on the journey ahead as well as regular sermon type subjects. Captain Hovey and other sailors stopped by to look in on the meetings. Before leaving London William gave a sermon and when the Saints saw the Captain they were afraid that they would be put off the ship. Some thought they should have waited until after they sailed. The Captain however reassured them that he had no problem with their preaching and that he was glad to take a group of Saints because he always had a safe journey with Saints on board (Cheney, H. ).
The Captain of the Amazon was H. K. Hovey. In a letter, William Bramall wrote, “The captain, hitherto, has proved himself to be a gentleman in every sense of the word, has been very kind, and has given me all I have asked of him for the comfort of the people-he is very kind indeed to all. He did not forget to drill the sailors, and give them their orders relative to insulting, or in any way interfering with the passengers; if they did, he told them what they might expect, which was something not very pleasant.”
The men in the company often took turns on guard duty. Mostly they stopped unruly behavior and kept the women from coming onto the hurricane deck after 9 p.m. at night and sailors from going below.
A brass band made up of Latter-day Saints from South Wales was on board. They played in the evenings and cheered the Saints on their journey. Shortly after they sailed a choir was organized. A William Fowler is recorded as being part of the choir and taking over for the director once when the director did not show up for practice. The passenger manifest lists two William Fowler's on board, but since our William was musically inclined and older than the other, it is likely to be our William. Everyone enjoyed the music provided.” All feel well; the music from the brass band, songs and hymns succeed each other to cheer the hearts of the saints and enliven the voyage, and the captain has often expressed his satisfaction with the people” (Bramall)
On June 7th the ship stopped at the Isle of Wight because of strong winds. On June 9th they were again underway.
“Sunday June 7th, Early this morning Sister Caroline Harris gave birth to a daughter at 4:30 am” (McLachlan). On June 16th “Heber Franklin Tavey aged 5 months, Child of Peter and Frances Tavey of London died of relaxation and diarrhea and was buried at 4 p.m.” (Sloan).
Harriet said, “ There was only one death in the company-a baby-and one birth-and oddly, both occurred in our ward. I remember Father carrying me up to the burial service. The body was firmly wrapped in a blanket, then a canvas, Then strapped to a board and a cannonball fastened to the foot of the board. After the services were over, it was let slip over the side of the ship”(Allen).
The journey was enlivened by whale sightings on June 27th and again on July 1st. Porpoises were sighted on July 2nd.
The ship had to work against headwinds for most of the way which tended to push it off course. On Sunday the 28th of June at 8 p.m. a sudden gale hit with approaching hurricane violence it was short lived but all the sails were furled except the jibs. The flying jib was torn to ribbons. The rain came down hard. Some sailors heard some of the Saints singing and thought that they didn't take the storm seriously. Anyway the storm was short lived and everyone went to sleep fine. (Sloan).
Many women brought sewing and needlework to help pass the time. William was very busy caring for his family and his ward. If he did have any free time he might have used his time to read, or practice his violin.
On the 3rd of July the ship had been stopped in a calm for some time. The captain lowered the water ration for adults from 3 to 2 quarts a day until they should get moving again. The captain promised plenty of water for washing up before the Saints left the ship however. It soon rained and many saints caught the water for washing. By the 6th the wind was blowing again and they moved more quickly (Mclachlan, Larkin and Sloan).
They celebrated the 4th of July by raising the flag of their soon to be home 'America. ' The band played the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Hail Columbia”. There was also dancing and merriment during the day and evening (Larkin).
On July 6th the ship ran into fog off the coast of New Foundland. They stayed in the fog for several days.
Harriet noted that “There were horses and chickens and hogs on the ship. There would be a great deal of waste from so large a company, so they could easily feed the creatures.” On July 15th she said, “One day when Father had taken me up, I heard the horses neighing. When Father asked the captain why, he said the horses could smell land and vegetation. That was three days before we landed” (Allen). The Amazon landed on the 18th of July 1963.
Florence Cheney says that, “Adverse winds hindered their progress, and then they would
stop in a calm. Because of adverse winds the journey across the ocean took seven weeks, [actually 6 weeks 2 days or 44 days].” Florence says that, “Sea biscuits were brought into use as they ran short of food. This bread is unleavened and baked very hard so it won't spoil, it has to be soaked in soup or water before edible” (Cheney 1). However, no account by others on board the ship say anything about running short of food. In fact potatoes were being handed out just a few days before they arrived in New York. There was no shortage of water either as the Captain let them have all they wanted just before leaving, so they could wash up (Larkin).
Figure 6 Castle Garden, immigration depot in New York
Although they were hindered some on the ocean, it wasn't an exceptionally long voyage. A ship that left several days before them arrived a few days after they did.
