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JosephSmithSr.
So shall it be with my father: he shall be called a prince over his posterity, holding the keys of the patriarchal priesthood over the kingdom of God on earth, even the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and he shall sit in the general assembly of patriarchs, even in council with the Ancient of Days when he shall sit and all the patriarchs with him and shall enjoy his right and authority under the direction of the Ancient of Days. |
CROWTHER, George
1825 - 1895 (69 years) 
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Name CROWTHER, George Birth 25 Nov 1825 Ironbridge, Shropshire, England 
Christening Dawley Parva, Shropshire, England Gender Male WAC 27 Dec 1861 EHOUS _TAG Reviewed on FS Death 16 Apr 1895 Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United States Burial 18 Apr 1895 Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United States Headstones 
Submit Headstone Photo Person ID I20252 Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith Last Modified 19 Aug 2021
Father CROWTHER, John , b. 13 Oct 1793, Cardington, Bedfordshire, England Cardington, Bedfordshire, Englandd. 19 Mar 1841, Cardington, Bedfordshire, England (Age 47 years) Mother JONES, Elizabeth , b. Abt 1796, Stokesay, Shropshire, England Stokesay, Shropshire, England Family ID F10745 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family WYLEY, Janet , b. 29 Oct 1823, Kilberney, Ayrshire, Scotland Kilberney, Ayrshire, Scotlandd. 22 Dec 1904, Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United States (Age 81 years) Marriage Dec 1848 Kilberney, Ayrshire, Scotland Notes - MARRIAGE: Also shown as Married Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland.
~SEALING_SPOUSE: Also shown as SealSp 27 Dec 1861, EHOUS.
Children5 sons and 4 daughters Family ID F10743 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 24 Jan 2022
- MARRIAGE: Also shown as Married Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland.
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At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
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Notes - LIFE STORIES
OF
GEORGE CROWTHER (1826-1895)
and Wife
JANET WILEY (1823-1904)
In about the center of the state of Utah and located on the highway between Nephi and Manti is the little town of Fountain Green, Utah. Fountain Green was the primary residence of George Crowther and his family for most of his last 30 years of his life.
George Crowther was born on November 18, 1826, in Dorley or Ironbridge located near London in Shropshire County, England, the son of John Crowther and Elizabeth Jones Crowther. Ironbridge is an ecclesiastical district or Parish belonging to Madeley in Shropshire. There was a great iron bridge built across the river Severn in 1779 and part of the Parish took the name of Ironbridge from the stupendous undertaking.
George received an average education for the time in which he lived in England. As a young man he became interested in the mining industry. Later on he went to Scotland to work in the mines. His education and religious training gave him a keen insight to the real values of life. He was blessed with a sense or consciousness when danger was near, for many times when at work or while eating dinner with the other miners he would get up or move from when he was sitting or working and say to the other men, "I feel like something is going to happen and we had better move from this place." Many times they had just moved a short distance when the roof of the room or a large rock would fall and cover the place where they had been.
He went to Kilbirnie, Scotland, to work as this was a mining center as well as a manufacturing center for textiles. While here in Scotland, he boarded with a family by the name of Piper. The Pipers were friends of the Wileys. It was here that he met and became acquainted with Janet Wiley, who later became his wife.
Janet Wiley was born on October 29, 1823, at Kilbirnie, Ayr, Scotland. She was the daughter of William Wiley and Janet Fife. The Fife's in Kilbirnie goes back a number of generations. In fact, the following is a picture of the headstone marking the graves of Janet's grandparents, James Fife and Janet Barclay. The picture was taken by a Fife family descendent in 1998 in the grave yard at the old church in Kilbirnie.
The inscription on the photograph says: Here lies the remains of James Fife in Holehouse, aged 75 years and 28 days. Also, Janet Barclay, his spouse, aged 68 years and 3 months.
Janet Wiley's education was limited to what she received before she went to work in the factory and the studying she did when off work. She went to work in the textile factory at a very early age and continued until she was married. For a more detailed sketch of Janet's life, the following is a quote from a sketch of her life that was written by Mrs. Elizabeth Crawford Munk, a friend of the family.
