Samuel Rowley

Born: 29 October 1842 at Mars Hill, Suckley, Worcestershire, England
Parents: William Rowley and Ann Jewell
Married: Ann Taylor, 23 April 1865 at Parowan, Iron, Utah, United States
Died: 8 January 1928 at Huntington, Emery, Utah, United States

History

I, Samuel Rowley, was born the 29th day of October, 1842, at Mars Hill in the Parish of Suckley, Worcester, England. My father, William Rowley, was born 21st of June 1785, at Cradley, Herefordshire, England. He lived all his life in southern England: Hereford, Worcester, and Gloucester.

At the age of 22, he married Ann Jewell on the 2nd of June, 1807. Seven children were born to them. Ann suffered with poor health and died soon after her youngest child was born, leaving William to care for them as best he could.

My mother, Ann Jewell, was living in the home as the children’s governess. She was the daughter of William Jewell and Frances Green born on the 5th of December, 1807, in Leigh, Worcestershire, England.

It was the law in England at that time that no female could remain in the home where there was a single man. William knew that he must find a mother for his children. He knew Ann was a good woman and loved his children and he had respect for her, for the love and respect she had shown for the family, and the children wanted her to stay. He felt he had found a good mother for his children. He married my mother, 22 August 1836, and the children readily accepted her as their new mother.

This was a great undertaking for Mother, as the oldest of the children was nearly as old as she was, but through the increasing of love and respect and trust they had for each other a happy and contented home was enjoyed by all.

Their first child was born the 8th of May, 1837. They named her Louisa. She was born in Leigh, Worcester.

My father was considered to be a well-to-do farmer and horticulturist. They had a comfortable home, surrounded by lawns and orchards. Father was a good provider. He raised a good garden of hop vines. selling hops, fruits, and vegetables at the market place. We were a happy family.

My parents were very devout in their beliefs. They had joined a sect known as the United Brethren, along with many other people in that section of England. They had broken off from the Wesleyan or Primitive Methodist faith with a Mr. Thomas Kingston as Superintendent, and were becoming quite active at that time. (This Mr. Kingston and most of his followers later joined the Mormon Church.)

Mother and Father were always searching for some light and truth. They spent much time reading the Bible, and in prayer. They were prospering, and their family was also increasing. On the 14th of December, 1838, my sister Elizabeth was born.

In 1840, Elder Wilford Woodruff came into England. He was one of the Apostles of the Mormon Church, known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He and his companion were speaking at the house of John Benbow, a wealthy farmer cultivating 300 acres of land. Occupying a large mansion with no family, the Benbows gladly offered lodging to the missionaries. Mr. Benbow and his wife were also part of the 600 United Brethren which also included my parents. He offered space in his home for the meeting. My parents attended and were converted, which resulted in the baptism of my mother. She was baptized and confirmed on the 6th of May, 1840. Father was baptized and confirmed on the 24th of May, 1840, at Nightingale Bower near Birenwood and Tapperdv. (These dates were recorded in the Baptismal Journal of Wilford Woodruff himself.)

After the baptism, Elder Woodruff and his companion preached at Dunn’s Close, walked four miles from Benbow Farm Pond, and spent the night at my parents’ home. My father was ordained a Deacon by Wilford Woodruff on his second mission in 1841.

One night, so I’ve been told by my mother and older sisters, a mob of men came to my parents’ home and demanded to have the Elders. Father, standing in the door, told the men that they had gone to bed and were guests in his home and were not to be disturbed. This did not satisfy the angry mob and they said they were going to get them. Father said it would be over his dead body. They grabbed Father and dragged him away from the house. He called to my Mother to lock the doors and the windows, which she did. They beat Father severely and thought he was dead. They then went to the house and tried to get in, but found everything locked up. The mob was afraid to break into the house, so they mounted their horses and rode away. When Mother couldn’t hear the hoof beats of the horses, she felt safe to go out to Father. She found him still conscious, but in bad condition. She helped him to the house and doctored him through the night. When morning came and the Elders arose, they found him badly bruised and in bad condition, and they advised my parents to sellout and prepare to go to America. This advice they accepted and as my father improved in health, they began working and saving to get the finances to leave. It was hard for my father to part with his life’s work.