The Amazon arrived in New York, New York on 18 July 1863 after 44 days at sea. New York had become “the preferred port of entry. It served as the primary U. S. port of arrival for Latter-day Saint immigrants from 1855 to 1890. It was here that the immigration depot known as Castle Garden was located.” (Woods).
At this time there were “riots” going on in New York over “wages” and “4500 troops [were reportedly] already there to quell the riot” (Larkin). News of the riots “caused great excitement” but the Saints stayed on board ship until the riots were over.” The immigrants considered it providential that they were delayed on the ocean until after the riot had subsided”(Dowden).
On Sunday the 19th of July Elder William C. Stains came on board and gave the Saints some counsel as to how they should go on after leaving the ship (Berrett).
On the 20th of July people finished their packing and washing up and transferred to a “barge” and went across the river to “Castle Garden.” At Castle Garden there were already a great many immigrants camped on the westside, so the Saints camped on the other side (Larkin). While at Castle Garden the Saints exchanged their British money for American money (among other things). They only camped there one night; sleeping “on the floor” (McLachlan).
We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet
William continued faithful in his religion and did much for the benefit of the Saints in England. At this time there was little in the way of hymns specifically for the Latter-day Saint religion. William wrote many hymns, articles, and poems for the entertainment of his fellow Saints. Many of his works appeared in the Millennial Star, a Latter-day Saint Newspaper.
Harriet says, “My parents were very musical. Father played a violin, flute, and harp, and all those we had in our home. When at Grandmother's, he played the piano. He could compose music as easy as a letter. He wrote many songs for the Saints to sing at their gatherings”(Allen).
The following hymn was written in Sheffield and published in the Millennial Star on 15 Oct. 1864 p. 672.
COME LET US BE HAPPY TOGETHER
Come let us be happy together
For of all people we have most right,
And though life has its share of rough weather,
We'll try to be happy tonight.
For troubles are never to seek for
And sorrows are not hard to find,
Then let us be loving, while onward we're moving,
And ever to others be kind.
Chorus:
Come let us be happy together,
For of all people we have most right,
And though life has its share of rough weather,
We'll try to be happy tonight.
In social enjoyment together,
We have met to be happy tonight,
And we know that our Heavenly Father,
Is pleased when his children do right.
Then let us be governed by wisdom,
In all that we say, or we do,
And if wisdom doth guide us, our Father won't chide us
And crown us with blessings anew.
We will sing and rejoice and be cheerful,
Grow wise as time passes away,
While the wicked are trembling and fearful,
Our faith will increase day by day;
For there is light in the Gospel of Jesus,
There is life, endless life to be found,
And all who receive it and faithfully live it,
Shall with its rich blessings be crowned.
Let the world call this work a delusion,
We know that its Author is God,
We shall rise while they sink in confusion
O'erthrown by His chastening rod;
Then let us be humble and prayerful,
Be true to the Cause we've obeyed,
Then let them deride us, God's Spirit shall guide us,
And nothing shall make us afraid.
We know that Jehovah has spoken,
And sent us the Gospel again,
And the signs of the times now betoken,
That Jesus will soon come to reign.
With Him we'll be happy together
On earth through the great thousand years,
Then brethren be humble and ready
And worthy when Jesus appears.
William Fowler
This next hymn was written in Cheltenham and was published in The Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol 17 p 464.
THE SETTING UP OF GOD'S KINGDOM
Once more from the heavens Jehovah has spoken
His voice clears the mist which for ages had spread
O'er the minds of the people, but not it is broken—
No longer by priestcraft the honest are led.
Chorus:
The Stone from the Mountain has now begun rolling,
And never will stop till it fills the whole earth;
And Babylon's death-knell has now begun tolling,
While Zion increases in wisdom and worth.
Hark, hear ye the Kingdom of Heaven,
Hark, hear ye the voice of the Prophet proclaiming—
“Repent ye, the Kingdom of Heaven's at hand;
The harvest is ripe, and the vintage wants gleaning,
The tares with the wheat now no longer must stand.”
The Ensign is lifted, the Temple is rearing,
To which for salvation the Gentiles shall seek,
The time is at hand for the Savior's appearing,
The earth will ere long be possessed by the meek.
The vision of Daniel is surely fulfilling,
The toes of the Image now feel the Stone's weight,
The Gospel is gath'ring the faithful and willing,
The path of the Savior will soon be made straight.
Rouse, rouse from your slumbers, O ye foolish virgins;
Up, up, trim your lamps, let them burn bright and clear;
Let Zion be ready, the Savior is coming,
The great day of vengeance is now drawing near.
William Fowler
This hymn was published in The Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol 17 p 32.
ZION
O Zion, thy praise
We'll sing in sweet lays,
And lift up our voices in these latter days.
The Righteous to thee
For refuge shall flee,
While princes afar off thy glory shall see.
A fire by night,
Thy dwellings shall light,
While sinners shall tremble and gaze with affright;
And from the sun's ray
To screen thee by day,
A cloud for a covering above thee shall stay.
