Home | Metcalf/Waslin Pedigree Chart | Ancestry Name List | Lists | Contact Me

Back to Family Album

William Bown Sr. was born the 7th of October 1825 at Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, England. His father was by profession a mariner. His mother was left a widow about two weeks before his birth.

His mother brought him up and gave him a liberal education according to her circumstances. His greatest delight was to learn all he could. He attended the schools of the Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists. Altho he believed there was a God who created all things he did not feel to unite with their religious systems.

On the 20th of May 1839, at the age of 13, he was bound apprentice to be a boat builder. He was to serve at this for seven years. After he was out of his time he delighted to go to sea and continued going for three or four years. Ships on which he sailed went into the northern waters whaling and traded knives and etc. to the Eskimos for skins and blubber. On one trip near Greenland, the ship struck an iceberg, cutting it in two. Luckily for the crew, another ship was nearby and after explaining that they were able to pay for their passage they were taken aboard the ship and returned to England.

His mother remarried, but the name of the second husband is not known.

His mother, Jane Batley Bown, died the 3rd of February 1849 in England, her second husband having died some time before this date. No children were born to this union.

William's boy friend, William Lund Muttle, with whom he was very close as they grew up together, had become a "Mormon" and he came to see him and took him to hear an Elder of the Mormon Church preach. He stated that such a sermon he had never heard before and was convinced that it was true and he went to hear them again and could not rest until he had joined them. On the 18th day of March 1850 he was baptized by his friend and the Elders conferred the Holy Ghost upon him and he testified that he received it because his heart rejoiced.

On the 2nd day of December he was ordained a teacher and on the 17th of January 1853 he sailed in company with about 332 of the brethren and sisters on the ship "Ellen Maria" for New Orleans under the presidency of Elder Moses Clawson, arriving there on the 6th of March after a voyage of 47 days.

One day as he walked the ship deck, he met a beautiful girl, Jane Ann Metcalf. She had brown hair and brown eyes and as she raised her eyes to his, he admired her very much and afterward, in relating the experience, he stated that he knew at once that she was the only girl in the world for him. She was traveling with her parents and family, their destination, "Zion" as Utah was called at that time.

A romance followed and on the 30th of January 1853 they were married by Elder Moses Clawson. There were five births, five deaths and two marriages en route.

Arriving at New Orleans, they traveled by steamboat up the Mississippi River for St. Louis. They remained here about five weeks to prepare to resume their journey, taking passage on another steamboat to Keokuk, remaining there to repair wagons and etcetera before continuing their journey to Council Bluffs, which was made in three weeks with wagon and oxen. They were ferried across the Missouri River on flat bottom boats.

On the 14th day of July 1853, under command of Elder Wheelock, they left Winter Quarters, resuming the trek West, stopping on Sundays to hold meetings. The trip was not without its hardships — storms, mud, wind and dust; rivers to ford and bridges to build. Several died and were buried by the wayside; wagons broke down and oxen were lost, but with faith and courage they moved onward, arriving at Salt Lake about 8:00 p.m. the 11th day of October 1853.

On the 14th day of October he went to work for President Brigham Young, making molasses from beets.

In February of the following year he went to work for a Mr. Houtz at Springville for board and $20.00 per month. He liked Springville very much and after working four months he bought a house and lot for $60.00 and moved his wife there.

On Sunday November 19th 1854 he and Jane Ann were sealed for time and all eternity by Apostle George A. Smith. Witnesses were Aaron Johnson and Murdock McKenzie. On Saturday 2nd day of February 1854 he was ordained an Elder by Bp Aaron Johnson, assisted by Bp William Miller and Pres. Gardner Curtis.

It was the 9th day of November 1856 when their first child was born, a son who was blessed and given the name of William Bown Jr. on the 2nd of April 1857, a fast day, by Daniel Stanton. His father assisted as scribe. There were thirty children blessed at this fast day meeting. At this time Fast Day was observed on Thursdays.

On Monday the 25th day of May he attended a Seventies meeting at night and was ordained a Seventy by Abraham Day, assisted by Francis Boggs.

