The Bowen Family

I was born November 18, 1882 in Spanish Fork, Utah to John Evans and Mary Ann Christmas Bowen.

Well do I remember when my mother taught me to pray and when I was very young I learned its value.

My brother David was a young baby when he was very ill. Mother and Aunt Elizabeth were in the bedroom caring for him. David had a convulsion. Mother told me to go ask for Robert McKell, Aunt Hazel’s grandfather, to come and help him. Mr. McKell and grandpa administered to David and before they finished he was out of the convulsion and asleep and he soon recovered from his illness. This incident made a lasting impression on my young mind. The 24th of July was next to Christmas in looking forward to. As now days, the 24th of July was always celebrated with a big parade. The float called the ”Car of Beauty” was on that rather young children rode on and I was chosen once to ride on it. The day before the celebration, my mother told me to be sure to be home on time. The next day as I went to ride on the float a neighbor, Mrs. Darger, put powder on my face which pleased me and with the pretty blue dress mother and Aunt Elizabeth made for me I really felt dressed up.

I was a clumsy little girl. My sisters, my playmates, and I used to climb trees for fun and sometimes to shake down fruit for mother to dry. More than once I fell from a tree. Once we were jumping from a low shed and I sprained my ankle. When l was older 1 learned to ride a horse but not as well as my sisters. Once when I asked father if I could ride the pony he said, ”You will only fall off.” I insisted and I rode the pony. Sister Jane had a bicycle and she and Eleanor learned to ride well. I tried to learn but I fell and hurt me and I never learned to ride. Someone accused me of being a sissy; however, it took more courage to leave our first home after marriage and our loved ones and make a new home in Idaho than it did to climb trees, ride horses, or to ride a bicycle.

My sisters, Jane and Eleanor, and I often helped our father with farm work until our brothers were old enoughs to help. In our day all the grain was cut with a binder. One day father took Jane and me to a patch of grain and taught us how to shock it. We had to put several bundles together and stood it up. Well, it almost took my breath for the bundles seemed almost as tall as 1 was. Jane and I did our best and finally completed the job. Father was always kind and patient with us when we tried to do our work well.

I was anxious to go to college but I didn’t know whether or not my parents could afford to send me. To earn some money for college 1 got a job in Mapleton picking fruit. Sometimes one of my brothers would take me on a horse up there and sometimes I went with friends. It was cold in Mapleton early in the morning when the canyon wind blew hard. We walked home after work which was four or five miles. I earned enough money to buy my clothes and some books.

After attending college and a summer school at the BYU, I took the teachers examination and passed it.

I started teaching in Santaquin, Utah at the age of eighteen. I went back and forth on the Union Pacific Train when I wanted to come home. The station master must have thought I was a little girl because he sold me a half-fare ticket. I wore my hair in two braids but when I began to teach I did it up in a bob thinking I would look older and more mature. I weighed less than a hundred pounds.

Morris and I had a long, happy courtship. I know such is not advisable but in our case it was necessary and we were separated much of the time. I attended BYU two years and several summers. I taught school in Santaquin one year, Morris attended the LDS Business College and he spent almost a year in Idaho where he filed on land. Then Morris’ father was called on a three year mission; so he asked Morris to come home and take care of the farm work and the family. We could not afford to get married until Morris’ father returned. I had taught school one year in Spanish Fork so taught there for three more years.

Our happy courtship culminated in a wonderful marriage in the Salt Lake Temple June 6, 1906. It was a dream come true and the most joyous experience of my life. Our wedding reception was a small and quiet one. My wonderful parents prepared a delicious turkey dinner for the Bowen and Creer families.

In early spring, April, 1907, David Russell was born and I was very happy when 1 realized the marvelous experience of becoming a mother. I was thrilled beyond words to express.

John Willard was born November 4, 1910 and deprived me of voting that year. I was too happy to worry about that. The realization that Russell had a brother added joy to John’s birth.

Clare’s birth was very exciting because he was born before the doctor arrived. Mother was so worried and called two neighbor women in. None of them would do what needed to be done. Finally the doctor came and considerable talk ensued. Finally I said, ”When are you going to take care of me, doctor?” He was astonished that none of those women, each of which had large families, hadn’t taken care of me. Clare was born Sept. 25, 1912.