When Jesus shall come
To the Saints' happy home,
He'll call forth the righteous that lay in the Tomb;
But the wicked shall stay
Until the last day,
E'er they from their graves shall be called away.
With Jesus we'll reign,
When He comes again;
We then shall be free from all sorrow and pain.
Then Saints, let us pray-
Great God, haste the day
When to Zion's blest land we shall hasten away.
William Fowler
The most famous of all his hymns would be “We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet.” This hymn was inspired by William's strong testimony after first receiving a tract with Joseph Smith's testimony in it (Chene' 2003). William had a Testimony of Joseph Smith and of his successor, Brigham Young. He was ever thankful to God for restoring his Gospel to the earth.
William wrote 'We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet' sometime between 1860 and 1863.
An elderly man once approached William's daughter Florence (Adair) after she was grown and told her that William brought the first two verses of the song to him and asked his opinion of it. The man told him that it was very good as far as it went, but that it did not sound complete. William latter added the third verse and the man told him it sounded all right.
Joseph F. Smith reported that while he was serving a mission in England [1860-1863], “Brother Fowler brought his song to meeting where it was sung for the first time” (Smith). The choir learned the song and sung it. It was sung to a tune that William knew called “The Officer's March” by Caroline Sheridan Norton. Florence Cheney wrote that Joseph F. Smith was Branch President at the time.
The hymn was very popular and it was published in 1863 in the 12th edition of the LDS hymnbook. Today every Latter-day Saint knows and loves the song “We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet” It is sung at every conference of the Church and represents the testimonies of faithful saints everywhere.
One man told Ellen that William would never really die as long as the Church still sung his hymn.
WE THANK THEE O GOD FOR A PROPHET
We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee,
And love to obey thy command.
When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliverance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We've proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.
We'll sing of his goodness and mercy
We'll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know.
By William Fowler
Harriet says, “My parents were very musical. Father played a violin, flute, and harp, and all those we had in our home. When at Grandmother's, he played the piano. He could compose music as easy as a letter. He wrote many songs for the Saints to sing at their gatherings”(Allen).
The following hymn was written in Sheffield and published in the Millennial Star on 15 Oct. 1864 p. 672.
COME LET US BE HAPPY TOGETHER
Come let us be happy together
For of all people we have most right,
And though life has its share of rough weather,
We'll try to be happy tonight.
For troubles are never to seek for
And sorrows are not hard to find,
Then let us be loving, while onward we're moving,
And ever to others be kind.
Chorus:
Come let us be happy together,
For of all people we have most right,
And though life has its share of rough weather,
We'll try to be happy tonight.
In social enjoyment together,
We have met to be happy tonight,
And we know that our Heavenly Father,
Is pleased when his children do right.
Then let us be governed by wisdom,
In all that we say, or we do,
And if wisdom doth guide us, our Father won't chide us
And crown us with blessings anew.
We will sing and rejoice and be cheerful,
Grow wise as time passes away,
While the wicked are trembling and fearful,
Our faith will increase day by day;
For there is light in the Gospel of Jesus,
There is life, endless life to be found,
And all who receive it and faithfully live it,
Shall with its rich blessings be crowned.
Let the world call this work a delusion,
We know that its Author is God,
We shall rise while they sink in confusion
O'erthrown by His chastening rod;
Then let us be humble and prayerful,
Be true to the Cause we've obeyed,
Then let them deride us, God's Spirit shall guide us,
And nothing shall make us afraid.
We know that Jehovah has spoken,
And sent us the Gospel again,
And the signs of the times now betoken,
That Jesus will soon come to reign.
With Him we'll be happy together
On earth through the great thousand years,
Then brethren be humble and ready
And worthy when Jesus appears.
William Fowler
This next hymn was written in Cheltenham and was published in The Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol 17 p 464.
THE SETTING UP OF GOD'S KINGDOM
Once more from the heavens Jehovah has spoken
His voice clears the mist which for ages had spread
O'er the minds of the people, but not it is broken—
No longer by priestcraft the honest are led.
Chorus:
The Stone from the Mountain has now begun rolling,
And never will stop till it fills the whole earth;
And Babylon's death-knell has now begun tolling,
While Zion increases in wisdom and worth.
Hark, hear ye the Kingdom of Heaven,
Hark, hear ye the voice of the Prophet proclaiming—
“Repent ye, the Kingdom of Heaven's at hand;
The harvest is ripe, and the vintage wants gleaning,
The tares with the wheat now no longer must stand.”
The Ensign is lifted, the Temple is rearing,
To which for salvation the Gentiles shall seek,
The time is at hand for the Savior's appearing,
The earth will ere long be possessed by the meek.
The vision of Daniel is surely fulfilling,
The toes of the Image now feel the Stone's weight,
The Gospel is gath'ring the faithful and willing,
The path of the Savior will soon be made straight.