More children came to bless my parents’ home. My brother, John, just older than I, was born July 14, 1840. One time when John was a little boy and Brother Woodruff came to our home to visit, he patted John on his head and said that he had baptized John before he was born. That was because he was born in July after our Mother was baptized in May.

I was born October 29, 1842, the same year the General Relief Society was organized in Nauvoo. Richard came next in line, he being born on the 10th of February, 1844. On the 11th of May, 1846, another brother came, named Thomas. Another little sister, Jane, was the last child, born on July 17, 1848.

The next few years, many hardships got in the way. Drought caused the crops to fail for two years in succession. My parents were forced to sell their home and farm at Public Auction. This was a great blow to them. Then the climax came when Father had an accident while traveling to the market place with some crops to sell. The horse became frightened and ran, throwing Father from the wagon and running over his body, injuring his leg and hip. This injury, along with much worry over financial heartache, was more than Father could stand, and his body could take no more. His death, on the 14th of February, 1849, brought relief to his tired body, but oh, the heartache and troubles it brought for Mother. She was left alone now with seven children of her own to guide and support, along with sadness and worry. This took much faith and courage on her part. She was of strong character. Faith and prayer buoyed her up as she set forth to accomplish to the best of her ability the task of getting her family to America. She knew that Father would want her to. She had seven small children of her own and some of the younger children of her husband by his former marriage. The oldest step-child at home was frail, unable to take on heavy responsibilities.

I was only seven years old at the time my father left us, and John was only two years older. Mother found a job for us three miles from where we lived. Mother would get John, Richard, and I up early, give us a light breakfast, if there was some to have, and take us by the hand and go with us to our job at a brickyard, where we carried bricks to stack and tromped mud with our bare feet. On our route, we had to cross a stream of water with only a narrow bridge. My mother made sure we were safely across the bridge and that we were wide awake. She would then walk back to her work at her brother, Thomas Jewell’s, who was a tailor by profession.

She was very efficient with her needle, making men’s clothing. She also did sewing, making fine clothes and draperies for her sister who had married a wealthy man. Her brother told her that if she would leave the Mormon Church and get back where she was before, she would never be without work. He also told her that if she died as a Mormon, she would be buried behind the church instead of at the front, but her testimony of the truth of her religion gave her strength to carry on and save what she could with the girls working, too. Elizabeth worked with her at the shop making smock frocks, which were in demand. Louisa worked diligently at her job, also, and they were slowly able to save a little money.

One day the word came from President Brigham Young telling the Saints desiring to go to the land of America of an emigration fund from the Church headquarters in America. The fund would pay the way to get to America and also buy handcarts and supplies. However, it also included the invitation to walk 1300 miles to the Rocky Mountains. Mother felt that the way had been opened up for the family to leave England, our homeland, and be with the Saints and to have a new start. Also, by the time we could leave, John would be old enough for the army. (At this time a war between England and Russia was in progress.) Mother was very anxious to get him away from there. So everyone worked as fast as they could to get what was needed to take with us. Mother tried to persuade Eliza to remain with her own brothers and sisters because of her weak condition. She knew that the journey would be especially hard on her, but Eliza had such a great feeling for my mother that she felt she couldn’t remain behind, so Mother, showing her love and feeling for Eliza, consented to take her along.

At last the day came when we could embark. On the 4th day of May, 1856, we sailed on the ship Charles Thorton, a sailing vessel. Our experience on the sea was exciting.

Several things took place that tested our faith. During one storm we had wind that drove us back 500 miles. Another time the ship was in a calm with no wind at all, and we sat in one place. The Saints fasted and prayed and the wind came and we traveled on. Another time the ship caught fire. Our Captain asked us to fast and pray for help and the Lord sent the rain to put out the fire. Captain Collins recognized that the blessings the Saints had received had saved the ship, and the Saints were given privileges that others didn’t get. He was very good to the Saints but a cruel man to his crew.

The ship arrived in New York on June 14th, 1856 and we were received by Elder John Taylor. After landing at Castle Gardens, we sailed up the Hudson River to the terminal of the Rock Island Railroad. We traveled by railroad and boat to Iowa City, then to Council Bluffs. Here we were to prepare for one of the worst journeys that has ever been recorded.