When Clare was a year and a half old, Morris went to Idaho and bought a farm. He rented a railroad car to take our belongings to our new home. These belonging consisted of household items, horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and farm machinery.

When we went to Idaho, the house was in terrible condition. Part of the plaster was off from the walls in the kitchen. The paper on the ceiling was so black and dirty that the pattern of the paper couldn’t be detected. Morris thought we would be able to have it repaired in the fall; however, our crop was so poor we couldn’t afford to do it then nor two or three years later. I felt I couldn’t stand it any longer; so I took old pieces of sheets, old oilcloth, and old corrugated paper and patched the walls. Morris white washed the ceiling and I did the walls. With all the other work I had to do it took one week to do this work on the kitchen.

The first fall we were in Idaho our crop was poor because we had a bad frost; however, we managed and all of us kept well.

Morris had ten or twelve horses and cows to buy hay for, so he bought some water stock. This was a mistake because he had to work so hard to irrigate our unlevel ground.

During holidays. and in times of sickness I felt keenly being deprived of the association of our loved ones in Utah. In my mind is vivid memory of our first Christmas in Idaho. Santa paid thirty-five cents for a story book for Russell and for John and Clare each a fifty-cent automobile. Of course they had candy, nuts, and apples and gifts from relatives in Utah.

Afton was our first baby girl, born Jan. 9, 1915, and if she had been a boy we would have been just as happy and thankful; however, we were glad to have a little girl and she was such a good natured baby.

When Afton was only a few months old, I said to Morris, ”I wish we could have another little girl in two years.” My wish came true when Jeneve was born two years later, January 9, 1917, on Afton’s birthday. It was midwinter with two feet of snow on the level. Morris went to get a neighbor woman to be with me while he went to get the doctor. The neighbor advised him to phone from a store close by to her place for the doctor to come. In the meantime Reed Creer, Morris’ cousin, and his wife came to visit. Reed went out to look at the animals but soon came in and said the doctor was coming. I was on my knees trying to finish mopping the kitchen floor when Reed brought the doctor in. The doctor said, ”The idea of a mother mopping the floor and expecting a baby in an hour or sos” When he stepped near the stove he said, ”and you even have bread to bake.”

I went to bed and Jeneve was born and got her first and only spanking. It was from the doctor. Because of birth complications Jeneve’s first cry was like music in my ears. She was a cross baby because I didn’t have enough milk to satisfy her.

Our crops were good for several years until 1921, the year Mary was born, July 21. We had the worst frost we had ever had. It froze 90 acres of fall wheat which we had to cut for hay. I’ll never forget the day Morris told me the wheat was all frozen. I told him I was very sorry but I could not worry about it because I had something more important to think about and that if we could have a strong, healthy baby, we would manage somehow. Mary was a strong, healthy baby and a blessing and joy to our family. During the depression of 1929 and 1930 Morris sold grain for 15 cents a bushel. Many farmers gave up their farms and went elsewhere to live.

At this time Apostle Ballard spoke at one of our Stake Conferences and advised the people not to leave their farms but to stay and raise all the food they could. He promised us that if we would keep the commandments of the Lord the windows of Heaven would be opened and. our crops would be so abundant that our granaries could not hold them. Many of the church members became more active in the church, our family included. I remember Morris marked on the calendar the amount of eggs we gathered each day so we could tell the amount of tithing we should pay on them. We had plenty of food during the depression. We had pork, beef, chickens, milk, cream, butter, eggs and flour. We bought apples and potatoes for winter. It was food such as oranges, grapefruit, bananas, nuts and pineapple we couldn’t afford to buy. We couldn’t afford many clothes so I had to do considerable mending and making over of old clothing.

We lived to see Apostle Ballard’s prophecy fulfilled because one year our crops were so large that Morris had to prop part of the granary to prevent it from bursting.

Morris held many responsible positions. He was assistant superintendent of the Sunday School in Third Ward in Spanish Fork in our early married life and also in the Lund Ward. He was a counselor to Joseph E. Wilson, Jr. in Lund after which he was bishop there for several years. He was School Board Trustee for many years and also Democratic Precinct Committeeman for many years. With honor he held these positions. I always did my best to sustain him and so did the children for we were all proud of him and that he was worthy of such positions.