Rouse, rouse from your slumbers, O ye foolish virgins;
Up, up, trim your lamps, let them burn bright and clear;
Let Zion be ready, the Savior is coming,
The great day of vengeance is now drawing near.
William Fowler
This hymn was published in The Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol 17 p 32.
ZION
O Zion, thy praise
We'll sing in sweet lays,
And lift up our voices in these latter days.
The Righteous to thee
For refuge shall flee,
While princes afar off thy glory shall see.
A fire by night,
Thy dwellings shall light,
While sinners shall tremble and gaze with affright;
And from the sun's ray
To screen thee by day,
A cloud for a covering above thee shall stay.
When Jesus shall come
To the Saints' happy home,
He'll call forth the righteous that lay in the Tomb;
But the wicked shall stay
Until the last day,
E'er they from their graves shall be called away.
With Jesus we'll reign,
When He comes again;
We then shall be free from all sorrow and pain.
Then Saints, let us pray-
Great God, haste the day
When to Zion's blest land we shall hasten away.
William Fowler
The most famous of all his hymns would be “We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet.” This hymn was inspired by William's strong testimony after first receiving a tract with Joseph Smith's testimony in it (Chene' 2003). William had a Testimony of Joseph Smith and of his successor, Brigham Young. He was ever thankful to God for restoring his Gospel to the earth.
William wrote 'We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet' sometime between 1860 and 1863.
An elderly man once approached William's daughter Florence (Adair) after she was grown and told her that William brought the first two verses of the song to him and asked his opinion of it. The man told him that it was very good as far as it went, but that it did not sound complete. William latter added the third verse and the man told him it sounded all right.
Joseph F. Smith reported that while he was serving a mission in England [1860-1863], “Brother Fowler brought his song to meeting where it was sung for the first time” (Smith). The choir learned the song and sung it. It was sung to a tune that William knew called “The Officer's March” by Caroline Sheridan Norton. Florence Cheney wrote that Joseph F. Smith was Branch President at the time.
The hymn was very popular and it was published in 1863 in the 12th edition of the LDS hymnbook. Today every Latter-day Saint knows and loves the song “We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet” It is sung at every conference of the Church and represents the testimonies of faithful saints everywhere.
One man told Ellen that William would never really die as long as the Church still sung his hymn.
WE THANK THEE O GOD FOR A PROPHET
We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee,
And love to obey thy command.
When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliverance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We've proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.
We'll sing of his goodness and mercy
We'll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know.
By William Fowler
William's Family
After William's mission ended in about 1857, he moved his family back to Sheffield. There he again worked as a cutler to provide for his family. He made a good living and worked conscientiously to provide for his family.
However, he did not buy expensive furniture or keep his family in any extravagance. He wanted to bring his family to Zion and knew that he needed to save all the money he could.
Two more children came to bless their home. Henry Ammon was born 29 November 1857 and Florence Ellen was born 28 April 1860.
William's children would run to meet him as he came home Saturday nights with his paychecks. He never forgot to bring them some nuts or fruit. He never bought candy for them however.
In 1860 when Harriet was four years old, she was run over by a heavy dray wagon. The man driving was late and had taken a shortcut though their narrow street. Large wagons were not really allowed down that street, but he took a chance. The children playing in the street ran for safety as the big wagon came speeding along. Harriet was knocked down and then run over by the wagon. William was sent for as well as a doctor. Her toes were smashed to pieces. The doctor said they would have to be taken off. William said, “No, No, I will not have them taken off.”
At that the doctor became angry, “Well if you know more than I—all right I'm leaving.” And he left in a huff.
William washed the toes very carefully and anointed them with oil. He then gave her a priesthood blessing. He put cotton around each little toe and did them up. They soon healed and left no ill effects.
The poor wagon driver begged William, “Please don't report me, it means losing my job, and I have a family to keep.” William must have believed that the man would be more careful from then on because he never did report him.
Living in Sheffield, they often saw Ellen's parents and siblings. Harriet writes, “My earliest recollections were pleasant visits to Grandmother's home. They were religious in their lives. I remember them always saying grace at mealtime and prayers at night.” In another place she wrote, “They always treated us very kindly, but none of them joined the L.D.S. Church” (Allen).
When Harriet was old enough William and Ellen sent her to school. Unfortunately prejudice against the Mormons was even in the schools. The other children were unkind and would pull her curls. She was so ill-treated that William and Ellen took her out of school and taught her at home.
However, he did not buy expensive furniture or keep his family in any extravagance. He wanted to bring his family to Zion and knew that he needed to save all the money he could.
Two more children came to bless their home. Henry Ammon was born 29 November 1857 and Florence Ellen was born 28 April 1860.
William's children would run to meet him as he came home Saturday nights with his paychecks. He never forgot to bring them some nuts or fruit. He never bought candy for them however.