“Across the ocean in Scotland in the city of Kilbirnie a little girl was born on the 29th of October, 1823. She had very dark brown hair (almost black), blue eyes and was a little under average in height. As a child she was very alert, nothing escaped her quick perception, whether it was in her play with the children or listening to her elders in their conversation. She was also a very patient child keeping all her troubles to herself. In her early life she was a lover of the story of Christ and, therefore, learned to ask him for help. Janet learned to fight her own battles in a quiet way. She went to work in the factory at the age of eight and worked there until she was married.”
Her father, William Wiley, was a devoted Christian. The family belonged to the good old Presbyterian Church which was founded by John Knox. His motto was, "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." John was one of the early reformers who taught the people to read the Bible and think for themselves and not depend entirely upon what the priests and Pope taught them. Janet came home one night and told her people about a new doctrine that was being taught. Her father told her that he had the right to investigate the scriptures and choose the way he could get the greatest light. "So now, Janet", he said, "I am not going to stand in the way of any of my children having the same privilege." The mother could not at first be persuaded to listen. Soon her elder sister, Barbara accompanied her to one of these meetings to hear this new doctrine. Janet was only about sixteen at this time, but she led the rest of the family to try to understand this new doctrine or new gospel plan. To her it seemed to open up something broader and gave her a clearer light and understanding of the plan of salvation. Together the two sisters would tell their father the differences in the points of doctrine as the following: “He said tonight, 'A man must be called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those who arc in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof “. This he proved by the scriptures.
It was not long until their father became interested and would go to hear the Mormon Elders, for they were the men whom Janet had found and listened to. She became convinced that this was a broader explanation of the scriptures than she had ever heard and she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church) at the age of sixteen. She was baptized on the 23rd of December, 1841.
Parley P. Pratt opened this branch of the church. It was not long until her father and sister were baptized. William Wiley was a man of strong willpower, that is he was not led easily one way or the other. He took his time to investigate and when he became satisfied that this was a revelation from heaven he studied all the principles thoroughly. Their doctrine of faith was especially interesting to him. Faith is a principle of power. One day when he was brought home on a stretcher, from work, with his leg very badly broken he asked for the Elders to come and administer to him. He had such great faith that after they had administered to him he could move his foot. Shortly after this his wife joined the church.
Janet was a faithful member of the faith and attended all the meetings whenever it was possible for her to go. Sometime after she had joined, at one of the meetings, Janet was introduced to a fine, young English boy who had come to work in the mines of Kilbirnie. This being a coal district as well as a manufacturing town. This boy, George Crowther, had joined the Mormons before coming here. They became attached to each other and when Janet was twenty years old they were married. They lived in Scotland until their first child, Robena, was born.
Their daughter, Robena, was born January 5, 1850, and during the later part of the summer of 1850 they left Scotland and came to the United States. They crossed the ocean on the ship the North Atlantic that left Liverpool England on September 4, 1850 and landed in New Orleans on November 1, 1850. On the ship were a total of 357 souls of the Latter-day Saints including Janet Wiley’s parents, William Wiley and Janet Wiley (Janet Fife). The following is a description of the details of the voyage that was taken from the Mormon Immigration Index in the year 2000.
Immigration Information Extracted
from
Mormon Immigration Index
Introduction
The following presents information and personal accounts of LDS immigrants in describing their experiences and hardships encountered in their immigration to the United States, specifically Utah. In the period of time from the 1840's to the 1890's, the LDS Church had a program, termed the Immigration Index Fund where LDS immigrants could use money from this fund on a loan basis to pay for there travel costs from their homeland to Utah. Later, after settling down in their new land, the LDS members who borrowed money from the Church would pay the Church for the monies they had borrowed. Many of the Saints who immigrated on ships and by rail to Utah took advantage of this program. Many Saints from Scandinavia and the British Isles immigrated on the many ships that sailed from England to New York City of the period of time from the 1840's to the 1890's. The information that is included below describes the circumstances and experiences that Mormon converts had in traveling to Utah as a gathering place for the Saints in the mid to late 1800's. The following summarizes the information that was obtained from the Mormon Immigration Index, a information source available from the LDS Church in compact disc (CD) form as of the year 2000. Listed below are the pertinent ancestors who immigrated on the ship.