The Saints were lighthearted and worked with zeal preparing their handcarts. They were being put together with green timber as timber was scarce then because so many Saints were anxious to get on the road. The wheels were wrapped with rawhide strips to hold them together. While they were being built we were busy getting our supplies together and getting cattle bought and broken. We waited several weeks, going to prayer every morning and night.

We left Iowa campground with handcarts bound for Salt Lake Valley, 1300 miles in the distance. We left under the leadership of James C. Willie and Milan Atwood. Before we left, Elder Levi Savage, who was returning from a mission, spoke of the intense suffering the Saints would have to endure if they left–and he cried like a child with the thought. At this meeting he spoke of the lateness of our start, and predicted the cold and suffering that would be encountered before we would arrive at the Valley. Mr. Willie rebuked him for this speech. He was afraid it would dishearten the people and he told them that if the Saints would be faithful and do as he told them, winter would be turned into summer. But subsequent events proved that Elder Savage was correct. A few of the Saints preferred to wait. The others, with buoyant spirits, started to draw their carts from Council Bluffs.

It was on the 15th day of July, 1856, that the Willie handcart company left. This company consisted of 500 souls, 120 handcarts, five wagons, 24 oxen and 45 beef cattle.

The first 100 miles went well, with the scenery being beautiful and the game along the way being plentiful. The spirit of joy reigned in this camp of Israel.

However, on the 5th day of September, the company cattle were off by a storm. Approaching in advance of a storm a large herd of buffalo were on the stampede. They came by our camp and about 30 head and our best yoke of oxen were swept away with them. We hunted several days for them, but had to give it up. With our oxen gone we had to put 100 pounds of flour on each cart and our rations were reduced at the same time.

As we started out the weather was hot and our feet would blister. The open sores were unbearable. Later they would become calloused and crack open. The cattle had to be herded at night so they wouldn’t stray away and get picked up by the Indians. This was very hard on the men and boys after a hard day’s pushing or pulling a handcart. They got very little sleep or rest. When going up hills it was hard on them, then going down hills it was hard to hold back.

One night at camp, it seemed we were going to go to bed hungry. My dear mother brought out two very hard sea biscuits that she had put away while on board ship. She said they were kept for a rainy day. She put them in the skillet and poured water over them and we knelt in prayer while she asked the blessing over them. When the lid was removed, we were very happy to see a full pan of food, enough for the whole family. We again thanked the Lord for such a wonderful blessing.

Due to the rush in making the carts, the wheels had been wrapped with rawhide as they were made of green timber, and now they were getting rickety and hard to push and pull. The weather was getting very cold, rations were short, and work was hard. Our dear sister Eliza could no longer endure these hardships. In October, 1856, she went to rest and was buried in a snow bank on the plains.

This was a hard blow on Mother, to leave her there know­ ing that as the snow melted away, the wolves and other animals would devour her body. It was also hard for Mother to see her family trudging along with sore feet from walking in all kinds of weather, with blistered feet in the summer making them very tender for the winter.

Also somewhere along the way, Mother had a piece of sagebrush get in her eye, which was very sore and became worse in cold weather.

As winter approached, the suffering became almost impossible. As we waded through streams of water, our clothes would freeze almost to our limbs, making progress very painful. Many people died by the wayside from the extreme cold and scant food.

We had to cross the Sweetwater three times. The last time we crossed, we had the last dust of flour dealt out to us. Captain Willie and Brother Elder went in search of food. (About this time, Cyrus Wheelock of the Dan Jones Party met them with provisions. He could not restrain the tears when he saw the condition the Saints were in. Many were unwise and ate more than their shrunken stomachs could hold and died from the effects of it.)

My oldest sister Louisa shared, as much as it was possible for a girl, in all the cares and heartaches of the Journey. One night, after helping to push the handcart all day, she was taken sick with severe cramps. Mother and Elizabeth sat by her side trying to relieve her discomfort as best they could with what little they had to do with, which was mostly encouragement. Next morning she was partially recovered, but needed to be put in the sick wagon. That provoked Captain Willie and he abused her shamefully.

He was very unkind to the Saints and when someone suggested to have some of the Church cattle that he was bringing for food killed to save the Saints from starving, he replied that he would rather save the cattle than the people.