In 1860 when Harriet was four years old, she was run over by a heavy dray wagon. The man driving was late and had taken a shortcut though their narrow street. Large wagons were not really allowed down that street, but he took a chance. The children playing in the street ran for safety as the big wagon came speeding along. Harriet was knocked down and then run over by the wagon. William was sent for as well as a doctor. Her toes were smashed to pieces. The doctor said they would have to be taken off. William said, “No, No, I will not have them taken off.”
At that the doctor became angry, “Well if you know more than I—all right I'm leaving.” And he left in a huff.
William washed the toes very carefully and anointed them with oil. He then gave her a priesthood blessing. He put cotton around each little toe and did them up. They soon healed and left no ill effects.
The poor wagon driver begged William, “Please don't report me, it means losing my job, and I have a family to keep.” William must have believed that the man would be more careful from then on because he never did report him.
Living in Sheffield, they often saw Ellen's parents and siblings. Harriet writes, “My earliest recollections were pleasant visits to Grandmother's home. They were religious in their lives. I remember them always saying grace at mealtime and prayers at night.” In another place she wrote, “They always treated us very kindly, but none of them joined the L.D.S. Church” (Allen).
When Harriet was old enough William and Ellen sent her to school. Unfortunately prejudice against the Mormons was even in the schools. The other children were unkind and would pull her curls. She was so ill-treated that William and Ellen took her out of school and taught her at home.
William's Continuing Mission
William had served for five years as a missionary at the time of his marriage and he continued on as a missionary for two more years until about 1857. As a missionary William had to travel and be away from his new family a lot. He moved Ellen to Gloucester, Glaucestershire, England. Where he could visit her more often.
Their first baby, Harriet Adeline was born on "a cold foggy day", the 4th of February 1856. They were living in a large rooming house, of which they had one small upstairs room.
William was away doing missionary work at the time of her birth. He was anxious to see his little baby. When baby Harriet was six weeks old, Ellen took her on the train to see her father.
up to this time baby Harriet had never made any audible sound, not even crying. This was a great worry to her mother. She was afraid that Harriet was dumb (unable to speak or hear). However, on that train ride Harriet began to cry. Ellen was very much relieved.
William did not have to be away from his family all the time. Most of the time he did missionary work in the evenings after work and on the weekends.
There was much persecution against Mormonism. At street meetings enemies of the Church would pelt them with rotten vegetables, and cause every kind of disturbance they could think of.
William had much opposition from one or two men in particular. One Hepburn was very bitter (being an apostate). He bribed the hotel keeper to lock William in his room one night till after the appointed hour for his street meeting. Then Hepburn met the crowd who had gathered and told them Fowler was not a man of his word, since he hadn't even shown up as he promised. He warned the people to have nothing to do with him. Many people believed him and William had a hard time getting the people to listen to him after that.
Another time Hepburn adn a companion came with rotten vegetables and pelted them with those till their clothing was very badly soiled. Another time it was rotten eggs. They came several times. One night Hepburn came to the meeting and viciously tried to jerk William out to the crowd. William hung onto his coat the best he could, but the sleeve was torn out.
Hepburn was such a menace day after day, that finally William became righteously angered. William wasn't so much worried about how he suffered personally, but he was angered over how these persecutions hindered the progression of the work. Finally William told this Mr. Hepburn, "If you do not cease to persecute the Saints, I promise in the name of the Lord your right arm shall wither and be useless."
Later, William saw Mr. Hepburn in a large crowd. Mr Hepburn held his arm ina withered state, hanging loosely from his side. William called his wife's attention to it. He also pointed it out to his daughter, Harriet, to witness what God had done to the man who opposed his servants.
William also had blessings which he enjoyed by reason of the priesthood. One time he had an appointment for a meeting some eight miles distant. He started for the place, but consulting his watch he feared he might be late. So, he took a shortcut over the country. Passing over an old rock quarry, he inadvertently loosened a large stone, which fell against his leg and bruised it very badly. William made an attempt to go onward, but when he had gone a half a mile, it hurt so badly he went back home. He bathed it and rubbed it with olive oil. He prayed to the Lord to relieve the pain, so that he might go on and attend his meeting. The pain left immediately and he went to the meeting and returned with no difficulty. Afterwards he was laid up in bed for two weeks and couldn't go anywhere.
One evening, William was tired and stopped at a hotel . When the proprietor told him that all the rooms were full, William was very sorely disappointed, since he was so tired. He was about to turn away when the man said that he had one room, but that it was said to be haunted. "If you want to try that you are welcome," he said. William gladly accepted. He picked up his luggage and went upstairs to that room. On lying down upon his pillow he heard a dreadful noise, as if he had laid on a nest of puppies. Without giving it a thought, he put his head to the other end of the bed. Then he heard a very derisive loud laugh. He knew then that it was an evil spirit. He commanded the spirit by the power of the priesthood and in the name of the Master to depart and never return. William then laid down and slept peacefully all night. Being much refreshed in the morning, he came downstairs. When the proprietor asked him how he slept, William said, "Fine, had a very good rest."
