Meet Viola’s Mother’s Parents THOMAS AND ESTHER DANIELS BROWNrememberinglight.com/Remembering_Light/AlfredRaymondHanson_files... · Meet Viola’s Mother’s Parents THOMAS AND

Meet Viola’s Mother’s ParentsTHOMAS AND ESTHER DANIELS BROWN

HARRIET’S PARENTS

194 Thomas and Esther Daniels Brown

THOMAS & ESTHER’S LIFE STORY

Carol: The great grandparents of Harriet Daniels Brown were Catherine Brown and John Daniels. Their first child carried the name William Brown because they were not legally married when he was born. Later children carried the Daniels surname. William did not like having a different surname from his siblings, and so the parents merged the two names and always gave the children both names, Daniels Brown which has been used to this day as descendants came. That is a way of identification for all records belonging to this branch of the family. One branch of the family assumed the Daniels surname, but most have used Daniels Brown.

Life Story as told to his son Almon Dell Brown, who wrote the account as follows:

Thomas Daniels Brown was born December 16, 1838 at Wigan, Lancashire, England, the ninth child in a family ofseventeen children. The first seven children died in infancy and the 8th, William, went to live with his grandparents. That left Thomas the eldest child at home, so he had to help with the younger children.

In speaking of his childhood, Thomas said, “We moved from Wigan to Manchester on a boat, drawn by horses along the canal. The canal was made especially for carrying passengers from one town to another. We moved three miles out of town to East-end.”

“In 1848 we moved to Gorton near Manchester where my father first heard the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was working with a man named John Scofield who presented to him the Mormon literature, which he accepted and investigated. He was also invited to attend conference in Manchester, which he did. The Apostle John Taylor was the speaker and the spirit of his preaching was manifested unto my father that it was true.”

William was baptized August 5, 1849 in Manchester. Thomas was baptized in Manchester September 5, 1852. Before he was 13, he had to work to help provide food for the family, but was only allowed to work one-half day because of English law. The money he and his father made was not enough, and the family suffered intensely.

His mother reared several of her brothers and sisters after her mother died, so there were many to provide for. They were helped some by the county, but were turned out of the poorhouse because of the lack of room.

At 13 he was permitted to work full days and got a job working on the railroad as a helper in repairing cars. At 14 he became an apprentice to a locomotive and carriage painter, and served seven years to complete his apprenticeship.

From the Thomas Daniels Brown and Esther Wardle book by Vance Holland, Thomas gives this account in his own words:

1838-1930

Wigan, Lancashire, EnglandFarr West, Weaver, Utah

Chapter 26 - Thomas and Esther’s Life Story 195So I asked her if she would like to go to Utah with me, and she said “Yes.” So I told her if she would stick with me, we would go. We made it up to marry one month before leaving for America.

With the help of two of her sisters and others of the family, we got ready. We gave notice at the Church three weeks before,

which was lawful and customary. We went on Monday, March 18, 1861 with her sister and husband to stand in for us as godfather and godmother.

But as bad luck would have it, my wife-to-be and I got in a coach to go there, and in the coach was a young man who knew her and worked at the same shop as her twin brother.He went and told her father, and he got to the church before we were married, and stopped the wedding.

When we came out of the church, his daughter talked a little strong to him, and I also talked to him and told him that we would get married tomorrow anyhow. The minister couldn’t marry us without the father’s consent, but I told him that we’d go to a lawyer where we could get married at a minute’s notice.

Before we got home, her father gave his consent, but of course he wanted something to do with it, so he said if we would have it at his house, he would make a big dinner. So it was all agreed, and we had a good time. My marrying his daughter was the means of him and all his family coming to America.

Noah, my wife’s twin brother, pleaded with their father and mother so hard to come with us because they’d never been separated in their lives. He came to New York with us, but soon made up his mind to go back to England. We talked him into staying with us and going to the Salt Lake Valley, and his parents then decided to come to America.

