Ariah Coates Brower, the son of John and Fanny Brower, born January 13, 1817, in the town of Phelps, Ontario County New York. My father was born in the State of New Jersey and my mother was born in the state of Massachusetts. My grandfather’s name, on the side of my father, was Joseph and my grandmother’s name, on the side of my father, was Leah. My grandfather’s name, on the side of my mother, was Ariah Coates, and the name of my grandmother was Tabitha Coates. The early part of my life was spent in the place of my nativity in help ing my father in the persuits of agriculture, in connection with my two brothers, Joseph and William. The opportunity which I had for obtaining an education was very limited.
In the year of 1830 my father moved to the state of Ohio, Huntsburgh, Geange County; in order that he might obtain land for himself and children. After a tedious journey, we arrived safe in the destined place, wilderness country, and began to open a farm and prepare to get a living by cultivating the soil. The Fall of 1831 my mother died, which was a severe blow to the family. The Fall following (1832) my father took a trip back to the state of New York to visit his friends, as well as to transact some business; and while visiting among some of his friends in Palmyra, Wayne County, was introduced to a widow woman by the name of Hussey, the wife of William Tucker Hussey, who has been dead but a few years. After a short acquaintance my father married her and immediately returned to the state of Ohio, bringing with him his wife and her three children, Cordelia Ann, Margaret Elizabeth and William Henry, their ages being about 16, 13 and 8 years. In the Spring of 1833 my brother, Joseph, married the oldest daughter of my step-mother, Cordelia Ann, (and I had a particular regard for the other daughter.) Not being something of the world, and upon seeing a notice in the newspaper for an apprentice, I resolved to learn the art of printing, which I accordingly commenced on the 17th day of May, 1833, with Eber D. Howe, publisher of the Painesville Telegraph, in Geanga County, Ohio. When I left home, my father gave me all the money he had, which was .43c, to bear my expense, which I gladly received, (it being the most I had ever had before, I felt quite rich) and started.
The same afternoon I reached Painesville, Ohio, and upon going into the office, inquired if the editor was in, and being answered in the affirmative, inquired if he had the apprentice position which he had advertised for. After surveying me from head to foot and from foot to head several times (no doubt thinking that I was a green’un) very abruptly said no! At this moment I began to take courage. After a few more questions and answers, he concluded that he would take me on trial one week and if at the expiration of that time we could both agree, I might go on and learn the trade. This was all that I wanted, for I had no fears but what I could suit him, and I was certain to bring no objections to him.
The weeks passed and all was right. The indenture was drawn up for my father to sign, which he, my father, very re luctantly did. I persued this business till Fall, when I was taken sick. During my sickness my step-mother came out to take care of me, and as soon as I was able to move, she took me home. I stayed home that Winter and went to school. During the Winter the regard that I had for my step-mother’s daughter was increased to an affection in spite of all I could do to the contrary. However, I returned in the Spring to my former business. I popped the question and got the much desired answer. Then, and not until then, were my hopes and fond anticipations to be realized. Joyfully I returned to finish my trade. During the process of which my father, stepmother and intended wife joined the Mormons, and in 1836 in September, moved for the western country. After they had gone into Illinois, they heard that the saints in Missouri were whipped and were returning back to Ohio. So, they concluded to settle down until they received further orders from the President of the Church.
After I had finished my trade, I went to Detroit, Michigan to get work in order that I might get means to go West with the others, that I might fully realize the desire of my heart; but on account of sickness and misfortune, two long years elapsed before I could affect my object. During which time I kept up a correspondence with my parents. In January, 1837 I left Detroit and Went up to the mouth of Black River to work, where I had a very severe spell of sickness, which lasted for six weeks; after which I returned to my brother-in-law’s (Joshua Bosby) in Ohio, where I tarried till towards the Fall and assisted him on a mill dam for a man by the name of Armstrong. After it was completed, I concluded that I would have to take another tramp, in which I would endeaver to reach the western country, or the place where my heart was conceded. The first place I stopped was Toledo, where I went to work at my trade for the sum of nine dollars a week. About the last boat that went down the lake that Fall, I embarked in for Sandusky City, where I intended to take a stage for Co lumbus, Ohio. I arrived at Sandusky on the following day in good health. In rambling about the town for a short time in waiting for the usual time for the stage to leave, I fell in company with an old chum, by the name of Job A. Symes, who entertained me very kindly until my departure for the stage, which was on the following day. I left for Columbus, Ohio, where I arrived, after a trip through mud and mire for several days, in safety, with not a shilling in my pocket. As good luck would have it for me, I obtained a sit uation the next day in the “Statesman Office”.