"Well," the man said, "Mr. Fowler, you may have that room any time you pass through here.
Their first baby, Harriet Adeline was born on "a cold foggy day", the 4th of February 1856. They were living in a large rooming house, of which they had one small upstairs room.
William was away doing missionary work at the time of her birth. He was anxious to see his little baby. When baby Harriet was six weeks old, Ellen took her on the train to see her father.
up to this time baby Harriet had never made any audible sound, not even crying. This was a great worry to her mother. She was afraid that Harriet was dumb (unable to speak or hear). However, on that train ride Harriet began to cry. Ellen was very much relieved.
William did not have to be away from his family all the time. Most of the time he did missionary work in the evenings after work and on the weekends.
There was much persecution against Mormonism. At street meetings enemies of the Church would pelt them with rotten vegetables, and cause every kind of disturbance they could think of.
William had much opposition from one or two men in particular. One Hepburn was very bitter (being an apostate). He bribed the hotel keeper to lock William in his room one night till after the appointed hour for his street meeting. Then Hepburn met the crowd who had gathered and told them Fowler was not a man of his word, since he hadn't even shown up as he promised. He warned the people to have nothing to do with him. Many people believed him and William had a hard time getting the people to listen to him after that.
Another time Hepburn adn a companion came with rotten vegetables and pelted them with those till their clothing was very badly soiled. Another time it was rotten eggs. They came several times. One night Hepburn came to the meeting and viciously tried to jerk William out to the crowd. William hung onto his coat the best he could, but the sleeve was torn out.
Hepburn was such a menace day after day, that finally William became righteously angered. William wasn't so much worried about how he suffered personally, but he was angered over how these persecutions hindered the progression of the work. Finally William told this Mr. Hepburn, "If you do not cease to persecute the Saints, I promise in the name of the Lord your right arm shall wither and be useless."
Later, William saw Mr. Hepburn in a large crowd. Mr Hepburn held his arm ina withered state, hanging loosely from his side. William called his wife's attention to it. He also pointed it out to his daughter, Harriet, to witness what God had done to the man who opposed his servants.
William also had blessings which he enjoyed by reason of the priesthood. One time he had an appointment for a meeting some eight miles distant. He started for the place, but consulting his watch he feared he might be late. So, he took a shortcut over the country. Passing over an old rock quarry, he inadvertently loosened a large stone, which fell against his leg and bruised it very badly. William made an attempt to go onward, but when he had gone a half a mile, it hurt so badly he went back home. He bathed it and rubbed it with olive oil. He prayed to the Lord to relieve the pain, so that he might go on and attend his meeting. The pain left immediately and he went to the meeting and returned with no difficulty. Afterwards he was laid up in bed for two weeks and couldn't go anywhere.
One evening, William was tired and stopped at a hotel . When the proprietor told him that all the rooms were full, William was very sorely disappointed, since he was so tired. He was about to turn away when the man said that he had one room, but that it was said to be haunted. "If you want to try that you are welcome," he said. William gladly accepted. He picked up his luggage and went upstairs to that room. On lying down upon his pillow he heard a dreadful noise, as if he had laid on a nest of puppies. Without giving it a thought, he put his head to the other end of the bed. Then he heard a very derisive loud laugh. He knew then that it was an evil spirit. He commanded the spirit by the power of the priesthood and in the name of the Master to depart and never return. William then laid down and slept peacefully all night. Being much refreshed in the morning, he came downstairs. When the proprietor asked him how he slept, William said, "Fine, had a very good rest."
"Well," the man said, "Mr. Fowler, you may have that room any time you pass through here.
Ellen Bradshaw
William met a young woman at meeting in about 1854. Her name was Ellen Bradshaw. She and her family also lived in Sheffield, England. Ellen was a small woman, 5 feet and 2 inches in height, with brown hair (or blond auburn hair) and blue (light) eyes. She was artistic and had a very nice contralto singing voice.
Her parents were Henry and Harriet (Wright) Bradshaw. Their family were very devout Christians and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. They observed the Sabbath day. Henry Bradshaw would read the scriptures to the family. They always said grace at meals. They had their children say their prayers and also observed family prayers.
They were all very musical and each played some musical instrument. They would gather around the piano and sing in the evenings, or on Sundays. Ellen would remember with fondness gathering around the piano with her family to sing in the evenings.
They were a well-to-do family. They had a fine home with splendid furnishings. They all dressed well and in good taste. The women had dresses of good material trimmed in silk and satin. They wore fine hats, and top coats.