“A little entry on what happened to me and my mother in 1856. My mother gave birth to my brother Joseph, her last child, and was near death as the baby was born. We were very poor. This was about six years after my father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we were taught by our father to save all our pennies for them to emigrate to Utah. I saved up every penny that the neighbors or other people gave me. I put every cent, as we called it in America, upstairs in my bedroom in one corner of the room where the folks stored a little lumber. I pushed it in the crack of the floor between the ceiling and the floor so that no one could find it, because I thought that if my father or mother could see it or know I had it, that they would borrow it. I thought that then it would be gone because they were too poor to pay me back. I knew this, so I continued to save for a few years this way. My father and mother knew I had some money in my room, but they couldn’t find it, for I had it in a crack of the floor with the lumber pulled over it and no one could see it or tell where it was.

When my mother took so sick at the birth of Joseph and was dying, and the midwife and father and all the children were weeping around the house, I took a knife up to my bedroom and cut a piece out of the floor so I could get my hand in between the boards, and got out enough money to give them for refreshments for her. The midwife sent out for a bottle of brandy, and I gave her enough to pay for her services. And you’d better believe the midwife and all the house was pleased, besides being the means of saving my dear mother’s life. That kind act was stamped upon my family’s memory, and never was forgotten to this day. They have love and respect for me and told me I had saved her life.

Afterwards I began saving my money and sent it to Liverpool, headquarters of the Church. They put it in the Emigration Fund; and when you got enough you could go to America. When I’d saved enough to go, my oldest brother (William) wanted to go to Utah as one of his pals was going. So I let him have all I had, and he left for Utah in 1858. (The Manchester LDS record says that William emigrated 27 March 1857.) That was the end of my saving in the penny fund. After that I saved for myself and got a wife and sailed for Utah.”

When I got married, I asked my wife’s father for her about three times. He always answered and said for me to go to Zion and wait another year for her, and then he and the family would come the year following. But that didn’t please me; for I was convinced that if I went to Utah without her, we would never get together again, as I knew him too well.

Noah Wardle, Esther & Thomas Daniels Brown

196 Thomas and Esther Daniels BrownOn March 19, 1861, Thomas married Esther Wardle in Manchester, England, and they headed for Zion. They left on the “Manchester” on April 16, 1861 and crossed the ocean together in 28 days, fast for that day.

On the boat, Thomas heard there was plenty of work in New York, so they gave their fare from New York to Florence to a friend poorer than they and decided to stay in New York and work for a while. When they arrived, the streets were filled with soldiers drilling and preparing for the Civil War and all the manufacturing plants were closed so jobs were scarce.

In the spring of 1862, Thomas saw an advertisement: “A good painter wanted to paint passenger steam boats, in a rush,” so he applied and got the job. He earned enough money to take them to Florence so they left New York June 12, 1862 by train. Unfortunately, the baggage car caught fire and they lost all their belongings.

They stayed in Florence for six weeks, starting across the plains with Henry Miller as their captain. The company had 60 wagons with 693 emigrants. 28 died and were buried on the plains. Each wagon had from 3 to 4 ox teams and was loaded with 6,000 pounds of church freight, besides the luggage of 18 persons to a wagon.

Thomas and Esther walked the full one thousand miles, carrying their baby Joseph, six months old. They arrived in Salt Lake City on October 17, 1862. He bought a new pair of shoes in Florence, but as he waded across the Green River in Wyoming, they dropped off his feet and he walked the rest of the way barefooted. Many times there were bloody footprints in the sand.

They had no place to go in Salt Lake so George Openshaw, the toll keeper of Eagle Gate, took them into his home. When Brother Broadest saw the destitute condition of Thomas and Esther, he was deeply touched. He bought twelve yards of bed ticking at $1.25 a yard so they could make a nice tick from it. Then he took this to Brigham Young’s backyard and filled it with corn fodder.

Thomas moved from the Openshaws in December of 1862, locating in the 20th Ward in Salt Lake City. In December he painted the Tabernacle at Sessions Settlement with the help of Mr. Beck. In May he went to Montana with an ox team and a load of freight for the Walker Brothers, and

worked in the Bannock City mines to earn money to help his parents and four children emigrate from England.