Once I attended a meeting of the MIA Stake Board which I was a member of. Some other members and I were rather early so we talked about various matters. One woman said she got her husband ready to go hunting that morning and then went back to bed. Another woman said she spent most of the morning reading. I said, ”If your husbands were bishops you would be up just as early on Sunday morning as any other morning getting ready for Sunday School.” One woman said, ”I’d stay up all Saturday night preparing for Sunday if my husband would go to Sunday School and other meetings.” I was exceedingly happy that Morris was active in the church.

Additions from family members
Mother was a very kind and gentle woman and always interested in the welfare of others. She was generous with her time and loved to share what she had with others less fortunate than she. She liked people and made friends easily.

Mother could be and was frugal when necessary but liked nice clothes and home furnishings and bought the best she could afford. It was her theory that it was better to have a few really good things than an abundance of cheap things. She took pride in keeping herself, her home and yard neat, clean and orderly.

Mother enjoyed reading and tried to be well informed. In later years as her eye sight dimmed and she had difficulty staying awake when she relaxed, she relied on TV news and the radio to keep herself informed. Good music and drama always pleased her.

Family and strong family ties were important to her. She was in her glory when she could gather her loved ones around her for a big family dinner and remained a good cook until she became too ill to take care of herself. She enjoyed cooking tasty, nutritious and appetizing food.

Mother was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was the peacemaker. She was proud of her children, their families and their accomplishments.

Mother was always grateful for her membership in the church and had a strong testimony that it was the true church of Christ. She tried with all her might to live it each day. She was a good example to all who knew her. I’m grateful to have had her for a mother and friend.

Jeneve Creer Galbraith
To me mother was an outstanding example of devotion- devotion especially to her husband, children, grandchildren, and the church. I’m sure she loved her husband just as much when he came in from the field sweaty, unshaven and dirty as when he portrayed the handsome man he was when he was well groomed. By the same token 1 feel sure dad loved mother equally as much when she was heavy with child; working hard over a hot stove baking bread, cooking, or bottling fruit; or when she was tired and weary from caring day and night for sick children.

At one time for months before and after Jeneve was born, due to illness and severe winter weather mother never left our home for five months and then it was just to go to the neighbors about a mile away for a short visit.

When I was about four years old. all of our family but mother were ill with the flu-Dad and I were very near death. Finally a neighbor lady who had nursed her family through the flu and Aunt Myrtle and Aunt Grace from Spanish Fork came to help. About then mother got the flu but luckily she had a very mild case.

When Clare, Russell’s boy, was about eight months old, Russell got scarlet fever. He and his family were living with us. Mother carefully took full responsibility of his care hoping no one else would get the disease. After we were out of quarantine and Jeneve and I had gone to live in Bancroft to attend high school, Genevieve (Russell’s wife) came down with the scarlet fever. One night Genevieve was so ill that mother feared for her life and hardly left her bedside. During this time Clare was so ill with a cold and cutting teeth that dad held him all night. When mother told me about this I wished Jeneve and I hadn’t been allowed to go back to school yet and had been there to help her. Mary was only a fifth grader but had to stay home and was a big help.

Mother came to our homes to help when we had our babies. This she did for daughters-in-law as well as daughters. One thing I remember so well is that in the winter time when we would come home late at night from dances-travelling by sleigh- mother would have warm bricks and hot water bottles in our beds and our pillows out in the living room to be warm and also something for a snack.

When dad was so helpless for months before he died Mary was a registered nurse, so she left her good job in Salt Lake and came to help. Mother never left her house the last six weeks of dad’s life and in the six weeks before that she only left twice-once to go to the bank and once to go across the street to talk to Uncle David.

Mother loved the church and held many responsible positions. When I was young, mother was called to be MIA President. She held this position for twelve years during which time she attended her meetings whenever it was humanly possible. She went the extra mile to accomplish outstanding work in the MIA. The bishop publicly said this in a meeting at one time. These are only a few of the things I could tell but I hope these will help all of us appreciate mother for her unselfish devotion to her family.

