(Forepart

written by himself; copied by Amos W. Bair, grandson, March 1, 1942; recopied by Oradell Brower Triplett, great granddaughter, August 1960; copied onto Computer database by Elbert Richard Brower, 3ggs, 16 Dec. 1998) Ariah Coats Brower, the son of John T. Brower and Fanny Brower, born Jan. 13, 1817, in the town of Phelps, Ontario County, New York. My father was born in the state of New Jersey and my mother was born in the state of Massachusetts. My grandfather's name on the side of my father was Joseph and my grandmother's name was Leah. My grandfather's name on the side of my mother was Ariah Coats and the name of my grandmother was Tabitha Coats. The early part of my life was spent in the place of my nativity in helping my father in the pursuits of agriculture, in connection with my two brothers, Joseph and William. The opportunity, which I had for obtaining an education, was very limited. In the year of 1830, my father moved to the state of Huntsburgh, Geauga County, Ohio in order that he might obtain land for himself and children. After a tedious journey we arrived safe in the destined place, a wilderness country, and began to open a farm and prepare to get a living by cultivation the soil. The fall of 1831 my mother died, which was a severe blow to the family. The fall following (1832) my father took a trip back to the State of New York to visit his friends as well as to transact some business; and while visiting among some of his friends in Palmyra, Wayne County, was introduced to a widow woman by the name of Hussey, the wife of William Tucker Hussey, who had been dead but a few years. After a short aquaintance, my father got married and immediately returned to the State of Ohio, bringing with him his wife and her three children, Cordelia Ann, Margaret Elizabeth, and William Henry; their ages being about 16, 13, and 8 years. In the spring of 1833 my brother Joseph married the oldest daughter of my stepmother, Cordelia Ann, (and I had a particular regard for the other daughter). Not being altogether satisfied with my home situation and being desirous to learn something of the world and upon seeing a notice in the paper for an apprentice, I resolved to learn the art of printing which I accordingly commenced on the 17th day of May, 1833, with Eber D. Howe, publisher of the Painsville Telegraph, in Geauga County, Ohio. When I left home my father gave me all the money he had, which was 43 3/4 cents, to bear my expense, which I gladly received (it being the most I had ever had before, I felt quite rich) and started. The same afternoon I reached Painsville, and upon going into the office inquired if the Editor were in, and being answered in the affirmative, inquired if he had the apprentice which he had advertised for; after surveying me from head to foot and from foot to head several times (no doubt thinking that I was a green 'un) very abruptly said no! At this moment I began to take courage. After a few more questions and answers, he concluded that he would take me on trial one week and if at the expiration of that time, we could both agree, I might go on and learn the trade. This was all that I wanted, for I had no fears but which I could suit him, and I was certain to bring no objections to him.

The weeks passed and all was right. The indenture was drawn for my father to sign, which he (my father) very reluctantly did. I pursued this business till fall, when I was taken sick; during my sickness my step-mother came out to take care of me, and as soon as I got able to move she took me home. I stayed that winter and went to school. During the winter the regard which I had for my stepmother's daughter was increased to affection in spite of all I could do to the contrary. However, before I returned in the spring to my former business, I popped the question and got the much-desired answer. Then returned to finish my trade. During the process of which my father, stepmother and intended wife joined the Mormons, and in 1836 in September, moved for the western country. After they had got into Illinois, they heard that the Saints in Missouri were whipped and were returning back to Ohio, so they concluded to settle down till they got further orders from the President of the Church. After I had finished my trade, I went to Detroit, Michigan to get work in order that I might get means to go west with. That I might fully realize the desire of my heart; but on account of sickness and misfortune, two long years elapsed before I could affect my object. During which time I kept up a correspondence with my parents. In Jan. 1837, I left Detroit and went up to the mouth of Black River to work, where I had a very severe spell of sickness which lasted six weeks; after which I returned to my brother-in-laws (Joshua Bosley) in Ohio, where I tarried till towards fall and assisted him on a mill dam for a man by the name of Armstrong. After it was completed, I concluded I would have to take another tramp, in which I would endeavor to reach the western country, or the place where my heart was conceded. The first place I stopped at was Toledo where I went to work at my trade for the sum of nine dollars a week. About the last boat that went down the lake that fall, I embarked in for Sandusky City, where I intended to take stage for Columbus, Ohio. I arrived at Sandusky City on the following day in good health. In rambling about the town for a short time waiting for the usual time for the stage to leave I fell in company with an old chum by the name of Job A. Symes, who entertained me very kindley until the time for the departure of the stage, which was on the following day but one, when I left for Columbus, Ohio where I arrived after a trip through mud and mire for several days in safety, with not a shilling in my pocket. As good luck would have it for me, I obtained a situation the next day in the "Statesman" Office. By this time I began to think that I had almost got in sight of my father. I continued to work in Columbus, till the fourth of July 1838, when I hoisted sail for Illinois. Previous to this time I wrote a letter to my parents, in which I stated that I had become dissatisfied and had not clothes to cover my back, and if I was not home by a certain time, they need not look for me for I intended to go to England and from thence to parts unknown. I wrote this letter in order to give them a false impression of my habits. The stated time elapsed and I did not leave for home, because I did not get the means which was due to me; but on account of my daily anticipations, I did not write and correct the statement concerning the time which I should be home. Days, weeks, and almost a month elapsed before I effected a settlement and obtained the means to pay my expenses to Illinois,