Ship: North Atlantic
Date of Departure: 4 Sep 1850 Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
LDS Immigrants: 357 Church Leader: David Sudworth
Date of Arrival: I Nov 1850 Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana
Source(s): BMR, Book #1043, pp. 59-73 (FHL #025,690); Customs #292 (FBL #200,165)
Ancestors on Ship: Names Age Origin Occupation
George Crowther 24 Kilbirnie, Ayshire, Scotland Miner
Janet Crowther 35 “ ” “
Rubena Crowther 1 “ ” “
William Wylie 57 Ayshire, Scotland Weaver
Janet Wylie 59 “ ”
A Compilation of General Voyage Notes
"EMIGRATION. -- The ship North Atlantic sailed from Liverpool on the morning of the 4th of September, carrying 357 souls of the Latter-day Saints, under the presidency of Elder David Sudworth. Their destination is the Great Salt Lake Valley, via New Orleans, St. Louis, and Council Bluffs..."
"ARRIVAL OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC. -- The ship North Atlantic, which sailed from this port on September the 4th, arrived at New Orleans on the 1st day of November. The passage was rather lengthy but safe and pleasant. There were two deaths -- Betty Hulme, age 63, and Katren Bonner, age 3 years. There was one baptized during the voyage, Ann Burton, from Whaploade, Lincolnshire, on the 15th of September. Two infants were born during the voyage ......
"FORTY NINTH COMPANY.--North Atlantic, 357 souls. On Wednesday morning, September 4th, 1850, the ship North Atlantic sailed from Liverpool, carrying three hundred and fifty-seven Saints, including children, under the presidency of Elder Sudworth. After a rather lengthy, but safe and pleasant passage, the company arrived in New Orleans, November 1st. There were two deaths on board, namely, Betty Hulme, aged sixty-three, and Katren Bonner, aged three years. One was added to the Church by baptism during the voyage, namely, Ann Burton, from Lincolnshire, England: she was baptized September 15th. Two infants were born on the ocean. From New Orleans the emigrants continued their journey up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri. (Millennial Star, Vol. XII, pages 198, 376.)"
George Crowther, his wife Janet Wiley, and their first child, Rubena Crowther, who was about 6 months old at the time they traveled up the Mississippi River, joined with the saints at St. Louis, Missouri. While they were living in St. Louis their son John William was born (1851). They moved to Alton, Illinois, in the early part of 1852. Soon after they moved there, their son John William died. In 1853, their son James was born and he died in 1854 or 1855. From the material available, the date is indefinite. Their daughter Catherine was born March 11, 1856, at Alton, Illinois.
About this time Israel Evans was organizing a Hand Cart Company of saints to make the trip to Utah. After a great deal of thinking and counseling they decided to join this company. They hesitated to make the trip on account of Janet's physical condition, as she had been sick for a long time. Finally one morning she said; “George we will go to Utah with Israel Evans and his Hand Cart Company.” George told her she was too weak to start on the trip and her reply to this was; “I will die if we stay here and if we go I will get well.” This settled all arguing or hesitancy and they began planning in earnest for the trip.
They left the gathering place of Israel Evans Hand Cart Company near Alton, Illinois, in June of 1857, and started the long trip across the plains to Salt Lake City. The road was long, rough, and sandy and they traveled up and down hills through the hot sun, the wind, and rain storms. The company left some of its members in graves along the road, but Janet Crowther's health began to improve when they started and she made the trip to Salt Lake City in good physical condition. Catherine was fifteen months old and had to be hauled in the cart all the way and Robena, who was only seven years old, walked as much of the way as she could stand. Through all these months they marched forward and landed in Salt Lake City on September 12, 1857. The were the last of the Israel Evans' Hand Cart Companies which consisted of 154 people and thirty-one hand carts. They arrived just ahead of the Johnston Army, which, because of falsehoods and mis¬representations, had been sent by the Government to suppress the supposed-to-be, unlawful activities of the Mormons.
One week after they arrived in Salt Lake City President Brigham Young called George to go on guard against the army of Colonel Johnston. He left his wife and babies and went on guard in Echo Canyon. The guard selected several points in front of the army and marched around and around before them. They passed in view with coats on; then with them off, then turned inside out, and in numerous ways they disguised themselves in order to make it appear that they had many more men than they really had.