By this time I began to think that I had almost got in sight of my father. I continued to work in Columbus, till the fourth of July, 1838, when I hoisted sail for Illinois. Previous to this time I wrote a letter to my par ents, in which I stated that I had become dissatisfied and that I had not clothes to cover my back, and if I was not home by a certain time, they need not look for me, for I intended to go to England and thence to parts unknown. I wrote this letter in order to give them a false impress— ion about my habits. The stated time elapsed and I did not leave for home, because I did not get the means which was due me; but on account of my daily anticipations, I did not write and correct the statement concerning the time which I should be home. Days, weeks, and almost months elapsed before I effected a settlement and obtained the means to pay my expenses to Illinois, which I accomplished just in time to leave on the fourth day of July, 1838. This was one of the happiest days of my life. The stage left at 10 0′ clock ‘a.m. It being a day of consequence, I could hardly tell whether we were going by steam or horse power. The day passed very pleasantly, with now and then a pleasant scene; such as running over pigs, dogs, turning the stage over, etc. About the middle of the day we met a party of about forty ladies and gentlemen, who were dressed in every respect becoming the day, as they were passing, the whipple-trees of the stage hit the legs of one of the horses, upon which was mounted a beautiful lady, dressed in white, which frightened the horse and occasioned him to jump from the road into the gutter, which was about two feet deep with stiff mud. The horse, in trying to extricate himself, threw his gaily-attired rider head first into the mud, which presented an aspect worthy the attention of a poet. The gentlemen who accompanied her was obliged to pull her out and return home leaving the rest of the company to enjoy their joval ride. One o’clock at night brought us to Dayton, where we stayed until the next morning, when we again pursued our journey. Nothing of importance occurred the remainder of the journey to Ture-Hante, Indiana. Here I tarried for two days and there being no conveyance any further, I was obliged to resort to shank horses for the remaining sixty-five miles, which I accomplished in two days.
On the evening of the 12th or 13th of July, 1838, about dark I reached the house of my father. The meeting of my father and mother corresponded with the length of time I had been absent, which was considerable over two years. This night I hardly closed my eyes to sleep, something whispered me things were not all right—the object of my visit was absent to one of the neighbors. The night passed, but was very long—day came, and after several hours, the object of my attention also came. The return of my embrace was not as warm as I had anticipated. My absence beyond the time which I had appointed to be home, the letter which I had written about my habits, etc. and no doubt the interference of some friend in behalf of quite a respectable young man of her acquaintance, she was almost on the eve of forgetting her promise to me and becoming the wife of another man. However, but a very few days passed before she was perfectly satisfied, that the letter which I had written was a hoax, and that I was the same person with whom she had entrusted her heart several years before, and was ready to let her hand accompany the same. Everything again began to appear natural —— my prospects brightened for future happiness all nature seemed to smile —— the prairies rejoiced and the forest echoed the sound—and all was peace and rejoicing.
Time passed on very sweetly. I made a trip to Vandahei in order to raise some means to pay the expenses of our nupitals. I returned the last of August—procured some little necessary fixings and on the sixth of September, 1838 between seven and eight o’clock in the morning (on account of the hurry that the elder was in, E. T. Coons) the ceremony was performed, and that portion of our anticipations realized. The length of the day can better be imagined by those that have been in like situations, At last the day passed and night came, and with it all imaginary or anticipated happiness, that had been looked for and desired for more than four years.
Time passed and every day seemed to add more and more to the happiness that had already fallen into our lots. About the middle of September, my father, John T. Brower, was taken with what is called the chills and fever, and a disease hardly ever considered fatal, but on account of the debilitated situation of his constitution, he expired. This was a very severe wound to the family, as the country was new and they depended on him for a livlihood. The wound occasioned by the death of my father had hardly begun to heal when we were called to witness a scene, if possible, more terrible — my step-brother (William Henry Hussey) had been subject to fits since his childhood, in the absence of every person from the house, except a little girl almost two years old, was taken with a fit, fell in a fire and before anyone could arrive, was burned to death; which took place on the day of 1838.