which I accomplished just in time to leave on the fourth of July 1838. This was one of the happiest days of my life. The stage left at 10 o'clock a.m. It being a day of consequence, I could hardly tell whether we were going by steam or horse power. The day passed very pleasantly, with now and then a pleasant scene; such running over pigs, dogs, turning over the stage, etc. About the middle of the day we met a party of about forty ladies and gentlemen who were dressed in every respect becoming the day, as they were about passing the whipple-trees of the stage hit the legs of one of the horses and occasioned him to jump from the road into the gutter, which was about two feet deep with stiff mud. The horse in trying to extricate himself, threw his gaily-attired rider, head first into the mud, which presented an aspect worthy the attention of a poet. The gentleman who accompanied her was obliged to pull her out and return home leaving the rest of the company to enjoy their jovial ride. One o'clock at night brought us to Dayton, where we stayed until the next morning, when we again persued our journey. Nothing of importance occurred the remainder of the journey to Tere-Haute, Indiana. Here I tarried for two days, and there being no conveyance any further, I was obliged to resort to shank horses for the remaining sixty-five miles, which I accomplished in two days. On the evening of the 12th or 13th of July, 1838 about dark, I reached the house of my father; the meeting of my father and mother, corresponded with the length of time I had been absent, which was considerable over two years. This night hardly closed my eyes to sleep, something whispered me things were not all right -- the object of my visit was absent to one of the neighbors. The night passed, but was very long -- day came; and after several hours, the object of my attention also came; the return of my embrace was not as warm as I had anticipated. My absence beyond the time which I had appointed to be home -- the letter which I had written about my habits, etc. and no doubt the interference of some friend in behalf of a quite respectable young man of her acquaintance, she was almost on the eve of forgetting her promise to me and becoming the wife of another man. However, but a very few days passed before she was perfectly satisfied that the letter which I had written was a hoax, and that I was the same person with whom she had entrusted her heart several years before, and was ready to let her hand accompany the same. Everything again began to appear natural -- my prospects brightened for future happiness -- all nature seemed to smile -- the prairies rejoiced and the forest echoed the sound -- and all was peace and rejoicing. Time passed on very sweetly. I made a trip to Vandahei in order to raise some means to pay the expenses of our nuptials. I returned the last of August, procured some necessary fixings and on the sixth of Sept., 1838 between seven and eight o'clock in the morning (on account of the hurry that the Elder was in, E. T. Coons) the ceremony was performed, and that portion of our anticipations realized. The length of the day can be better imagined, by those who have been in like situations, than described, at last the day passed and might came and with it all the imaginary or anticipated happiness that had been looked for and desired for more than four years.