While this was going on, the Church made what in Mormon history is known as the "Big Move." The Mormon families packed up all their belongings, gathered their flocks, and left Salt Lake City for the valleys to the south. A few men were left in Salt Lake City to kindle the straw that was left in the houses in case the army did not keep its promise to Brigham Young to march through the city south to the Jordan Narrows.
Janet Crowther and her two little girls were moved to Payson. After the guard was disbanded it took George two weeks of constant searching to find his wife and family. They lived in Payson for some time and while there their daughter Elizabeth was born on August 15, 1858.
They moved from Payson to Wales in Sanpete County, Utah, in 1860. George worked in the coal mines there and did some farming and took an active part in the community activities. Their daughter Sarah was born there on May 22, 1861. Their son George Jr. was born on April 13, 1863, at Wales.
In 1863 they moved to Moroni. They were no more settled in Moroni when they were called, by President Young to go to Sevier County, to help colonize that section of the state. They went to Monroe where two weeks later, May 14, 1864, their son William John was born. In this place, farming and guarding against the Indians was the principle occupation. Three years later, 1867, they were called away from Monroe on account of the Indian War. This was the Black Hawk Indian War.
George Crowther, Bishop Olsen and Walter Barney went to Spring City to see Orson Hyde about moving from Monroe. The day they were to return to Monroe the Indians made an attack on the community. There was great fear for their safety, but it so happened that a Mr. Readhead at Richfield had insisted that they stay at his home over night. This they did against their wishes as they felt that they should get home as quickly as possible. If they had not listened to Mr. Readhead it is quite possible that they would have been killed by the Indians, because the attack took place at the very time they would have been on the road.
Through most of the Indian troubles George was a minute man. Besides driving the pony express he was called to guard against the Indians at nights and times when not on his regular trips.
During this time of colonization and Indian troubles food was very scarce. The principal articles of food during the spring and summer were thistles, mustard greens, sego roots or bulbs and mushrooms. Most of this was gathered by the children. Janet and her children would pick, card and spin the wool and weave it into cloth for their clothing. The longer fibers were selected and twisted into thread to sew the clothing, this was usually the job for Catherine as she was very quick and had nimble fingers. The worn out clothing was cut into strips and woven into carpets and rugs.
They moved from Monroe to Manti where they stayed two months and then moved to Fountain Green where they made their home permanently. Like all other pioneer families, they had a few sheep. Janet and the girls washed the wool, picked and carded it into rolls and wove it. One fall, Janet wanted to make cloth for a suit for George and she wanted it extra nice so she colored some of the wool red, then took a portion of black and white wool. The three colors were mixed in the picking which made it a dark rich color when woven. George was always proud of this suit. Janet and her daughter Catherine, who later became Mrs. Hans P. Larsen, made forty yards of jeans one winter. Catherine carded all this wool in rolls by hand. Janet was always busy either with helping and cheering up the sick or those in trouble.
On October 10, 1868, Thomas James was born at Fountain Green. From this period of time on, the family was engaged in farming and stock raising. They were early pioneers in Utah, and it was people like the Crowther’s that made possible the wonderful conditions we have in Utah today.
The last few years of George's life were made miserable by the affliction of asthma. He died on April 16, 1895, at Fountain Green, Utah.
Janet Wiley Crowther lived nine years, longer and was very active to the last. When the children would come to visit with her, she would be busy at her loom, and they would say, "Mother, you do not need to be working like this all the time." She would smile and say; "better wear out than to rust out." And when God called her she left a piece of carpet in the loom not quite finished. She was active to within a few days of her death which came on December 22, 1904 at her home in Fountain Green, Utah. Janet was in word and deed a Pioneer Mother, and when we say a Pioneer Mother, it stands for all that is praise worthy, honest, benevolent, courageous, strong of heart and hand. All she asked in return was a clasp of the human hand. She died as she had lived, a true Latter-day Saint.
Thus closed the activities of George Crowther and his beloved wife Janet Wiley Crowther. The trials and hardships they went through can be appreciated only by those who know pioneer life. There were the problems associated with the extreme dryness of the Utah desert, the Indian troubles, and the falsehoods and misrepresentations which caused the Church and all its members many worries and heart aches over the years. The solving of these problems of life by these pioneers was an outstanding achievement, and the world stands indebted to them. When trials were harder they worked harder and when they became almost unbearable, they would sing, "Come, Come Ye Saints No Toil Or Labor Fear."
