MAY 1995 NEWSLETTER
Letter from Robert SMETHURST, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who is a descendant of Charles GEISSINGER through his son, Michael GUISINGER:
Dear Mr. Mower; Sorry I took so long to write back to you. I am enclosing a disk with the current information on my branch of the family. I saved as a gedcom file so that you could update your records more easily.
I am going to work cleaning up the MAURER research and get us organized to research the origins of the BRILL family to which all MOWER families are related--- and some of us are double related to the BRILLS. The origins of this family have never been identified in Europe.
Our research efforts and those of Trudy SCHENK have been fulfilling and we appreciate the help we have received. Trudy has been a great help in this work and has done things we can not do ourselves. Your continued funding of her work and the help of temple attenders has allowed us as a family unit to accomplish things that we (individually) could never have done alone.
During Spring Break, Tedi Jeen and I researched in Salt Lake and found some interesting material on Henry MOWER Sr. and Henry MOWER Jr., (son by Mary AMICK). I will enclose some of our findings.
We have a question: WHERE ARE THE JOURNALS OF THE MOWER FAMILY? Does anyone have knowledge as to whether Henry MOWER Sr. or Henry MOWER Jr. kept journals or where might those journals might be?
Research Findings: Henry MOWER Jr. is listed as emmigrant arriving in 27 Oct 1849 crossing the plains in the 3rd Company with Captain Silas RICHARDS. Henry listed as age 24, Susan 22, and John A. age 1. Does anyone have a copy of Silas RICHARD's Journal? This would be a pretty good account of Henry Jr.'s life during this time since he was on that wagon train.
Census of 1850 Utah Territory, Free Inhabitants in the County of Great Salt Lake, Deseret, as of 1 June 1850, page 57 B, family 496: Henry Mower, farmer, age 26, bn Pa; Susan age 26, bn. Pa; John A. age 3, bn Iowa.
Henry Mower Sr., came to Utah 2 years later. Henry MOWER is listed as an emigrant to Utah. FHL #298441. Reference: Journal History found in the Church Historian's office 31 December 1851, supplement pg. 11 Henry is listed as coming under the direction of the Church leadership, but not with a Church company of emigrant pioneers.
The Census of 1856 showed that both Henry Sr. and Henry Jr. had families intermixed during this turbulent period of time in Utah's History with the problems associated with Johnston's Army coming to Utah:
Census of 1856 Utah Territory pg. 56, living in Weber County were: John and Sarah MOWER (John is a son to Henry MOWER Sr. and Sarah BIDWELL his wife); Lucretia MOWER (2nd wife of Henry Sr.); George MOWER (son of Henry Sr. and Mary AMICK); Hannah E. MOWER (dau. of Henry Sr. and Mary AMICK); Eliza MOWER (dau. of Henry Sr. and Lucretia HUPPER); Juliette MOWER (Unknown); Henry MOWER (Probably Henry Sr.); Orson MOWER (son of Susan STRONG); Annette MOWER (Unknown-- possibly a dau.); Oscar MOWER (son of Susan STRONG and Henry Jr.). Living next door were Simeon CRAGUN and Susan (Mower-- dau. of Henry Sr. and Mary AMICK) CRAGUN; Wilford E., Betsy and Willard M. CRAGUN. If any of you know who these Unknown individuals are please write! They may be lost children.
Census of 1856 Utah Territory: Living in Springville, pg. 6 were: Henry MOWER and Susan MOWER (would have been Henry's wife); Eliza MOWER (Elizabeth HALL, his 2nd wife); John A. MOWER (son by Susan); William H. MOWER (son by Susan); Adelia MOWER (Unknown-- another daughter of Susan's?); Thomas W. MOWER (Unknown--- a son of Susan's?); Sarah E. MOWER (dau. of Susan's); George H. MOWER (son of Elizabeth HALL); William E. MOWER (son of Elizabeth HALL). If any of you know who these Unknown individuals are please write! They may be lost children.
We came across a very interesting letter in the Historical Dept. of the Church in the Church Office Building. This was a letter from Henry MOWER to the Prophet Joseph SMITH, when Henry was on a mission to Indiana in 1843:
Clinton County, Indiana March 9, 1843.
"Dear Brother--- I embrace an opportunity now offered to inform you of the progress of truth in this region.
I left Nauvoo on the twenty-third of September last, to go to the eastern states, to preach the everlasting gospel, in company with another elder. On our journey we preached frequently to large congregations, many of whom in consequence of false reports, appeared enraged against us as a people; but when the truth penetrated their hearts, they saw that they had been imposed upon by falsehoods and misrepresentations, and entertained very different feelings towards us. Their enmity was turned to respect, and they treated us with the greatest kindness. The Lord has indeed opened out our way, and although we have had much to contend with, both from priests and people, we have lacked no good thing, for the Lord God has been our friend.
When we arrived at Clinton, Boon County, we were fully satisfied that it was our duty to stop and preach. We had, at first some difficulty to get a place to preach in but after speaking two or three times, there was more calls than we could attend to. We have continued preaching in this and an adjoining county, and combatting with priests, (who seem to be the most determined opposers to the truth) until now. We have baptized thirty-two, and the prospect is still good. There are many enquiring after truth, and earnestly desirous to know the way of salvation, while many of the priests are running from place to place, and crying delusion! delusion! and we have understood by many of the citizens that their great text is 'the Mormons' and 'Joe Smith'; but while they have made lies their refuge, and under falsehood hid themselves, their misrepresentations only have a tendency to drive the honest in heart to enquire into the truth, and to make the saints rejoice while they see Satan overshoot himself. They have been endeavoring lately to make their hearers believe that we are more dangerous than their own mother, the Roman Catholic Church; They call her the mother of Harlots, if indeed she is, they are her offsprings and they all have descended from her. It does not speak much for her relationship; we must be in a bad predicament, if we are worse than them, for they are the acknowledged daughters of the old lady, who is described as being the mother of harlots.
In the midst of all their strife and confusion however, the work of the Lord is still progressing; the 'little stone cut out of the mountains without hands' is rolling forth, truth is gaining ground and priestcraft is trembling and my prayer is that the God of truth may roll forth his mighty work, till the honest in heart shall be gathered out of all nations, and the ends of the earth see the salvation of God.
I remains yours in the new and everlasting covenant," E. H. MOWER (Elder Henry Mower)