Carol Note: There are copies of letters that passed back and forth from England between Thomas and his father, Richard. These are printed in the Thomas Daniels Brown and Esther Wardle family book, and told of the hardships they were having in England and begging Thomas to send money so they could come to Utah. Since Margaret was also raising some of her brothers and sisters, the whole family had a hard time. Some of the brothers and sisters married and stayed in England. If Thomas hadn’t helped them, they would not have been able to come to Utah.

Thomas painted at various places, one of them Brigham Young’s house. He also gathered wood to sell and to use at home until the winter of 1866 when he moved his family to Bingham Fort, Weber County, Utah. There he rented a farm from Daniel Thomas, planting beans and corn. In July the grasshoppers came, and in half an hour destroyed one and one-half acres of beans and ten acres of corn.

Grading began on the Union Pacific Railroad in the fall of 1867 and Thomas and his brother Richard made enough money to send for their sister Mary Ann, still in England. The family worked hard to get together again.

Thomas and his family moved to West Harrisville (now Farr West) and Thomas built a small shanty out on the field with a dirt floor and a slab roof. It was neither comfortable nor convenient, but they lived here two years with their five children.

One day a heavy rain came, and an Indian came for shelter.Upon entering the house he said, “Heap no good. Rain harder inside than out.” Thomas took tubs and buckets to keep the rain off the mother and new baby.

On October 11, 1870, they were sealed in the Salt Lake Endowment House by Squire Wells. While in the Endowment House, Thomas met and spoke with Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon Martin Harris bore his testimony to the couple, saying, “As sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, I saw an Angel from Heaven, and heard him talk to the Prophet Joseph Smith. I saw the Angel deliver unto Joseph the records or Gold Plates of ancient history.”

In 1870 he built a shanty near the spot where the rock house was later built. In this shanty, their sixth child (of twelve), Harriet Daniels Brown was born on November 23, 1871. She was the mother of Viola.

“City of Manchester”

Chapter 26 - Thomas and Esther’s Life Story 197

Thomas & Esther - Rock House

In 1870 and 1871 Thomas hauled rock for his house and did the carpenter work for himself, hiring a mason that he paid with a yoke of oxen. This was the nicest house in Harrisville, and they moved in 1872 although it was not plastered or finished. By 1888, they had twelve children, four girls and eight boys.

In the spring of 1876, Thomas worked on the Utah Northern Railroad Section. In the summer he went to Logan and painted engines and coaches for the same company, becoming Section Boss in 1877.

In May 1880 he contracted to paint the Central School House in Ogden. In 1881 he painted the Weber County Courthouse, and from then on did much painting for D. H. Perry and other prominent men of Ogden.

Thomas and Esther took their five children to the Logan Temple May 17, 1886 to be sealed to them.

February 14, 1888 he received a letter from President Wilford Woodruff calling him on a mission to England. He left May 12 and landed in England May 30, 1888, set apart to labor in Wigan, Liverpool Conference. August 19 that year, Apostle Teasdale called him to preside over this same conference until his release in June 1890.

A few weeks after Thomas left for his mission, Esther gave birth to a baby boy June 11, 1888 that only lived one day, named Berttie.

After Thomas was released from his mission he was set apart as second counselor to Henry Hays to accompany 118 Saints to Utah on the ship “Wisconsin.”

Years later Thomas sent four of his sons on two-year missions, paying their expenses. He also helped his son Joseph on his mission, and his son-in-law Joseph Holland, and five grandchildren who filled honorable missions to different nations of the world.

He helped 36 relations emigrate from Europe to Utah for the sake of the gospel. Out of twelve children, they reared eleven to adulthood. All their children are members of the church and were married in the temple for all eternity.

Carol Note: Though Esther must have worked by his side through all these years, there is little mention of her or her personality. The following story written by my cousin Ross gives us insight not written elsewhere. Ross is a great grandchild of Esther, son of Bert, Viola’s brother. It was printed in the Daniels Brown book and was written for a family newsletter.

ESTHER WARDLE BROWNGrandmother Brown has left her history recorded in the minds and hearts of those who associated with her. She was listed as tops among the grandchildren. She had a way of making them work and still like it.