About the middle of November, I concluded to move to Teue-Haute and go to work at my trade, which I accordingly did, taking with me my wife and what few trappings we had collected in the shape of housekeeping. Our place of destination was, however, about four miles northeast of Ture-Haute, to a widow Hoskins, where my wife had an aunt living, who received us very kindly. I soon got some work in the neighborhood shucking corn at fifty cents a day. After a week or two, we shifted our quarters to M. H. Allens, where my wife did housework and I drove teams. A few weeks expired and I got a situation in the Enquirer office, which only lasted for a short time. I then started for Indianapolis, the capitol of Indiana (leaving my wife behind) , where I got a situation and prospects were more flattering. Seven long weeks elapsed before I returned to see my wife, which made it about the middle of March, when I went foot and alone, through the mud nearly eighty miles, to accomplish.
It seemed to me that it had been nearly a year since we had seen each other. I stopped by one day, before I returned… making, in the meantime, arrangements to have my wife brought to me. After I had returned, I rented a house, bought some more furniture, and was prepared by the time my wife got there, which was the fifth or sixth of April, 1839, to go to keeping house. As soon as we got a start we sent back to Illinois for my step—mother, who came to live with us.
During our stay at Indianapolis, we found two families that were distant relatives, viz: John Wood and Mr. Underhil, who were very kind to us until they found out that we had a leaning toward the Latter-day Saints. . .after which they never visited us in the day time. Here it was, when Elder Hyde and Page passed on their mission to Jerusalem, that I became fully convinced that the doctrine preached by the Latter-day Saints was correct, not withstanding the opportunities which I had during my apprenticeship, of making myself acquainted with the doctrine of the Church. The wife of my old boss, being a Mormon,and Painsville being situated nine miles from Kirtland, I was often invited to drive the horse and buggy to meeting with her, which gave me quite an opportunity for information, but being untrained, as well as quite young, did not take a fancy to acquaint myself thoroughly with the principles of the Gospel, but was perfectly satisfied, that if the Mormons were not right, there was no right upon the earth.
After Elder Hyde and Page left, I could not rest satisfied. I closed up my business, and on the 12th day of July, 1840, I started for Illinois. On the 25th of March, pervious to our leaving Indianapolis, my wife presented me with a daughter, (Ann Elizabeth) which gave me great satisfaction. We arrived at my brother’s, Joseph Brower. Here I took up a piece of land and gained a pre-emption claim.
In February, 1842 there came in our midst an Elder Simeon Carter, who obtained a house…gave out an appointment, and preached. The house was well filled. The second or third sermon which he gave he asked for volunteers to be baptized—ten came forward, of which I was the first one to be baptized. This was the 24th day of the month. The next day, Sunday, I was ordained a Priest; other officers were also ordained and the branch organized. Noah M. Faunce was the presiding Elder. About one week from this time my wife was rebaptized, and on the 28th of March, presented me with a second child, which was also a daughter, (Victoria Adelaide). In June I made a visit to Nauvoo in order to see if I could get a situation at the printing business. I returned home on the fourth of July, determined to sell out and move to Nauvoo at the earliest opportunity, which I accordingly did in June, 1843, which was one year from the time I first went to Nauvoo.
The year soon passed away when we found ourselves on the road to the city of the Saints in company with several families of the brethren. We did our cooking and camped in wagons, and let our cattle feed upon the commons. We met with little or no opposition on the road, mud and mire and that was in great abundance, which had a tendency to bring out the sentiments of our hearts, for sometimes, we were in the mud up to our knees, boosting at the wagon wheels, at other times it rained most cautiously, until we were all wet to the skin, then the scene that would take place when we would camp–wood all wet, children crying and our wives scolding, and some of them wishing themselves back. Altogether it made the scene quite spicy, but did not wish myself or family back.
No, never! We had started for Zion in order that we might worship God and never to make us afraid. When we got within 16 miles of Nauvoo, we found an old friend, who had gone out the year before, by the name of Moses I. Gardner. Here I left my family and took a trip into town, to rent a house, to put my family in, so that the team might return, for I had sold merely for the use of a team wagon and driver to take us to Nauvoo. When I got into the city I found another family who went to Nauvoo the year before, with whom I was acquainted, who assisted me in getting room. I tarried two days and then returned for my family. While I was in the city I met with Elder 0. Hyde, with whom I got acquainted in Indiana, while he was on his way to Jerusalem. He invited me to dine with him, which I very cheerfully did. The same day that I got back, or the day before, our youngest child, Victoria Adelaide, fell into a bucket of hot water and got very badly scalded. Not withstanding, we moved on to the place of destination, which was the 14th day of June and took possession of the room which I had rented; it being No. 4 in Ebenezer Robinson’s brick row.
