This past week we took a drive to Iowa to find the grave of a grandfather of our sister-in-law Barbara Watson who is serving here with my brother John, the Director of the Trail Center. They have a son at home, John Jr., who has been chasing our family history, and he found the story of Great, Great Grandpa Daniel Brown.
It seems that Daniel Brown had come from Nauvoo to Iowa with the Saints in 1846. The Mormon Battalion was mustered in the summer of 1846 and young James Brown was among the volunteers along with his uncle, the brother of Daniel. Daniel was on a hunting trip and when he returned was furious that Brigham Young had allowed his 17 year old son to sign up without his father’s permission. That began the saga of Daniel’s demise from the church. He moved his family to a lovely hollow up the Missouri and founded the town of Calhoun, Iowa. The date the land was purchased tells the story—all the Saints who were going to leave Iowa and finish their journey to Utah had gone by the summer of 1852—Brigham had called them home with a now or never type invitation—“What has taken you so long to come?” By choosing to stay in December 1852, it is clear evidence that Daniel had broken his connection with the Church.
So we were off to see where Daniel settled. Some of the area has suffered much flooding this summer and the river is still high in places as you can see by the trees growing out of the water.
Other areas the water has begun to recede
This highway is still heavily sandbagged so it could remain open this summer. It felt like driving through a tunnel.
We didn’t find much town left, but were delighted to find that the cemetery was still intact.
As we surveyed the hills and valleys from the top of the cemetery hill, it was clear that Daniel had found lush, rich farmland. I am sure the Utah desert was very unappealing after finding such a valley as this.
The cemetery even had a view of Omaha—those little shadowy sticks on the horizon are the buildings of downtown Omaha. So it wasn’t even out of sight of the original gathering place along the Missouri bluffs.
We began to look for Daniel’s grave, and after some careful searching of the rows of tombstones, it was found. A family member had found the original in such disrepair she had replaced it with this handsome new stone.
John and Barbara were most pleased to find this remnant of Barbara’s family. Her Grandfather Brown, the young Mormon Battalion recruit, did go the valley, the only one of the family, until Grandpa Daniel died, and then the rest of the family went west as well.
This story is just one of many that we have found this summer, of those who chose to stay in the lush Missouri Valley rather than go to the barren Utah desert. Their reasons are as varied as the people themselves, but one has compassion for those who had suffered and given so much during the early years of the Church in Nauvoo, and even Missouri, having given their all over and over, and just couldn’t make that one last leap of faith to the Valley. My heart aches for their descendents who have no idea who they are. I am just grateful our family’s progenitors had the faith to make it to the Valley and stay. I have thought over and over, I could have been born in Iowa if their faith had wavered.
This past week I have been feverishly working on our PAF file to get it complete so that Elder Naylor, one of the senior elders with whom we work, could do a family chart of our progenitors for us, many of whom had walked through these lush valleys on their way to Zion.
This amazing chart goes 11 generations on several lines starting with our son Joe, who had also worked on the PAF file, and includes over 6,000 names. It is amazing. Thank you Brother Naylor!!
Big family news this week was the RAGNAR and the DeVore Family's participation in the race in Maryland and Virginia. Way to go, especially Holly who has not been a runner. That gal is made of steel!!! Grandad Iman Hales, the state championship track coach, must have been smiling on the other side!! My favorite comment was by her eight year-old, Brigham, who by the way got to run with his mom part of her last leg and loved it! He said, "Mom, Caleb (the 5 year old) has an ear ache and it is raining--I think the Lord it trying to tell you something--don't go!"
Congratulations!!
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