Time passed and every day seemed to add more to the happiness that had already fallen to our lots. About the middle of September, my father John T. Brower, was taken with what is called the chills and fever, a disease hardly ever considered fatal, but on account of the debilitated situation of his constitution, he lingered along until the 2nd day of October, about the middle of the day, he expired; which was a very severe wound to the family, as the country was new and they depended on him for a livelihood. The wound occasioned by the death of my father had hardly began to heal before we were called to witness a scene, if possible, more terrible -- my step-brother, (William Henry Hussey) who had been subject to fits since his childhood, in the absence of every person from the house except a little girl hardly two years old, was taken with a fit, fell into the fire, and before anyone could arrive, was burned to death; which took place on the ___ day of ___ 1838. About the middle of November, I concluded to move to Tere-Haute and go to work at my trade, which I accordingly did, taking with me my wife and what few trapping we had collected in the shape of house-keeping. Our place of destination was, however, about four miles northwest of Tere-Haute, to a widow Hoskins, where my wife had an aunt living, who received us very kindley. I soon got some work in the neighborhood shucking corn at fifty cents a day. After a week or two, we shifted our quarters to H.H.Allen's, where my wife did housework and I drove team. A few weeks expired and I got a situation in the Inquiror office, which only lasted for a short time. I then started for Indianapolis, the capitol of Indiana (leaving my wife behind) where I got a situation and prospects were flattering. Seven long weeks elapsed before I returned to see my wife, which made it about the middle of March, when I went foot and alone through mud nearly eighty miles to accomplish. It seemed to me that it had been nearly a year since we had seen each other. I stopped but one day before I returned; making, in the meantime, arrangements to have my wife brought to me. After I had got back, I rented a house, bought some furniture, and was prepared by the time my wife got there, which was the 5th or 6th of April, 1839 to go to keeping house. As soon as we got a start we sent back to Illinois for my stepmother, who came to live with us. During our stay at Indianapolis, we found two families that were distant relatives, viz. John Wood and Mr. Underhill, who were very kind to us, until they found out that we had a leaning towards the Later-Day Saints, after which they never visited us in the daytime. Here it was, when Elder Hyde and Page passed on their mission to Jerusalem, that I became convinced that the doctrine preached by the Latter Day Saints was correct; not withstanding the opportunities which I had during my apprenticeship, of making myself aquainted with the doctrine of the Church. The wife of my old boss being a Mormon and Painsville being situated nine miles from Kirtland, I was often invited to drive the horse and buggy to meeting with her, which gave me quite an opportunity for information; but being untrained as well as quite young, did not take a fancy to acquaint myself, thoroughly with the principles of the Gospel, but was perfectly satisfied that if

the Mormons were not right there was no right upon the face of the earth. After Elder Hyde and Page left, I could not rest satisfied; I closed up my business, and on the 12th day of July 1840, I started for Illinois. On the 25th of March previous to our leaving Indianapolis, my wife presented me with a daughter, Ann Elizabeth, which gave me great satisfaction. We arrived at Spring Point, Colea County, Illinois. on about the 18th of July, at my brother's, Joseph Brower. Here I took up a piece of land and gained a pre-emption claim. In February of 1842, there came in our midst an Elder Simeon Carter who obtained a house -- gave out an appointment, and preached. The house was well filled. The second or third sermon, he gave out for volunteers to be baptized. Ten cam forward of which I was the first one who was baptized. This was the 24th day of the month. The next day (Sunday) I was ordained a Priest; other offices were also ordained and the branch organized. Noah M. Faunce was the presiding Elder. About on week from this time my wife was rebaptised, and on the 28th of March presented me with a 2nd child, which was also a daughter, Victoria Adelaide. In June I made a visit to Nauvoo in order to see if I could get a situation at the printing business. I returned home on the forth day of July, determined to sell out and move to Nauvoo at the earliest opportunity, which I accordingly accomplished in June 1843 which was one year from the time I first went to Nauvoo. The year soon passed away when we found ourselves on the road to the city of the Saints in company with several families of the brothren. We did our cooking in wagons, and let our cattle feed upon the commons. We met with little or no opposition on the road, mud and mire and that was in great abundance, which had a tendency to bring out the sentiments of our hearts, for sometimes it rained most cossiously, until we were all wet to the skin, then the scene that would take place when we camped -- wood all wet, children crying and our wives scolding, and some of them wishing themselves back; which all together made the scene quite spicy, but did not wish myself or family back. No never; we had started for Zion in order that we might worship God and never to make us afraid. When we got within 16 miles of Nauvoo, we found an old friend who had gone out the year before by the name of Moses I. Gardner. Here I left my family and took a trip into town to rent a house to put my family into so that the team might return, for I had sold merely for the use of a team, wagon and driver to take us to Nauvoo. When I got into the city I found another family who went to Nauvoo the year before, with whom I was aquainted, who assisted me in getting room. I tarried two days and then returned for my family. While I was in the city, I met with Elder O. Hyde, with whom I got acquainted in Indiana while he was on his way to Jerusalem. He invited me to dine with him, which I did very cheerfully. The same day that I got back, or the day before, our younger daughter, Victoria Adelaide, fell into a bucket of hot water and was very badly scalded. Not withstanding, we moved on to the place of our destination, which was the 14th day of June and took possession of the room which I had rented, it being No. 4 Ebenezer Robinson's brick row.