About the time everything began to look rather blue. We had made our escape from among the gentiles, with nothing but our clothing on our backs, and hardly a chance of that, and nothing to eat, or any money to buy with. Besides, the child that had been scalded was taken sick with the fever and bowel complaint. I applied for a situation in the printing office, but could not obtain one. Therefore, was obliged to leave my family and go 18 miles into the country, in order to obtain work. I was grubbing on the prarie for 50 cents a day to be paid in pork. I worked here one week; then took my meat on my back and started for Nauvoo in order to supply my family with something to eat, and had it not been for falling into company with a friend who had a team, would no doubt carried it on my back all the way–as it was I only carried it about four miles. When I arrived home there was great joy, for they had been living on dry bread. The child was better. We commenced eating the meat as if we had never seen it before in our lives, not knowing where the next was coming from. In the meantime, I had been to the office and left my address. Several days passed before I got another gleam of light. At length there came a messenger from the office telling me that the foreman wished to see me. It was then eleven o’clock and I could not wait till after dinner, but went to ascertain what was wanting, when to my great satisfaction, they wanted me to do some presswork, which was only to last a few days. As a matter of course, the work that I did was in the best possible manner in order, if possible, to retain a situation, which had the desired effect. I continued on working, and after a short time, the foreman, John Greenhow, became dissatisfied and left, and the foremanship fell upon me, which only offered me eight dollars per week. Before I had been making from ten to twelve dollars per week. This situation I retained until the Spring of 1846.
With industry and economy, I was able to buy a fraction of a lot, and within two years from the time we landed in Nauvoo, we were living in a house of our own — one story and a half high, with four rooms in it, and a good well. And, we were placed in a situation to live, when Lo! and behold, the cry came, to your—Oh! ISRAEL! !
Our little child continued sick, until many of our neighbors said that we could not raise her–but we continued to hold on to her by faith; at the same time she had been carried on a pillow for more than three months with little or no prospects of her getting well.
(AT THIS POINT IN ARIAH COATES BROWER’ S HISTORY SOMEONE VERY THOUGHTLESSLY CUT OUT THE BOTTOM PART OF THE PAGE IN HIS BOOK………NO MORE INFORMATION………..)
Ballentyne, and as they were about entering the house, up came two of the presidents of the Quorum to which I was a member, namely, Zehiel Savage and they all laid hands on, brother Taylor being mouth; as soon as he opened his mouth, the fever began to leave and gradually went down, and before they took their hands off from my head, the disease went off at my feet and I felt perfectly well. During the rest of the day I was about the house, went to bed as usual in the evening, with the exception of taking a dose of Medicated Lozinger. The first part of the night I slept very well; about two hours before day came I began to feel uneasy with pain in the pit of my stomach, which appeared to me to be a stoppage. I got up about daybreak, built a fire, and told my wife that I felt quite unwell. She immediately got up and made me some ginger tea and gave it to me in a saucer. I took the saucer and drank about half of it when everything began to grow dark. I immediately handed her the saucer and told her to set it away quick. She set it up just in time to prevent me from falling from my chair on the floor, by catching hold of me. She then called up her mother, in order to assist her, for she thought I way dying. She then called for the neighbors, the nearest one being brother A. Carryington, who immediately came and laid hands on me, but to no effect seemingly. I was aware of everything that transpired, but could not speak a word nor make the first notion of any kind. They then gave me a little weak sling, with an idea to revive me. After about half an hour, to the great joy of all around, I revived.
(THE REMAINDER OF THE STORY IS MISSING FROM ARIAH COATES BROWER’S BOOK.)
Ariah C. Brower issued the last number of the “TIMES AND SEASONS” periodical on February 15, 1846 and immediately left Nauvoo and proceeded to Winter Quarters. In 1847 he came to Salt Lake Valley, in President John Taylor’s company. During the Winter of 1847 to 1848, two large deer ran diagonally across the old fort, and while standing in the doorway of his house, he shot one of them as it was in the act of leaping over his wall.