Ellen learned to be a fine cook and a good seamstress. She was very artistic in her tastes, in trimming hats and clothing .
There were ten children in the Bradshaw family: Elizabeth, Ellen, John, Henry, Joseph, Mary Ann, Francis, James, Hanna Maria, and George William. Ellen was born on the 28th of June 1835 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.
Ellen, was of a religious frame of mind. When she was seventeen years of age [about 1852], she attended the street meetings conducted in her town by the Mormon Elders. The things they taught sounded good to her. She believed them to be the truth.
Ellen's father was shocked to find she had been attending the meetings of the low-down Mormons. He felt humiliated to have his daughter attending Mormon street meetings. He threatened to lock the door upon her if she went to any more.
Ellen however felt that the things that she had been learning were the truth. She felt that she must continue to listen and gain what she could from their teaching. So she went once again to attend a Mormon street meeting. She did not think that her father would really go so far as to lock her out of the house. However when she returned home that night, she found the door locked. She was shocked and bewildered. What could she do?
Ellen went to her cousin George Lee, who was a member of the Church. He took her in and kept her for six weeks. Her father loved her very much and was sorry for turning her out. He was very hungry to see her and after six weeks he came to take her home. He said, "If you really think this religion you have been hearing about is what you want, or that seems good to you. I will not further forbid you hearing about it. But I cannot stand your being away from home. You must come back." So, she returned to her father's house.
Not long after this, Ellen was baptized on 16 February 1854. In this same year she met William Fowler and they began a courtship . William must have been very glad to have found a young woman who appreciated the Gospel as much as he. William continued his missionary labors while also working and getting ready to marry. They were married on 24 January 1855 at Ellen's home in Sheffield. Ellen was nineteen years old and William was twenty-four.
Her parents were Henry and Harriet (Wright) Bradshaw. Their family were very devout Christians and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. They observed the Sabbath day. Henry Bradshaw would read the scriptures to the family. They always said grace at meals. They had their children say their prayers and also observed family prayers.
They were all very musical and each played some musical instrument. They would gather around the piano and sing in the evenings, or on Sundays. Ellen would remember with fondness gathering around the piano with her family to sing in the evenings.
They were a well-to-do family. They had a fine home with splendid furnishings. They all dressed well and in good taste. The women had dresses of good material trimmed in silk and satin. They wore fine hats, and top coats.
Ellen learned to be a fine cook and a good seamstress. She was very artistic in her tastes, in trimming hats and clothing .
There were ten children in the Bradshaw family: Elizabeth, Ellen, John, Henry, Joseph, Mary Ann, Francis, James, Hanna Maria, and George William. Ellen was born on the 28th of June 1835 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.
Ellen, was of a religious frame of mind. When she was seventeen years of age [about 1852], she attended the street meetings conducted in her town by the Mormon Elders. The things they taught sounded good to her. She believed them to be the truth.
Ellen's father was shocked to find she had been attending the meetings of the low-down Mormons. He felt humiliated to have his daughter attending Mormon street meetings. He threatened to lock the door upon her if she went to any more.
Ellen however felt that the things that she had been learning were the truth. She felt that she must continue to listen and gain what she could from their teaching. So she went once again to attend a Mormon street meeting. She did not think that her father would really go so far as to lock her out of the house. However when she returned home that night, she found the door locked. She was shocked and bewildered. What could she do?
Ellen went to her cousin George Lee, who was a member of the Church. He took her in and kept her for six weeks. Her father loved her very much and was sorry for turning her out. He was very hungry to see her and after six weeks he came to take her home. He said, "If you really think this religion you have been hearing about is what you want, or that seems good to you. I will not further forbid you hearing about it. But I cannot stand your being away from home. You must come back." So, she returned to her father's house.
Not long after this, Ellen was baptized on 16 February 1854. In this same year she met William Fowler and they began a courtship . William must have been very glad to have found a young woman who appreciated the Gospel as much as he. William continued his missionary labors while also working and getting ready to marry. They were married on 24 January 1855 at Ellen's home in Sheffield. Ellen was nineteen years old and William was twenty-four.
William's Mission Call
William was ordained a priest on 3 March 1851 and was assigned to do local missionary work . He "labored in the Deepcar branch under Elder William Memmott" (Stories of the LDS Hymns). He labored extensively as a missionary for about two years. He was then ordained an elder in 1853 and his missionary service continued for about two more years he would continue traveling about the country, mostly on foot, to spread the Gospel. He kept a daily diary during this time. The diary "shows the deep and abiding faith of [William] in the restored Gospel." It also tells of "how he traveled on foot and endured revilings and all sorts of persecutions for the Gospel's sake. It is full of such entries as 'Walked 21 miles, rode 7 today.'" "One [entry]of March 27, 1853, reads; 'Mob assembled and broke up the afternoon meeting. In the evening we met at Brother Craig's house and had a good meeting. The mob assembled outside expecting to pelt us with goose eggs, but as e did not open the door they did not know where to look for us, so they pelted each other'"(Stories of LDS Hymns). The diary was kept of four years of missionary service up to 1854. However this would not be the end of his missionary labors.