Afton Creer Ward

David Bowen, son of Jane Evans and William Bowen was born in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, 11 August 1823. He was one of nine children, four girls and five boys.

As his parents were in fair circumstances they gave their children a good education in the best schools and colleges of Great Britain. As it was and is customary of the people of the old world to teach their children a trade, Grandfather was assigned to the trade of chain and anchor maker, which line of work he followed for several years.

He had a flair for mechanics and when he was fifteen years of age he and his broher built a small steam engine about three feet long, proportionately wide and high. It was accurate and complete in construction and was operated by the steam from a teakettle. It was used to the family by do washing and churning. It was brought to America. I remember it for my father had it for a time, but I cannot locate it now.

I do not know a great deal about Grandfather’s early manhood, but I’ve heard him tell about his love romance which runs something as follows: “I was born and confirmed a member of the Episcopal Church, but the chief thing about religion that interested me was the pretty girls who attended services. With a crowd of boys I was always on hand when church let out my object being to watch the girls come down the steps. I was not content to visit my own church but went to neighboring towns to be on hand when services dismissed. While several other boys and I were watching the crowd desend [sic] the steps at a church in Dowlais, Glamorganshire, South Wales, one young lady attracted my gaze. It was love at first sight and I involuntarily remarked, “Boys that’s my wife.” From that time on I became a frequent visitor to Dowlais, and eagerly sought an opportunity to meet this young lady, which was in due time afforded to me. A friendship sprang up between us which ripened into courtship and finally, one glorious autumn day in 1844, I became the husband of one of the finest girls in the land.”

This newly married couple located in Llanelly where Grandfather worked at his trade, studying mechanics in the meantime. He was a natural mathematician, which tendency sided materially in his line of work. He developed upon his trade and his natural ability, combined with industry, awarded him advancement until a position was offered him as foreman of a large mint. In this capacity he had jurisdiction over about one hundred and fifty men and boys at a very generous salary. He enjoyed this work very much but was not to hold this situation long.

It was while he was thus employed that he heard the gospel message and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. He was baptized 11 October 1848 and confirmed a member, by William Hughes. He was ordained an Elder 14 August 1849 by William Williams and William Hughes. After this he bent all his efforts toward preparing to come to Zion. By joining the L.D.S. Church he incurred the displeasure and ridicule of his relatives and friends, but this served only to strengthen his faith.

In due time all preparations were made to start for Utah. The Bowen family sailed from Liverpool, England in April of 1855 on the ship Chimborazo. The vessel had just set sail when Grandpa accidently [sic] dropped the bag containing all his money into the water. This at first seemed to be a great calamity, but it eventually proved to be a blessing, for another baby came to this couple a few months later while they were comfortably settled in Pennsylvania. The child, otherwise, would have been born on the plains under adverse circumstances. This new baby was Uncle John.

The trip across the water lasted six weeks. When they reached America they settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but moved from there to Minersville, Skylkill County, Pennsylvania, where they remained about ten months until sufficient money was saved by to buy an outfit. In the summer of 1856, the family, now being well equiped for travel, left Minersville to go to Iowa City where the saints were gathering to prepare for their trip across the plains. (Iowa City was as far as the railroad extended in those days) Captain Dan Jones led the company to Newton, Iowa. Then with John A. Hunt as leader they left Iowa Camp Association after Captain Martin’s Handcart company.

The travelers got along fairly well until winter set in. As a protection to the handcart company the ox teams were kept behind. When they reached the last crossing of the Platte river they were held there some time on account of the snow. Feed for their teams was snowed under, so the men were obliged to cut down cottonwood trees for the cattle to brouse [sic] on to keep them alive.

Finally they started to move on, breaking the road through the snow as they traveled, but the oxen were so weak from lack of feed that most of them died. When they reached Devil’s Gate, Grandfather had but one oxen out of four. John Lewis had lost five out of six. The two surviving animals were hitched to Brother Lewis’ wagon and the two families came with the outfit to Fort Bridger, Wyoming. Grandfather left his wagon and most of his supplies at Devils Gate. As they journeyed on they met teams from Fort Supply which had been sent to meet the saints. An extra team was hitghed [sic] to the Lewis wagon. This helped materially.

