And a big thanks to Jeana Rankin for sharing this article:
Life and Testimony of Henry Mower, Sr.
Mower family story
Added Mar 24, 2007
by Paul Brown Life and Testimony of Henry Mower, Sr.
Henry Mower Sr. was born December 18, 1798, at Frederick, Maryland. He was a son of Michael and Catherine Heisinger (or Geisinger) Mower.
When Henry was about two years old, his father moved to Clearfield, Pennsylvania, where his childhood and youth was spent. He received the best schooling possible at that time, which of course was quite limited, as he had to assist his father in making a living. Very early in life he met a beautiful young lady, named Mary Amick, who he married when he was only seventeen. Ten children were born to them, including Henry Jr., who is our ancestor.
Henry’s father, Michael, was a wagon maker. Henry enjoyed helping him, and later he worked in a grist mill. From early childhood he was religiously inclined and joined the Methodist Church. He studied for the ministry and became a Methodist Preacher, but it seemed to him that there was something lacking with this religion. He was seeking something he didn’t have. He then came in contact with the Campbellites. He believed they were more nearly right, so he resigned his position as a Methodist Preacher, joined the Campbellites, and became a Campbellite preacher, which had been organized by Sydney Rigdon, Alexander Campbell, and Walter Scott.
While Henry was laboring as a Campbellite preacher, a Mormon Elder by the name of William Boweley (or Bowerly) came to see him and asked for permission to preach in his church. Henry told him he might use his pulpit and his congregation. [What an amazing response!] A large crowd greeted the elder with much curiosity. They listened intently to the sermon and wondered what Henry would say at the close. Imagine their surprise when their pastor arose and bore his testimony to the truthfulness of what they had heard! Henry invited the elders to his home and from them he and his family learned more of the beauties of this glorious new gospel --- just restored. An undying testimony of the truthfulness of it was given to him and he applied for baptism. He resigned his position as a Campbellite preacher, and the day he was baptized, many of his former congregation walked twenty-one miles to see his immersion. They surely felt bad to think that their minister had been so misled.
His family also joined the Church, and they were very desirous of being nearer the main body of the Church. So with all his family, except one daughter, they moved to within four miles of Springfield, Illinois. His home was always the home of the elders and all he could do was cheerfully done to advance the work of the Lord.
From Springfield he soon moved to Iowa, just opposite Nauvoo. While living there he was called on a mission to the Eastern States. He and his companion became wonderful friends, and had great success.
Henry had the privilege of baptizing many into the Church. When he returned from his mission, he moved his family to Council Bluffs, Iowa. (Then known as Kanesville.) His beloved wife, Mary, had endured so many hardships of the pioneer life, it seemed she could stand no more. She became very ill. All that loving hands could do was done for her, but she rapidly grew worse and passed away at the age of forty-eight, leaving her husband her ten children to mourn her loss.
Henry missed his companion very much. She had been a great source of inspiration and comfort to him in all the trying scenes they had passed through. They had been mobbed and persecuted so much for the gospel’s sake that nearly all their earthly possessions were gone. But our Heavenly Father did not forsake him. He sent another beautiful young lady into his life, Lucretia Hupper from Port Clyde, Knox County, Maine. She had accepted the gospel against the wishes of her parents, and she had left her home, a lonely girl, to cast her lot with the Saints. She was longing for loved ones who would be dear to her. These two met and it was love at first sight. They needed each other, but there were many things to be considered by Lucretia. Henry was much older than she was, having a daughter of her own age, and all his huge family of children she would have to mother, and his poor financial condition. She had been working and was quite well fixed.
What should she do? Her heart told her. She loved Henry and they were married February 5, 1847. She thus became the stepmother of a lovely group of stepchildren. They came into her life when she need them most and she loved them very dearly as her own. At the time of her marriage her husband’s earthly possessions consisted of a small log room, a bedstead, a chest, three three-legged stools, a crude table, and some bedding. Lucretia had plenty of clothing and cut much of it up to make clothing for the children. At Kanesville, Iowa, her first child was born -- a little girl who died within the year.
Later a baby boy was born to them and they named him Orson Hyde Mower. Their home was happy with the consolation after their loss. They later had other children in Utah.
Henry was a trusted friend of the prophet Joseph Smith, and oh, how Henry loved him! Henry was away from home on another mission at the time of the martyrdom. And although they knew nothing of the terrible tragedy at the time, a terrible feeling of gloom came over them which they could not cast off, and when the word came to them of the sad news, they were almost heartbroken to lose both their prophet and their patriarch.
Henry suffered all the hardships of the early Saints, but he was never heard to complain, and he was happy to be numbered with the Saints of God. When the great march to the West began, he made preparations for the journey, leaving in June, 1851. They came in Abraham Day’s Company. On the way, one of his horses died, and he had to use his cows to pull the wagon.
He first settled with his family in Salt Lake City, but soon moved to Ogden. He lived there until the time of the move south in 1858, when Johnston’s Army came. At that time, the Saints, thinking they had finally found peace, were asked once again to give up all and move south, destroying what they had built, so their enemies could not gain from it. Henry obeyed the counsel of Brigham Young, “I have told you that if there is any man or woman that is not willing to destroy anything and everything of their property that would be of use to the enemy if left, I wanted them to go out of the territory and I say so today. For, when the time comes to burn and lay waste our improvements, if any man undertake to shield his, he will be sheared down, for judgment will be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet. Now the faint-hearted can go in peace; but should that time come, they must not interfere. Before I will suffer what I have in times gone by, there shall not be one building, nor one foot of lumber, nor a stick, nor a tree, nor a particle of grass and hay that will burn, left in the reach of our enemies. I am sworn, if driven to the extremity, to utterly lay waste to this land, in the name of Israel’s God, and our enemies shall find it as barren as when we came here.” (Brigham Young, 1858.)
According to the Deseret News, May 10, 1858, “The people from the north [of the Utah settlement] are all moving south. The roads are lined from Box Elder to Provo with horse, mule, or ox teams and cattle, and sheep.”
Henry moved his family to Springville, where they made their permanent home. In time, he took a plural wife. After their move to Springville Henry became one of the town’s prominent men, serving in the city council. Henry was scrupulously honest, and at his death, April 4, 1878, no one was ever found who said he owed them a penny. He believed in living within his means and was economical, industrious, and generous, and would gladly share his last morsel with anyone in need. He was an able teacher, both by example and precept, of that Gospel that was dearer to him than all else.
Henry had a long, useful, prosperous, and happy life, and it was said of him at his funeral, “He had thousands of friends and no enemies.”
His wife Lucretia, wrote this poem after his death.
“He’s gone, I do not mourn him.
Life’s fleeting dream is o’er.
He’s gone to meet his loved ones
Upon the other shore.
His pilgrimage is ended,
His earthly sorrows past.
By angels hands attended,
He has gained his home at last.”
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