In closing this short account, allow me to say: They died as they had lived, true and loyal to their country, their church and their high standards of life. The examples and memories they left for their children and their grandchildren can never be forgotten and will ever be an incentive to a higher and more noble life.
--- In Monroe, Sevier Co., Utah, is a monument erected to honor the Utah pioneers and among others, the name of George Crowther’s name is on the large bronze plate.
This story was written by Kenneth Mangelson, great-great grandson of George and Janet Crowther taken from information in the book, The Crowthers of Fountain Green. The emigration information was added along with the photos by Kenneth Mangelson.
George Crowther
Birth: Nov. 25, 1825, England
Death: Apr. 16, 1895
Fountain Green, Sanpete County, Utah, USA
m. Janet Wylie Dec. 1848
in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland
Son of John Crowther &
Elizabeth Jones
Janet Wiley -(Scottish) and George Crowther (English)
They then decided they would like to gather with the Saints in far off Utah. Their daughter, Robena, was born January 5, 1850; near the end of summer on the 4th of September 1850 they left Scotland from the Port San Juan. They set out for the United States. They crossed the ocean in a sailboat the North Atlantic (The Apalachicola) and landed in New Orleans that fall (According to passenger list I found on the Internet they arrived 27th January 1851 under Captain Foote). They went up the Mississippi River and joined the Saints at St. Louis, and Missouri. George found good work and good pay, so they decided to stay there till they could go to Utah. While they were in St. Louis, their son, John William was born 6 Nov 1851. They moved to Alton, Illinois, in the early part of 1852, soon after they moved their, their son John William died on 22 Oct 1852 at the age of one. On 25 Feb 1853, their son James was born and he died in 18 Mar 1854 in Alton, Illinois also at the age of one. From the materials we have, the date is indefinite, their daughter, Catherine was born March 11, 1856, at Alton, Illinois.
They had not been able to save enough to buy a team and wagon, so many of the saints who were anxious to come and had no money contrived a way they made handcarts. Janet and George Crowther brought theirs, paying sixty dollars for it. Because they had not been able to save enough to buy a team and wagon. About this time, Israel Evens was organizing a Handcart Company of Saints to make the trip to Utah, (see appendix A) after a great deal of thinking and counseling they decided to join this company. They hesitated to make the trip on account of Janet's health. Janet had been sick for a long time, with chills and fevers, finally one morning she said. "George we will go to Utah with Israel Evans and his Handcart Company", George was worrying about this trip and said, "Janet, I am afraid this will be a harder journey than you think. George told her she was too weak to start on the trip, and her reply to this was, "I will die if we stay here and if we go I will get well." Or from other accounts she said, "I will die if I stay here so I might as well die trying," This settled all arguing or hesitancy and they began planning in earnest for the trip.
So after making preparations they began this most noted of trek across this great continent, that of the Mormon handcart companies. Where else on earth could we find people, or any Mothers and Fathers who would think of taking such risks, make of buying a handcart, bundle their babies and belongings into it and fall to the task of pulling themselves and their belongings to a new place, but their faith and courage was strong.
They left the gathering place of Israel Evan's Handcart Company near Alton, Illinois on June 1857, and started the long trip across the plains to Salt Lake City, Utah. The road was long, rough, and sandy, up and down hills, through the hot sun. The wind and rainstorms, the Company left some of its members in graves along the road. They left all in the hands of God and obeyed their desire and wish to come. Janet said the first few days, she would sit down and rest, sometimes lie down, but as the days went by she grew stronger and her health began to improve she was very thankful that she had taken the chance to come. She made the trip to Salt Lake City in good Physical condition.
Catherine was fifteen months old and had to be hauled in the cart all the way and Robena, who was only seven years five months old, walked much of the way as she could stand. Through all these months they marched forward and landed in Salt Lake City, September 12, 1857. They were the last of Israel Evan's Handcart Companies, consisting of 154 people and 31 handcarts. After a three-month trip across the plains, they arrived just ahead of the Johnson Army, which, because of falsehoods and misrepresentations, had been sent by the Government to suppress the supposed to be, unlawful activities of the Mormon's.