When the young suitors would call upon her daughters they enjoyed their visit with the mother

almost as much as with the object of their affections. Grandmother was clever in the art of telling fortunes, especially through the use of a teacup. Of course, the young men did not suspect that she had her scouts out during the week gathering this data.

Then there was her dancing cat! That’s a fact--she had a cat who would keep time with the Jew’s Harp. With paper tied around its paws, used as dancing slippers, it could cut quite a rug.

Many members of the family can remember the “Peanut Showers” which Grandma was famous for on Christmas day. We don’t know where all the nuts came from, but there were always plenty.

It was always one of the girls’ jobs to be on hand Sunday morning to help Grandma dress. Besides all of the lacing, there was the padding to be put into place. She always wanted to bulge in the right places!

Thomas Daniels Brown - Missionary

Esther Brown

198 Thomas and Esther Daniels BrownNewspaper Article - Golden Wedding AnniversaryOgden, April 13, 1911. The Fiftieth Wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Brown of Farr West was celebrated at the ward hall on April 5, following an elaborate preparation by their sons and daughters. Invitations were sent to many states of the Union and also to Great Britain. The relatives began to gather at the appointed place at ten a.m. and by noon 103 were present. The amusement hall was decorated in white and gold, with a large banner across the stage bearing the inscription “Welcome to the Golden Wedding.”

The tables were loaded with refreshments of all kinds and decorated with natural and artificial flowers, with golden napkins shining over the spread. At the head of the table sat Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Brown, and on the right of the former sat his four sisters, as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Later of Rigby, Idaho who was a bridesmaid 50 years ago; Catherine Field of Lynn, Rebecca Warle of Slaterville, Sarah Jane Redford of Rupert, Idaho; also one brother R. D. Brown of Ogden. On the left of the bride sat her sister, Mrs. Emma Moss of Boise, Idaho, also her seven sons and four daughters, with their wives and husbands.

A feature of the table decoration was a neatly prepared wedding cake ornamented with gold coins presented by the sons and daughters. One $2.50 gold piece, coined the year they were married came from Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wardle. Other presents were given by the relatives and

presented to the couple by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Holland of Shelley, Idaho with complimentary addresses. After the guests were all seated, Jethro D. Brown, acting as master of ceremonies, announced the song “Miller of the Dee” by the sisters of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, the same ladies having sung this selection at the first wedding reception 50 years ago.

An address of welcome was given by the eldest son, Joseph D. Brown of Rigby. He praised the parents for the

Thomas and Esther

Thomas 80th Birthday - 1918Back: Joseph, Lemuel, Harry, Reuben, Thomas

Front: Almon Dell, Thomas Sr., Jethro

Thomas and sisters, Sarah, Catherine - 1927

Tombstones of Thomas & EstherOgden City Cemetery

Chapter 26 - Thomas and Esther’s Life Story 199honorable training they had offered him in early youth. Grace was pronounced by Bishop James Martin. After the banquet, a program consisting of songs, speeches, and music and recitations was rendered.

The afternoon session lasted until 6 p.m. when a lunch was served, followed by a grand ball till midnight, which was attended by all of the guests. The celebration continued the next day at the home of their son, L. D. Brown of Farr West, where the immediate family and grandchildren assembled. Thomas and Esther D. Brown have had a family of 12 children, 11 of whom are living and were present on this occasion. They have 60 grandchildren, 23 of whom were present. There were also 3 great-grandchildren present.

Obituary for Thomas D. Brown:Thomas D. Brown, aged 91, pioneer of Weber County, died this morning (January 9, 1930) at 12:50 o’clock at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. George P. Webster, 721 Adams Avenue following an illness of heart trouble. Br. Brown was born in Wigan, Lancashire, England, Dec. 16, 1818, a son of Richard D. and Margaret Parkinson Brown. He became a member of the church in England in 1852.

He was married to Esther Wardle, March 19, 1861 and together they came to America. From New York City they went to Florence, Nebraska and from there they came by way of ox teams, arriving in Salt Lake in 1862.