In 1848 he went to California, locating at Salmon Falls, where he built a hotel and called it the “BROWER HOUSE”.
In the Summer of 1850, he returned to the Salt Lake Valley with Amasa Lyman’ s company. Immediately on his return he was engaged by Dr. Willard Richards, as foreman of the Deseret News office. In 1851 he and Joseph Cain published the “Immigrant’s Guide” from Salt Lake to Sacramento. In the Fall of 1854 he resigned his position in the news office and moved to Grantsville, Toole County. In the Summer of 1864, he visited through the Cache Valley and Bear Lake Valley, looking for a place to build a home. He moved his family to Richmond, in Cache Valley, in the Spring of 1865 and located first where Nathan Merrill now lives. He moved down on the Brower territory in the Spring of 1867, where he bought twenty acres of land and built a home. On October 10, 1878, he was appointed to a mission in the United States. He labored most of the time in the state of Wisconsin and returned in 1879.
During a visit to Goose Creek, near Oakley, Idaho, to look after a flock of sheep, which he owned, the herder, he had hired, had left the sheep and they were scattered and had become mixed with other herds, he was taken suddenly ill and died June 25, 1884, and was buried in the cemetery at Oakley, Idaho, where he now lies.
In Nauvoo he was appointed one of the presidents of the Thirtieth Quorum of Seventies, which office he held at the time of his death. During his residence at Grantsville and Richmond he held positions of trust and was highly esteemed by those who formed his acquaintance.
This history was handed in by Elva D. Cusworth to the Santa Monica Bay Camp Daughters of Utah Pioneers, West Los Angeles County, California.
Nauvoo Restoration Incorporated
A non profit corporation for the restoration of historic Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
June 14, 1966
Mr. and Mrs. Archibald B. Cusworth
3265 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, Calif. 90066
Dear Brother and Sister Cuswurth:
The Salt Lake office forwarded to me here xerox copies made from the journals of Hannah Thompson and Uriah Coates Brewer. Thank you very much for the loan of them. I have asked the secretary in Salt Lake to return them to you as you sent them.
I have read them both today, and made notes for our records. The journal of Brother Brower is very interesting.
We have found that Uriah Coates Brower, after he left the temporary quarters in Ebenezer Robinson’s brick tenamants, purchased part of lot 1, block 146. This is the block east of the one on which the Mansion House stands, and is described as “commencing 25 feet north of the SE corner of Lot 1, north 25 feet, west 6 rods, south 25 feet, east 6 rods to point of beginning.”. The deed was recorded March 3, 1845, at Carthage, but had been recorded at an earlier date in Nauvoo, which record is lost. Hence we can’t tell when he bought it. Wm. Clayton’s name is recorded as witness to the transaction, and Isaac Higbee as the Justice of the peace.
Here is a sketch of the location:
Thank you again very much. This has helped us very much. The Ravstens send greetings. we have a lively group here this summer, but we still miss you.
Sincerely,
T. Edgar Lyon
Deseret News Obit.: 27th June 1884.
BROWER, Arieh Coats of Richmond, Cache,Ut., died
suddenly at the house of his grandson Ormas Bates,
Goose Creek, Oakley, Idaho, on the 25th of June after
two hours of severe suffering from cramps in the
stomach. “He was son of John J. & Fanny Brower, and
was born Jan. 13, 1817 in the town of Phelps, Ontario,
N.Y. He leaves a large circle of mourning relatives
and friends, his own immediate posterity numbering
39 children, 56 grand children and9 great grandchildren.
The funeral services were held at Goose Creek on the 25th
inst., under the direction of Bishop Haight, it being
deemed impractical to remove his body to his home.
ARIAH COATS BROWER AND HANNAH THOMPSON
( 5th wife)
End. House Sealing Book C-pg. 548.
Entry #3430- 24 Aug. 1861- Ariah
Coats Brower sealed to THOMPSON,
Celia- deceased- b. 4 Nov. 1821, Edinburgh,
Midl, Scotland— died 10 May 1852 on the
Plains -“Thompson, Margaret- proxy”.
(transcribed by Susan Carey June 2013 from 8.5×14 sheets from my Book of Remembrance; photo scans are from the document which was poor quality photocopy)
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