On September 15, 1857, Brigham Young declared the territory of Utah under martial law and forbade the troops to enter Great Salt Lake Valley. One week after they arrived in Salt Lake City, while living in a little schoolhouse with a couple of other families, they were awakened one night at midnight. President Brigham Young called George to go on guard against the army of Colonel Johnson. There was nothing to do but go, all this was a puzzle to them. He left his wife and babies and went on guard in Echo Canyon. The guard selected several points in front of the army and marched around them. They passed in view with coats on, then with them off, then turned them inside out. And in numerous ways they disguised themselves in order to make it appear that they had many more men then they really had.
There was worse to come, about a week after they had gone, some older men came with teams and wagons and told these women what it was all about, and took these families as far south as Payson (You will have to read about Johnson's Army). While George was away the Church ordered what in Mormon History is known as the "Big Move", as it was called. Janet Crowther and her two little girls packed up their belongings, gathered their flocks, and left Salt Lake City and moved for the valleys to the south. Janet moved to Payson which is about 62 miles and about 21 hours if you are walking. A few men were left in Salt Lake City to kindle the straw that was left in the houses in case the Army did not keep its promise to Brigham Young to march through the city south to the Jordan Narrows.
Once the guard was mustered out they could not find their families. Janet said they first went to Salt Lake where they had left them and no one knew anything about them, they inquired from house to house. It took the husband and their father two weeks of constant searching to find his wife and family. When George found them, he had to sit down and shed a few tears of joy.
They lived in Payson for some time and while there their daughter Elizabeth was born August 15, 1858. As a little girl Catherine went with her parents from one place to another where her parents were called to go, by President Brigham Young, and help colonize. They came to Manti from Payson, stayed here a few days, and then moved to Coal Bed which is now known as Wales, Sanpete Co., in 1860. George worked in the coalmines there and did some farming. George also took an active part in the Community activities. Their daughter Sarah was there while living there on May 22, 1861 and their son George Jr. was born April 13, 1863 in Wales.
In 1863 they moved to Mt. Pleasant and from there to Moroni then soon after before they could settle in they were called by President Young to go to Sevier County to help settle that section so they moved to a place called South Bend, afterwards called Monroe in May 1864 they dug holes in the side of foothills, (called dugouts) they lived in dugouts that had been there family home in which they lived with their young family of 5 remaining of the 7 children born at this time. The children were between the ages of 1 to 13 years. They were damp and unhealthy, and nearly the whole colony became ill with Typhoid Fever, some were very seriously ill. Janet and her sister, Barbara went from house to house waiting on the sick. They were very efficient nurses and gave of their time and strength cheerfully without taking a penny. The people called them "ministering angels" none of the colony died, although it was in a very bad form or condition. Their son William John was born in Monroe on 14 May 1865.
While in Monroe George farmed and through most of the Indian troubles, George was a minuteman. Besides driving the pony express, he was called to guard against the Indians at night and when he was not on his regular trips. During this time of colonization and Indian trouble (Blackhawk War) food was very scarce. The principle articles of food during the spring and summer were thistles, mustard greens, sago roots or bulbs and mushrooms. The children gathered most of this, Janet and her children would pick, card and spin the wool and weave it into cloth for their clothing. The longer fibers were selected and twisted into thread to sew the clothing. This was usually the job for Catherine as she was very quick and had nimble fingers. The worn out clothing was cut into stripes and woven into rugs and carpets.
George Crowther, Bishop Olsen and Walter Barney went to Spring City to see Orson Hyde about moving from Monroe. The day they were to return to Monroe, the Indians made an attack on the community, there was great fear for their safety, but it so happened that a Mr. Readhead at Richfield had insisted that they stay at his home overnight. This they did against their wishes as they felt they should get home as quickly as possible. If they had not listened to Mr. Readhead it is quite possible that they would have been killed by the Indians, because the attack was on at the very time they would have been on the road.
Because of this and the Indians killed a couple of men south of the settlement because of this and other Indian troubles, the church leaders asked them to return to the Sanpete settlement about 1864 to about 1867 they went to Manti, where they stayed for two months, at this time, George had a cousin, Thomas Crowther, living in Fountain Green and he wanted George to come and make his home there, and then to Fountain Green where they made a permanent home, in 1867 they were called away from Monroe on account of the Indian troubles, this was the Black Hawk Indian War. They went to Manti, where they stayed for two months and then to Fountain Green where they made a permanent home.