In the company were sixty ox teams and 693 people. The distance of over 1,000 miles was covered on foot by Mr. Brown and his wife. On this journey, 38 people died from hardship.

Mr. Brown was a painter, having served his apprenticeship while in England, and followed this trade while in Utah. He worked on the Weber County court house, Central School, Brigham Young’s home and did considerable work for D. H. Percy.

Farming was his later occupation. In 1867 he settled in Farr West and had resided in that community ever since. In 1888 he fulfilled a mission in his native land.

At the present time, three grandsons are in the mission field. Mrs. Esther Wardle Brown died in Farr West October 28, 1915. Mr. Brown was an active worker in the L.D.S. Church and at the time of his death was a high priest in North Weber Stake.

Ten of the twelve children survive as follows: Joseph D. Brown, Rigby; Mrs. Elizabeth Marin, Farr West; Thomas D. Brown, Blackfoot; Mrs. Esther Webster, Ogden; Mrs.

Harriet Holland, Shelley; Lemuel D., Reuben D., Jethro D., Harry D and A.D. Brown all of Farr West. Seventy grandchildren and 97 great-grandchildren survive. There are two sisters, Mrs. Katherine Field, Ogden and Mrs. Sarah Jane Bedford, Rupert, Idaho.

Funeral Services will be held Sunday at 1:30 o’clock, in the Farr West Chapel with Bishop Lorenzo, Taylor presiding. Friends may call at the Lindquist & Sons’ funeral chapel Friday evening, and at the Farr West residence of a daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Marin Saturday and Sunday. Interment will be made in the Ogden City Cemetery.

At his death January 9, 1930, he had 71 grandchildren and 97 great grandchildren. Esther preceded him in death on 28 October 1915, so he lived almost 15 years as a widower.Carol Note: This is the end of the Thomas and Esther data, but they have relatives I want to add of Thomas’s brother Richard, as he wrote some history in his own words. After that I will add information on Thomas’s Parents Richard Daniels Brown and Margaret Parkinson.

Autobiography of Richard Daniels Brown, BROTHER to Thomas Daniels Brown, son of Richard

Daniels Brown.I went to work as usual until Wednesday, April 27, 1864. I went to a council meeting of Manchester, having previously been appointed clerk of the branch, and while in meeting a telegram came from President George Q. Cannon that I could have the privilege to work my way as a sailor if I so desired. Word was sent that I would do so and the next morning found me at 12 o’clock noon in Liverpool

on the ship Monarch of the Sea.

We set sail immediately after I arrived. I was very sick for one week while working as a sailor. I received such treatment as the sailors usually do, and the early days this treatment was very cruel.

We had some very severe storms and landed in New York on the 3rd of June, 1864. There were about 1,000 passengers aboard besides the officers and sailors.

I left England with only nine cents in my pocket, but on landing, a gentleman gave me twenty five cents (paper money) for carrying a trunk for a short distance. (I did not know how to count the American money.) I went to buy

Richard Daniels Brown

200 Thomas and Esther Daniels Brownsomething to eat (5 cents worth) and on returning was told that they gave me 45 cents back in change.

I was in New York without money or without fare paid any further, but stayed with the Saints who were emigrants and was not molested. We traveled up the Missouri River when the steam boat ran in on a sand bank. Being somewhat acquainted with a sailors life, I took part with the sailors in helping to get it off. The Captain noticed me and soon after came to me and inquired who I was. I told him the truth and he set me to work while I remained on the boat.

We arrived in Florence or Wyoming (Nebraska) and as I left the boat he came to me and offered me $35.00 per month and my board if I would stay with him, but I told him I was going to Zion or die in the attempt. He told me I would be sorry and if I ever came that way to call on him and he would find me work. I thanked him and left.

On arriving at the Frontier I hired out as a teamster to drive oxen, a new vocation for me in what is called an Independent Train. I hired to a man who had six teams for $20.00 per month. I was employed about three weeks herding, then we started to cross the plains about the first of July 1864.

We arrived in Salt Lake City on the 19th day of September 1864, being met by my brother William and arriving one day ahead of the train. We then made our abode with my sister Elizabeth.