At Fort Bridger, they were met by better equipped outfits sent out from the valley by President Brigham Young. The wornout cattle were left there and strange to say, some of othem lived through the winter and were found by the owners the next spring. Grandpa found his ox and gave it to a man in settlement of a debt.

The Bowen family reached Salt Lake City 22 December 1856 and came to Lehi the next day. They reached Spanish Fork on Christmas eve and went to the home of Morgan Hughes, where they remained for several weeks. Spanish Fork became their permanent home. Grandfather’s experience and his knowledge of mathematics came in very handy after he reached Utah. Adding to his trade, he took up general blacksmithing and gun repairing. At first he had a struggle but later work came to him from all parts of the state. Prior to his coming there were no sawmills in this part of the state, and he made the machinery for the first sawmill and the first molasses mill in this locality.

David Bowen was a black Hawk Indian War veteran and served his country with his comrades.

In Utah County, more especially in Spanish Fork, the name of David Bowen is revered as a pioneer, for he contributed his share toward the upbuilding of our community. During those early pioneer days, no occupation or trade was more important than agriculture and blacksmithing, the raising of food and the making of implements with which to till the soil; David Bowen was both a farmer and a blacksmith.

As a farmer he accumulated land in the various fields around Spanish Fork, and was interested in developing agricultural pursuits. There were no apricots in this locality until he planted his trees. He cured the first alfalfa hay in this vicinity, although he did not plant the first alfalfa seed. Uncle John Bowen recently told me that he hauled and stacked the first alfalfa hay in Spanish Fork.

While Grandpa was in Wales on a mission he sent home for some sweet clover seed. He gave it to a florist who planted it and raised the first of its kind in Great Britain. This florist had procured something new and he increased his sales by putting clover blossoms in his bouquets.

One of the first apple orchards in this part of the country was planted by Grandpa Bowen. As young people we loved to stray down to the “old lot”, as we called it, and get apples and cider. We gathered apples and ground and pressed them in the old cider mill. The juice was put into barrells to ripen into vinergar, part of which was sold and the rest given away.

Grandpa was also a pioneer in the honey industry. When I was quite young I helped him extract honey from the comb. Children came from far and near to get the “cappings” when he was extracting honey.

David Bowen was intersted in business and civic as well as church affairs. He was one of a company who organized the first co-op store in Spanish Fork, and was also a stockholder in the Z.C.M.I. He was a member of the city council and held other positions of trust in this community. He was a blacksmith, a farmer, a stockraiser, a business man and a civic worker. He also did a great deal of church work and was advanced in the priesthood and filled a mission to Great Britain when he was 57 years old.

While he was on his mission he sent a little eight year old girl home to Utah with some returning missionaries. Second Ward (Polly) Myler, who became the mother of our present Second Ward Bishop Eugene Hughes. Polly was raised in the home of Aunt Eleanor Jane Thomas, Grandpa’s only surviving daughter. Later Grandpa sent for her brother, Samuel, who came to Utah with John Evans.

The Bowen family held a reunion on Grandpas’ return from his misison. He was sixty years old at this time. He again took up his work in the blacksmith shop, but as he grew older he spent much time and money doing temple work. He also helped to immigrate a number of saints to Utah, and donated liberally to church and charity. He was generous but never “let the left hand know what the right hand was doing.” He helped many people with food and money, and did a great deal of work in his blacksmith shop for which he expected no pay.

He enjoyed going to conference and always visited at my home when he came to Salt Lake City. I was happy to have him with me. It was then I became more intimately acquainted with this dear old man and discovered his real worth. He was jovial and ever ready with a good story to suit most every occasion. He had a keen sense of humor and appreciated a good clean joke. It was a delight to accompany him when he went to visit his old Welch [sic] friends and hear them tell tales of their younger years. Some of these stories I shall never forget.

Grandfather was dignified and pure minded. I never knew him to profane or use slang. He kept the word of wisdom consistently, but was not radical in any way. I remember him as an intellectual scholarly man, exceptionally gifted in a mathematical line. During my school days I could always depend on him for the solution of a difficult problem for he delighted in helping anyone.