One night we had to make camp without water. Fifteen people froze to death and had to be left by the wayside. My brother John gave out before reaching camp and lay down on the ground. When the captain saw him, he served him a severe kick. As he groaned it indicated that he was alive, so he had to be put in the sick wagon. My mother had to melt snow to thaw our hair from the ground where we slept. My youngest brother Thomas’s hand was badly frozen while holding onto the cart to keep up with the family. When he got up by the campfire, it swelled up until it looked like a fat toad. It was very painful and it stayed fat the rest of his life. My mother had often said she’d be the happiest woman on earth if she could enter the Salt Lake Valley with all her children, and with the exception of one she raised like her own, she was blessed to enter the Salt Lake Valley with all her own.

Before we reached the Valley, Elder Franklin D. Richards and a company of Saints who were passing our camp saw our plight and rode with haste to Salt Lake and reported it to President Young at the October Conference. As soon as Conference came to a close, President Young addressed the Saints and told them that there were a number of Saints on the plains on their way to Zion with handcarts and that they needed help. Twenty wagons and teams were needed by the next day to go to their relief. It would be necessary to send two experienced men with each wagon. He said that he would furnish three teams and wagons loaded with provisions and send good men, and Brother Heber C. Kimball would do the same. If there were any brethren present who had suitable outfits for such a journey they should make it known at once so they would know what they could depend on.

When the rescue party reached Fort Bridger they became alarmed as they had expected to meet the Willie Company at this point. After some deliberation the decision was made to send Joseph Young and Cyrus Wheelock ahead to urge the company on if possible.

Soon the snow became so deep and the wind was blowing from the north so cold that they had to camp-for the men and animals were completely exhausted. It was here on October 20th that Captain Willie and Joseph Elder, riding on two worn-out animals, brought the news to the relief parties that unless immediate aid came, the Willie Company would perish.

The men soon prepared to start out again, and after a hard journey, they arrived at our camp. There they found people who had not eaten for 48 hours. Immediately fires were made and food was prepared. For some, the rescue party was too late, for that night nine more deaths occurred. Part of the rescuers stayed with the Willie Company, but some pushed on to rescue others along the way. We had been forced to discard some of our bedding back aways when the snow had become 18 inches deep, making it impossible to push through, and now we really needed it to keep warm. A rescue party came to us under the direction of George D. Grant after we had been in camp for two days, and they had a wagonload of provisions.

We started on our way again after this rest. We crossed the river again and marched all day through the snow in our wet clothes. We soon received plenty of help from the Valley and our scanty belongings were hauled in wagons. I thought I could take our cart in alone, but I could soon see that I couldn’t take it any farther, so I reluctantly turned it out of the road in among the cedars. From there I could ride whenever we came to a downhill haul. We arrived in the wonderful Valley of our new homeland on November 19, 1856.

Upon our arrival in the Valley in the mountains many people had friends or relatives to greet them but the Rowley family had no one. Still, my mother bowed her head and thanked the Lord that she had been blessed to get to the Promised Valley with all her own children alive, even though not in the best of health.

Providence provided kind friends to supply our needs. Mother found some good soul who removed the piece of sagebrush which had caused so much pain and discomfort for most of the journey from her eye. Brother John, who was still disabled with frozen limbs, was cared for by a family in the city. Elizabeth also lived in the city, praying to find employment, which she did. Mother and three of her children; myself, Thomas, and Jane, were sent to Nephi, Juab County. where I remained until 1858.

My sister Elizabeth had married a native of Nephi by the name of David Udall. I worked for him until our Bishop learned that a man in Provo needed a boy my size, so I was sent there to him. I was given a place for sleeping quarters at the corral. After a few days I began to think that I was better off with my family in Nephi, as I was not receiving much kindness. I had had it, so one morning in January with 10 inches of snow on the ground and without dinner or lodging I started for Nephi. While crossing Payson Bottoms I met a man from Santaquin. After he asked me a few questions, he became interested in me and told me when I got to Santaquin to inquire for Web’s place and they would take care of me. The next day I rode to Nephi.

In the spring of 1858 a man from Iron Co., Andrew Bastian by name, came to Nephi and inquired of Bishop Bigler if there was a woman in the ward that would likely make him a good wife. He was recommended to my mother and he made his acquaintance with her. After a few days they were married and she moved with him to Parowan, taking her children with her. Andrew died within a year from that time, leaving my mother well-provided for, with a farm and a home for her comfort.