 About this time everything began to look rather blue. We had made our escape from among the gentiles with nothing but the clothes on our backs, and hardly a change of them and nothing to eat, or any money to buy with; besides the child that had been scalded was taken sick with the fever and bowled complaint. I applied for a situation in the Printing Office but could not obtain one, therefore was obligated to leave my family and go 18 miles into the country in order to obtain work and obtained it; it was grubbing on the prairie for 50 cents a day, to be paid in pork. I worked here one week, then took my meat on my back and started for Nauvoo in order to supply my family with something to eat, and had it not been for falling into company with a friend, who had a team, would no doubt carried it on my back all the way, as it was I only carried it about four miles. When I arrived home there was great joy, for they had been living on dry bread. The cold was better. We commenced eating the meat as if we had never seen it before in our lives, not knowing where the next was coming from. In the meantime I had been in the office and left my address. Several days passed before I got another gleam of light. At length there came a messenger from the office telling me that the foreman wished to see me; it was then 11 o'clock and I could not wait till after dinner but went to ascertain what was wanted when to my great satisfaction, they wanted me to do some presswork, which was only to last a few days. As a matter of course, the work that I did was in the best possible manner, in order, if possible, to retain a situation, which had the desired effect. I continued on working and after a short time the foreman, John Greenhowe, became dissatisfied and left and the foremanship fell upon me, which only offered me eight dollars per week. Before I had been making from ten to twelve dollars per week. This situation I retained until the spring of 1846. With industry and economy, I was able to buy me a fraction of a lot and within two years from the time we landed in Nauvoo, we were living in a house of our own, one story and a half high, with four rooms in it, and a good well, and we placed it a situation to live; when low and behold, the cry came, to your Oh! ISRAEL!! Our little child continued sick, until many of our neighbors said that we could not raise her -- but we continued to hold on to her by faith; at the same time she had been carried around on a pillow for more than three months with little or no prospects of her getting any better. (At this point in the history someone thoughtlessly cut out the bottom part of the page of his book.) (Beginning on the next page) Ballantyne, and as they were about entering the house, up came two of the presidents of the Quorum to which I was a member, namely, Zebiel Savage and ____ they all laid hands on, Brother Taylor being mouth and soon as he opened his mouth the fever began to leave and gradually went down, and before they took their hands off from my head, the disease went off at my feet and I felt perfectly well. During the rest of the day I was about the house, went to bed as usual in the evening with the exception of taking

a dose of medicated lozeonger. The first part of the night I slept very well; about two hours before day came I began to feel uneasy with pain in the pit of my stomach, which appeared to me to be a stoppage. I got up about daybreak, built a fire, and told my wife I felt quite unwell, she immediately got up and made me some ginger tea and gave it to me in a saucer. I took the saucer and drank about half of it when everything began to grow dark. I immediately handed her the saucer and told her to set it away quick; she sat it up just in time to prevent me from falling from my chair on the floor by catching hold of me. She then called her mother in order to assist her, for she thought I was dying. She then called for the neighbors, the nearest one being Br. A. Carrington, who immediately came and laid hands on me, but to no effect seemingly. I was aware of everything that transpired, but could not speak a word nor make the first motion of any kind. They then gave me a little weak sling; with the idea to revive me. After about half an hour, to the great joy of all around, I revived. (The remainder of the story is missing from his book.) Ariah Coats Brower issued the last number of the "Times and Seasons" periodical on Feb. 15, 1846 and immediately left Nauvoo and proceeded to Winter Quarters. In 1847 he came to Salt Lake Valley, in President John Taylor's company. During the winter of 1847-48, two large deer ran diagonally across the fort, and while standing in the doorway of his house he shot one of them as it was in the act of leaping over the wall. In 1848 he went to California, located at Salmon Falls, where he built a hotel and called it the "Brower House". In the summer of 1850, he returned to Salt Lake Valley with Amasa Lyman's company. Immediately on his return he was engaged by Br. Willard Richards as foreman of the Deseret News Office. In 1851, he and Joseph Lain published the "Emigrant from Salt Lake to Sacramento". In the fall of 1854 he resigned his position in the News Office and moved to Grantsville, Tooele County. In the summer of 1864, he visited through the Cache Valley and Bear Lake Valley looking for a place to build a home. He moved his family to Richmond in Cache Valley in the spring of 1865 and located first where Nathan Merrill now lives. He moved down on the Brower Spring in 1867 where he bought 20 acres of land and built a home. On October 10, 1878 he was appointed to a mission of the United States. He labored most of the time in the state of Wisconsin and returned late in 1879. During a visit to Goose Creek, near Oakley, Idaho, to look after a flock of sheep which he owned, (the herder he had hired had left the sheep and they were scattered and had become mixed with other herds) he was taken suddenly ill and died June 25th, 1884 and was buried in the cemetery at Oakley, Idaho, where he now lies.

In Nauvoo he was appointed one of the presidents of the 13th Quorum of the Seventies, which office he held at the time of his death. During his residence at Grantsville and Richmond, he held positions of trust and was highly esteemed by those who formed his acquaintance.