A man of keen intellect, he was always a worker, always a leader.

He died 15 January 1910 at the age of eighty six, leaving a posterity of ninety-nine.

The children of David and Jane Foster Bowen are:

by Jane Bowen Hodgins Tuttle, granddaughter

My grandmother, Jane Foster Bowen, was born at Dowlais, Glamorgan, South Wales, 19 June 1820. She was the youngest of the four children of Eleanor Parry, of Welch decent [sic] and George Foster of Schotch [Scotch?] parentage. Her sisters were Eleanor, who was born at Bath, England, 9 June 1811, and Elizabeth, born at Bath 2 April 1817. George, her only brother, was born at Crickhowell in 1814. He died in his early manhood. Grandmother was the only member of the family who married.Her father was spoken of as a gentleman’s Gardener and he was a cabinet maker by trade. He made the casket for Princess Charlotte, a daughter of King George III. The casket was made of rosewood, and from small peices [sic] that were left, he made a snuff box of excellent workmanship. (I have it in my possession). This was brought across the plains.

I know very little about my grandmother’s childhood except that she was reared in a highly cultured family. She carried evidences of this all her life for she was a very refined lady.

As a girl she was religiously inclined and attended church regularly. My grandfather related a story of their love romance which originated at church. I shall try to repeat it as he gave it to me. “I had lived in Llanelly a town not far from Dowlais. I was born and confirmed a member of the Episcopal Church, but the main thing about the church that interested me were the pretty girls who attended the services. It was a favorite pastime of mine to gather with my chums to watch the young ladies walk down the church steps as the services were dismissed. It was on an occasion like this that I met my wife. I was not content to visit my own church but went to neighboring towns to be on hand when church was dismissed there. As a group of girls was leaving the church at Dowlais, my eyes fell on a dainty miss who completely captivated me. I remarked to my companions, “Boy’s that’s my wife” and called their attention to this particular young lady I had never seen before. I lost no time in making her acquaintance and I soon became a regular visitor at her home. A friendship sprang up between us which ripened into courtship and finally, one glorious autumn day in 1844, I became the husband of one of the finest girls in the land.”

During their courtship, Grandpa gave his sweetheart a small pen knife which she brought to America with her other treasures. Uncle John still has this much cherished token.

After their marriage my grandparents resided in Llanelly, South Wales, where most of their children were born.

Grandfather had never taken any great interest in the Episcopal Church, but when he heard the Latter-Day-Saint missionaries preaching on the streets he became deeply interested in their message. He soon began to investigate and study this new religion and in due time became thoroughly converted and was baptized, 11 October 1848 by William Hughes, confirmed 13 October 1848 also by William Hughes. Grandmother was baptized by Elder William Thomas, 19 January 1849 and confirmed by Elder Howell Williams 24 January 1849. Ere long, grandfather decided to bring his family to Zion. His people tried hard to disuade him but to no avail. He saved sufficient money for the trip on sea and across the plains and with his wife and family left Liverpool, England sometime in the spring of 1855.

Grandmother had lost two children in Wales; they were Eleanor Jane, born at Llanelly, 19 March 1848 – died 25 April 1848 and Emily born, Llanelly, 20 September 1851, died 7 January 1852. These children were buried in St. Paul’s cemetery, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, S. Wales.

Their [sic] were three children left to come to Utah with their parents; William Parry, my father, age nine; George Foster, age six and Eleanor Jane, the second, age two.

As the family embarked on the sea voyage, Grandpa dropped his bag of money into the sea. This was thought to be a great misfortune at the time but was really a blessing in disguise. They had thought to cross the plains when they first landed in AMerica but were forced to remain in the East long enough to earn sufficient money to buy an outfit. They located at Minersville, Schylkill Co., Pennsylvania, where Grandfather worked at blacksmithing. At this place another baby was born 12 July 1855. This was Uncle John E. Grandpa said, “If I hadn’t lost my money I might have lost my wife, for the baby would have been born on the plains and the mother was quite frail. We had no conception of the hardships to be encountered on the way.