He made molasses, dobies and spent time working on the school house, making the doors and windows.

He planted and raised a good garden each year; he loved tending the garden.

On the 20th day of December 1858 the second child, a son, was born. He was blessed the 2nd of September 1859 by George Gardner and given the name of John Edward Bown. He died the 16th of September 1859 at 2:00 p.m.

The third son, Levi, was born the 30th of June 1860.

William and Jane Ann Metcalf Bown received their endowments the 13th day of July 1861 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake.

In 1862 the family received a call from the church presidency to move to St. George to help build a community there. They obeyed the call and were soon living in St. George. There, they raised some cotton, but the main crop was molasses cane. The climate was hot and dry and Father Bown's health was not good, he being accustomed to the damp climate of England and the sea. In 1865 they came north for a visit with Mother Bown's family who had been called to construct and operate a gristmill at Warm Creek. Father Bown's health improved while there. His Father-in-law and brother-in-law made a trip to Salt Lake and called on President Young while there and returned with a release for William Bown from the call to St. George. His son William, who was nine years old, his wife Jane Ann and her brother Anthony returned to St. George to sell the home and all of their belongings which could not be brought with them in the covered wagon. Among the things which they brought with them was the "Little Spinning Wheel" and the priceless large brass kettle. This was probably during the early summer of 1865, because their son Hyrum was born on the 2nd day of February 1865 at St. George and blessed on the 11th day of June 1865 at Warm Creek by his Uncle John E. Metcalf.

At first they made their home with her parents in a dugout home, north and west of the George Bartholomew home, the one built of white brick.

Father Bown made adobes of beautiful glue-green clay soil and spread them out to dry, then the heavy rain came and when it was over just a big pond of mud was all that remained of his beautiful adobes of which he had planned to build his house. Later he tried again, making adobes of a tanish brown soil. This time his venture was successful and he built a fine home for his family during the summer of 1884.

In 1866, because of the uprising of the followers of Chief Black Hawk, the settlers of Warm Creek moved to Hog-Wallow to live in the Fort for protection from the Indians. When the uprising was over, for the time being, they returned to their homes where they remained for some time, but the Indians became very hostile again and another move to the "fort" was made and while they were living there their son James was born on the 11th of July 1867. Later they returned to their home at Warm Creek. Lafayette was born the 25th of September 1869. They were the parents of ten children.

He was a professional gardener and always raised choice vegetables, raised all of his seed but cabbage. Each spring he planted choice vegetables especially for their seed which he carefully saved and shared with his neighbors. He always spaded the garden plot and made headgates for all of his ditches. In the spring when the potatoes were sorted and sprouted the most choice ones were always saved for seed; also when the corn was harvested the best ears were kept for seed. Some of the remainder of the corn was ground at the mill for flour and meal.

Each spring the potato pit was thoroughly cleaned and ready for the harvest season.

He raised broom cane and made it into brooms, pouring boiling water over the cane to make the straws pliable and strong. His wife helped sew the brooms. He also made fine caskets and bowed one end to fit the shoulders, then padded and lined them with the help of his beloved wife.

His tools were carefully placed in the tool box and kept in the grainery. He was a very good carpenter and cabinet maker.

He mended shoes for his family and neighbors, made the family candles and soap using mutton tallow for the candles and a special string which he used for the candle wicks and special metal molds to shape them.

He raised hops for yeast. His grain fields were always as free from weeds as was his garden. The grain was cut with a hand sickle and tied into bundles with clean pliable straws.

He had milk cows which provided milk, cream, butter and cottage cheese for the family.

The little brass kettle were scoured each Saturday until it was shining and spotless and on Sunday he placed large plates and glasses in it to take to church for sacrament service.

He led the singing at sacrament meeting and often administered to and passed the sacrament, sometimes spreading his white handkerchief on the floor to kneel on.

When Fayette was made a Bishop's Ward July 4th 1877, he, William Bown, was appointed ward clerk, a position in which he served until December 31st, 1900, at which time he was honorably released, having served 23 years, 5 months and 27 days. He made the ink which he used — it was a clear light purple color and in 1963 is as bright and clear as when first used. His writing is beautiful and clear, his work being very neat with never a blot or an erasure in all his record keeping.