In the spring of 1858 I went to Iron Co. after visiting with my mother and her two younger children, Thomas and Jane. I went to work for a man by the name of Thomas P. Smith, who lived at Fort Johnson (known as Enoch on the map). Their agricultural resources were so limited that they moved to Summit Creek in a body. I continued to work for Brother Smith until the year of 1862 when I went back to Parowan to take charge of my mother’s affairs. When Panguitch was settled I was one of the pioneers of that place.

In the spring of 1864 I returned to Parowan. One day in 1865 my cousin William Arton told a bunch of young men that he was taking some supplies to meet some families from England which were headed for the town of Summit Creek in Iron Co. I was with Wi11iam and the boys.

We met one family by the name of George and Mary Taylor. One of the girls in the family really appealed to me very much. Her name was Ann. This family went to Parowan instead of Union so I got better acquainted with Ann. She immediately found work at a farm making butter and cheese and caring for a family. She soon became a young woman of marriageable age.

Because of her sweet disposition and outstanding personality Ann was respected and loved by all who knew her. She was courted and considered prominent with President Brigham Young’s daughters when they were in Parowan with the President when he made his visits to all the new colonies.

Ann and I were married on April 23, 1865 by William Danes, at Parowan Utah, at the home of my mother and stepfather, Luke Ford, whom my mother had married a few years after the death of Andrew Bastian. For awhile she helped me run the farm for my mother, so again she was making butter and cheese and doing the other duties a housewife did in the home.

On March 6th 1866 a daughter was born to us. She was blessed and given the name Mary Ann. Soon after her birth I took my wife to Salt Lake City to the Endowment House and we were sealed to each other. We were not able to have our daughter sealed to us at that time as the sealing of children to parents had not yet been introduced. That ordinance would come when the Temple was completed, so we had to wait for awhi1e.

Our family added a son on the l2th of January, 1868. He was given the name of Samuel James. He was a husky lad and grew to manhood and we were proud of him.

By this time we were able to build a three-roomed adobe house which faced the southeast and which had a porch on the north and also one on the south. We set out a young orchard of peaches, apples, plums, and English currants. We also beautified our yard with shade trees and roses. We were very comfortable.

On 20 January 1870 we were again blessed with another daughter, who was given the name of Hannah Eliza. Hannah was to honor my wife’s sister and my half-sister back in England, and Eliza was to honor my sister Eliza who died on the plains and was buried in a snowbank. We still missed her.

Our family was growing as time went on. Another daughter came to gladden our home on the 15th of July, 1872. She was given the name of Sarah Jane, Jane to honor my sister Jane, and Sarah for my wife’s sister Sarah. Alice Louisa was born 11 October, 1874. She was named for my sister.

That same year, President Young came to convert the Saints to the United Order. I laid all I had upon the altar, my team, my wagon, my farm, and myself. I worked all summer and in the fall we found it to be a failure. All that I got out of it was 14 bushels of potatoes and I had to work for my bread. Well, that was just a little experience.

A short time after that, my wife’s mother died and a tumor made its appearance on her father’s face. My wife was the youngest daughter. Her father was very lonely so we took him to our home and cared for him until his death. That was something we were always glad we did.

Our second son, George Walter, named for my wife’s father, was born 25th of June, 1877, at the home in Parowan, as were all the others older than him. By this time the older children were going to school. It seemed they were growing up quite fast, but they were getting to be able to help where needed.

At a quarterly conference being held in Parowan in 1879, I was called on a mission for the Church. I could have my choice to either go to England, my native land, or to go to San Juan to help settle the Indians in that area.

At this time I had a family of seven children and had followed the vocation of farming and had a comfortable home in Parowan. My wife didn’t want to be left alone with the family to raise, so we decided to go to San Juan so we would go together and take the children.

Not being able to go in the spring, we were given a year to get ready. We went in the fall. My mother helped to make bedding and cookies, and dried fruit to take along. She helped also, to make a new rag carpet which was put over the bows on the wagon under the tent, with many pockets sewed on the carpet to hold the needed everyday things, such as needles and thread, soap, and combs, etc. The beds, food, boxes of shoes for everyone, and clothing were put in the wagon.

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