In the Spring of 1856 with four children, the baby less than a year, this family joined the other Saints to cross the plains. They were members of Capt. John Hunt’s company, which followed Martin’s Handcart company. They expected to reach Salt Lake City early in the fall but Hunt’s company was held back to help the handcart pioneers and they did not reach “the valley” until December 22nd. Brother Charles Martell went to Salt Lake City to meet the Bowen family but through some misunderstanding they failed to make contact, and the new emigrants came direct to Spanish Fork where they had relatives. They spent several weeks at the home of Morgan Hughes. This hospitality was a great accomodation to the newcomers, one which Grandfather never forgot, for he availed himself of the opportunity to help his cousin and her family when she became a widow.

As spring drew near, my Grandparents moved into their first Utah home. Crude as it was, as were all houses here at that time, it was home sweet home to them. Times were hard and food meager but they worked unitedly toward an objective.

Grandmother’s people in Wales worried a great deal about her. Their aristocratic minds could not be reconciled to the fact that one of their family had joined the Mormons. They heard about the hardships through which the pioneers were going and they wrote repeatedly, pleading with her to come back home to Wales. Her parents were anxious to forward the money to bring their daughter and her family back to them, but she had come to Utah for a purpose. Nothing could induce her to go back. She said, “I will not go back. I will never cross the plains again.”

Grandmother was thirty-six when she came to Spanish Fork. There were three more children born to her here. They are: Lucy Ann; Julia Susannah; and David Chalindar. The two little girls died in childhood and are buried in Spanish Fork’s first cemetery which is located on what is now the Finch farm on the east bench.

I cannot remember my Grandmother Bowen but as a child I formed a very high estimate of her. My mother loved and respected her and held up as an example for us children. Mother spoke of her as a lady with a sweet, soft voice, very refined, very proud. She never saw her angry, she was always kind to everyone and was very fond of pets.

Grandmother was very systematic in all she did and was an excellent cook. If she had a hobby it was that of collecting fine china. She brought some beautiful china across the plains and was very careful in using it. She was very precise and though the fare was meager she set her table with great care and served her meals according to the best form. She was never tiring in teaching her children to be polite and she found delight in having them use good table manners. She took pride in her personal appearance and her hair was always worn in curls.

I have consulted several people who knew my Grandmother. From Mrs Emma Robertson Creer, who chummed with Aunt Eleanor I quote: “She was a very refined lady and always wore her hair in curls. She had beautiful rich china.”

Agnes Miller Creer said, “The first cuckoo clock I ever saw was in Grandma Bowen’s home. She had a great deal of beautiful china. I loved to go to her home because she was always so sweet and kind.”

Everyone to whom I speak regarding her are enthusiastic in her praise. Marintha Jones Milner lived with the Bowen family from the time she was nine years old until she was a grown woman. She tells me that Grandmother was a pleasant, kind soul and was very considerate of everybody. As an illustration she related the following story: “Mrs Denna was a blind lady who lived alone a block south of the Bowen home. Every morning as soon as the men were off to work, Grandmother sent Marintha or she herself would go for this lonely little widow show would spend the day with them. In gratitude Mrs Denna sewed carpet rags for Grandmother when there were any to be had, and Marintha threaded her needles. This little lady was French and frequently said a blessing on the food in the French language. She had lunch and supper with Grandmother, then was taken back home to sleep.”

Grandmother was sick for a number of months before she passed away. The end came, 25 May 1877 when she was nearly 57 years old. Marintha stated that up to that time there had never been, in Spanish Fork, such a large crowd of people at a funeral.

I don’t know much about her church activities except that she was a counselor to Aunt Mary Jones Flavel Bona in one of her first Relief Society organizations in Spanish Fork. Sister Karen Hanson was the other counselor.

Grandmother was the mother of nine children. She set a good example for them and guided them aright. She instilled in their minds and hearts a profound respect for the ten commandments.

Grandmother was the embodimenet of gentleness, kindness, throughtfulness, truthfulness, and honesty. We may say she was a lady in every respect. Like all early pioneers her life was not a bed of roses. She endured and suffered as did her contemporaries but if we, her posterity, will emulate her example, she will not have striven in vain.

Jane Bowen Hogens Tuttle
for the J. Wylie Thomas Camp
of Daughters of the Utah Pioneers