Like all other pioneer families they had a few sheep, Janet and the girls washed the wool, picked it carded or corded it in rolls by hand, spun and wove it.
One fall Janet wanted to make some cloth for a suit for George, and she wanted it extra nice so she colored some of the wool red, and then took a portion of black and white; the three colors were mixed in the picking, which made it a dark rich color when woven. George was always proud of this suit. Janet and her daughter Catherine or Katherine, now Mrs. Hans Peter Larsen, made forty yards of jeans one winter. Janet was always busy, either with helping and cheering the sick or those in trouble and with her homework.
October 10, 1868, Thomas James was born at Fountain Green, from this date on, the family engaged in farming and stock rising. They were early pioneers in Utah. It was people like them that made possible the wonderful conditions we have in Utah today.
George and Janet were a very devoted couple, doing all they could to make one another happy. They had nine children, five boys and four girls. When it was George's birthday anniversary, Janet would have all the children home for dinner and in other ways show respect for him. And on the 23rd of December 1891, George gave a celebration for Janet because it was fifty years since she was Baptized into the Church. He celebrated by hiring the dance hall and an orchestra and inviting the whole town to come to the dance. The children say they never saw Mother looked so beautiful and happy as she did on that night. This shows us how much George thought of Janet, the little girl who was far-sighted enough to recognize the truth when she heard it. We often hear of birthday and wedding celebrations, but this shows us the reverence these people had for their religion.
The last few years of George's life were made miserable by the affect of asthma. He died April 16, 1895, at Fountain Green, Utah. A son, George, and her husband preceded her to the grave. When her husband died she was left alone in the old home.
Janet Wiley Crowther lived nine years longer and was very active to the last. When the children would occasionally come to visit with her, she would be busy at her loom, and they would say, "Mother, you do not need to be working like this all the time", She would smile and say, "Better to wear out, than to rust out", And when God called her, she left a piece of carpet in the loom not yet finished. She was active to within a few days of her death, which came December 22, 1904, at her home in Fountain Green, Utah.
Janet was in word and deed a Pioneer, and when we say a Pioneer Mother it stands for all that is praise worthy, honest, benevolent, courageous, and strong of heart and hand. All she asked in return was a clasp of the human hand. She died as she lived. A true Latter-Day-Saint. Thus closed the activities of George Crowther and his beloved wife, Janet Wiley Crowther.
Only those who know pioneer life can appreciate the trials and hardships they went through. In addition there were the extreme dryness of the Utah desert, the Indian troubles, and the falsehoods and misrepresentations, which caused the Church and all its members many worries and heartaches. The solving of these problems of life by those pioneers was an outstanding achievement and the world stands indebted to them. When trials were harder they worked harder and when they became almost unbearable they would sing "Come, Come, Ye Saints, No Toil Or Labor Fear."
In closing this short account, allow me to say: They died as they had lived, true and loyal to their country, they're church and their high standards of life. The examples and memories they left for their children and grandchildren can never be forgotten and will ever be an incentive to a higher and cleaner life. Since writing this sketch the writer made a trip to Monroe, Sevier Co., Utah and on a monument erected to honor the pioneers he was glad to see, among others, the name of George Crowther on the large bronze plate.
Children of George and Janet Wiley:
Robena Crowther 1850-1923
John William Crowther 1851-1852
James Crowther 1853-1854
Catherine Person Crowther 1856-1946
Elizabeth Crowther 1858-1937
Sarah Crowther 1861-1925
George Crowther Jr. 1863-1876
William John Crowther 1865-1908
Thomas James Crowther 1868-1920
Family links:
Spouse:
Janet Wylie Crowther (1823 - 1904)*
Children:
Catherine C Larsen (1856 - 1946)*
Elizabeth Crowther Andersen (1858 - 1937)*
Burial:
Fountain Green Cemetery, Fountain Green, Sanpete County, Utah, USA
Created by: gabbybug
Record added: Jan 30, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 5180220
- LIFE STORIES
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