The Sunday School was reorganized in 1881 with John Swain Supt., John Bartholomew first assistant and William Bown Sr. second assistant.

On the 8th of May 1892 he was ordained a high priest by Canute Peterson, President of Sanpete Stake.

He was Water Master on Fayette ditches for some time.

His Mother-in-law, Mary Waslin Metcalf passed away on Wednesday the 26th of March 1884. He made the box to put her coffin in on the 28th and finished it and the lid on the 29th. Her funeral was held on Sunday, 30th of March 1884.

He placed tombstones Saturday 7th of November 1885 at the graves of Mary Jane and Isabel and placed a fence around the two graves.

In 1885 he made a table and bench for the meeting house. This was the 14th of January.

During 1884 and 1885 he taught evening classes in his home.

His wife, Jane Ann, passed away the 11th day of December 1894 and was buried on the 15th of December.

After the death of his beloved wife, his two granddaughters, Ada Dell and Sarah Jane, who were living with them, kept house and took care of him. Ada Dell was married to Amasa F. Bartholomew on the 13th of July 1898, but Sarah Jane continued to care for her Grandfather and uncles.

John Peterson of Ephraim, who was teaching school here, with his wife were living in the two front rooms of the home and Sarah Jane and her Grandfather were using the rest of the house.

The Sunday morning of April 7th 1901 he was not well and was feeling dizzy. Sarah Jane, being Secretary of Sunday School, felt it her duty to attend long enough to read the minutes and make note of those present, altho she hated to leave him long enough to do so; but telling him to remain in his chair which was placed in front of the fire, and she would be back just as soon as she could, she was on her way.

He must have tried to leave his chair and feeling dizzy, fell head long into the fireplace. He called and Mrs. Peterson, who was in one of the front rooms rushed into the room and pulled him from the fire and lay him on the floor. Sarah Jane returned just at this time. She got word to his son James who was living in Gunnison, asking him to hurry over and bring the Doctor with him. He came immediately, bringing Dr. Andrews. The doctor cleaned up the burns and then asked James to take his father with him to his home in Gunnison, saying that he couldn't possibly take care of him unless he was where he could drop in often to attend his burns. He was taken that afternoon to stay with his son Lafayette who also was living in Gunnison. He did not want to go stay with them or bother them, but as it was necessary that he be near the doctor, he went, but living only until Wednesday April 10th.

Burial was beside his beloved wife in the family lot at the Fayette Cemetery. He was 75 years, 6 months and 3 days old at his passing.

His oldest son, William, had sheep and cattle in Wayne County. He had been home and had left to tend his stock — he hadn't had time to arrive at his destination when his father died; someone was sent to tell him the news. He returned and was here for the funeral.

I can recall him coming here and eating dinner with us many times. He sometimes brought hard-tack candy tied up in a red handkerchief, but would put it on the mantle piece in the living room until after we had eaten our meal. It was a special treat for candy was not plentiful. He said when he was a boy he bought carrots to eat instead of spending his money for candy and as long as he lived his teeth were pretty.

I also recall him holding me on his knee and calling me little Grandma Bown. When I was older I asked my mother why he called me little Grandma Bown. Did I look like her? Mother told me that I did not resemble her in looks or build, but was like her in the things which I did and the way I did them.

On the 22nd of February 1878, all ward members fourteen years old and older were requested to attend a meeting at which a corporation of Fayette Ecclesiastical ward was formed and was to exist for a term of fifty years. William Bown Sr. was made a director.

They had a dog named Poodle and when she died, at the request of the children, who felt very bad, Grandfather made a little coffin to put her in and buried her under the cherry tree.

William Bown, Sr. became a citizen of the United States on the 13th day of September 1882.

Contributed by jvwh@earthlink.net

  Home | Metcalf/Waslin Pedigree Chart | Ancestry Name List | Lists | Contact Me

Back to Family Album