William's Search for Religion
William's father, John, was originally a Protestant and his mother, Bridget, was originally a Roman Catholic. However they both joined the Wesleyan Methodists. "at eighteen William began to think seriously of religion and attended Methodist services, but was not satisfied. It seemed to him Methodism was all hope and trust--no reality. It was then that he first heard the sound of the Gospel through a young friend whose father, Peter Poulicci, was a priest of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This friend took William to hear the Mormons at the Hall of Science, Rockingham Street, in the winter of 1848. His search for truth was ended" (Stories of LDS Hymns).
On his first contact with the missionaries he was given a tract that had the testimony of Joseph Smith written in it. Upon reading the tract he declared that the writer was certainly a man of God and a Prophet. He had not even read the Book of Mormon and would not get one for a while because they were in short supply in Great Britain, but he already had a burning testimony of Joseph Smith (Chene', Helen).
William was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church) on the 29th of July 1849 at Sheffield, England, by Elder J. V. Long.
William would face difficulties on account of his new faith. His boss discharged him when he found out he had joined the Mormon Church and William had to find other employment. He had to learn to deal with the common prejudice against the Mormons.
William became engaged to a young lady who attended the Mormon meetings, but was not a member of the Church. She accompanied him to meetings, and she said she would be baptized. However, whenever she was asked to set her baptismal date, she always answered, "Not yet, but I will soon."
William rented a house and bought all new furniture to furnish it. One day, he approached her very gravely and asked, "Are you going to be baptized before our wedding?"
"No," she said very firmly.
"Why not?" He asked anxiously. "You have told me all along you would be."
"What difference does it make?" She asked.
"It makes all the difference in the world to me," he answered. "I will not marry a girl that does not belong to the Church."
"Well," she said. "I'm not getting baptized to suit your whim."
"If you thought as much of this Church as I do, you would want to belong to it. If you will not be baptized that puts an end to our marriage, definitely."
"You do not love me," she accused, "or you would not let that hinder us."
"I do love you," he said, "very dearly, but my religion means more to me than my love for a woman, so we will not be married." he arose and went away very sadly and in sore disappointment.
He took the furniture back to the firm where he had purchased it; but hey would not accept it at full value. He had to sell it at a discount. This all contributed to his unhappiness. But he had demonstrated his faith his loyalty to the Church.
At some point, William's brothers, John, Henry, and George all heard the gospel and joined the Church. This must have been a great joy to William.( His brother's baptismal dates were not kept or else were lost, so they were re-baptized by proxy--John on 13 Nov 1930 and the other boys in 1933.)
On his first contact with the missionaries he was given a tract that had the testimony of Joseph Smith written in it. Upon reading the tract he declared that the writer was certainly a man of God and a Prophet. He had not even read the Book of Mormon and would not get one for a while because they were in short supply in Great Britain, but he already had a burning testimony of Joseph Smith (Chene', Helen).
William was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church) on the 29th of July 1849 at Sheffield, England, by Elder J. V. Long.
William would face difficulties on account of his new faith. His boss discharged him when he found out he had joined the Mormon Church and William had to find other employment. He had to learn to deal with the common prejudice against the Mormons.
William became engaged to a young lady who attended the Mormon meetings, but was not a member of the Church. She accompanied him to meetings, and she said she would be baptized. However, whenever she was asked to set her baptismal date, she always answered, "Not yet, but I will soon."
William rented a house and bought all new furniture to furnish it. One day, he approached her very gravely and asked, "Are you going to be baptized before our wedding?"
"No," she said very firmly.
"Why not?" He asked anxiously. "You have told me all along you would be."
"What difference does it make?" She asked.
"It makes all the difference in the world to me," he answered. "I will not marry a girl that does not belong to the Church."
"Well," she said. "I'm not getting baptized to suit your whim."
"If you thought as much of this Church as I do, you would want to belong to it. If you will not be baptized that puts an end to our marriage, definitely."
"You do not love me," she accused, "or you would not let that hinder us."
"I do love you," he said, "very dearly, but my religion means more to me than my love for a woman, so we will not be married." he arose and went away very sadly and in sore disappointment.
He took the furniture back to the firm where he had purchased it; but hey would not accept it at full value. He had to sell it at a discount. This all contributed to his unhappiness. But he had demonstrated his faith his loyalty to the Church.
At some point, William's brothers, John, Henry, and George all heard the gospel and joined the Church. This must have been a great joy to William.( His brother's baptismal dates were not kept or else were lost, so they were re-baptized by proxy--John on 13 Nov 1930 and the other boys in 1933.)
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