Richard and Margaret Daniels Brown FATHER and MOTHER of Thomas Daniels BrownPictures and Sketch from Daniels Brown Book

Richard and Margaret and some of their children crossed the ocean on the “General McClellan.” Each voyage had its challenge and the protection promised by church leaders. They held meetings and prayed twice daily. Many captains felt these prayers had saved the vessel. They have proven their testimonies by their sacrifices.

They left England on May 21, 1864. They crossed the plains with the Joseph S. Rawlins ox train July 15, 1864 and arrived in Salt Lake September 20, 1864. They stayed in Salt Lake City for about a year; then they bought a farm in Harrisville, Weber, Utah. They paid one hundred

Back: Joseph, Rebecca, Sarah, Richard Jr.; Front: Catherine, Mary Ann, Thomas, Elizabeth, MargaretChildren of Richard and Margaret D. Brown

Margaret Parkinson

Chapter 26 - Thomas and Esther’s Life Story 201dollars for the farm. In his declining years, he turned it over to his youngest son, Joseph Hyrum.

At the time of his death, he had ten living children. They were all born in England, but had immigrated to Utah, and all of them attended his funeral. He died June 22, 1893 at the home of his daughter Elizabeth who lived about one half mile north of the Harrisville brickyard on a road leading to the north.

Obituary for Richard Daniels Brown(Father of Thomas Daniels Brown)

Richard Daniels Brown died in Harrisville ward, Weber County, Utah on Thursday, June 22, 1893 at 9:30 p.m. of old age and general debility after a few hours’ prostration, aged 82 years, 3 months and 22 days.

Deceased was born March 1, 1811 in Wigan, Lancashire, England, and was married to Margaret Parkinson, September, 1830, by whom he had seventeen children, seven of whom died in babyhood.

He identified himself with the Mormon Church in the winter of 1848, being a most earnest advocate of the same. He came to Utah in 1864, settling in Harrisville in 1865, at which place he died. His wife preceded him sixteen years and ten days, and for a number of years past he lived with his daughter, Mrs. E. Later.

He passed off without a struggle while enjoying a balmy sleep, having reached home from his daily outing only four hours before his demise.

The funeral obsequities were held in the Harrisville meeting house at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, about two-thirds of their posterity, which number 140 souls, eighteen of whom preceded him in the innocence of childhood to the goal of peace and rest. The family are very prolific, one daughter having at the funeral her twenty-first baby.

The remarks of the speakers were eulogistic and consecratory and were listened to with rapt attention by the vast assembly, which was more than the seating capacity of the house, who desired to pay the last tribute of respect to this venerated sire.

The cortege consisted of a long line of vehicles. In fact, the road was lined with mourners following the remains to Ogden City Cemetery, where he was deposited beside his beloved wife, four sons and two sons-in-law bearing the corpse to and from the hearse. Thus passed off a long-lived, respected veteran to await the resurrection of the just.

Carol Note: Harriet’s grandparents on her mother Esther’s side were Ralph and Harriet Wardle.

RALPH and HARRIET WARDLE

Ralph Wardle was born 16 March 1812 at Romily, Stockport, Cheshire, England to Joseph and Betty Ratliff Wardle. He was baptized 8 May 1848 at Cross Moor, Cheshire, England by William Potts.

Esther Charlesworth was born 7 July 1809 at Penistone, Yorkshire, England to Joseph and Ann Peace Charlesworth. She was baptized at Romily, Chesire on 7 Jan 1848 by William Potts.

They sailed for Zion on 14 May 1862 on the ship “William Tapscott” with Louisa, Ralph and Emma and arrived in New York on June 25, 1862.

They came west on the Joseph S. Brown ox team of 46 wagons and 200 emigrating Saints which left Florence, Nebraska on July 28, 1862 and arrived in Salt Lake City on October 2, 1862.

Where they settled isn’t mentioned, but Ralph died in Sacramento, California 17 July 1886, and Harriet died 25 November 1892, place unknown.

Hannah, Sarah, Elizabeth, Harriet, Ralph, Elisa, Noah, Esther, Louisa - 1861