Mary Napier Rowe Written By Mary Loretta Rowe Burnside

 

Mary Napier Rowe

Biography

of

Mary

Napier

Rowe

Written By

Mary Loretta Rowe Burnside

Mary Napier was born March 30, 1823 in Kilsyth, Lanarkshire or Larrack, Scotland. Her parents

were Janette Gillis and John Napier. Mary is descended from the Royal Family of Scotland and

of Ireland. Genealogists have traced her lineage back for many generations on line to 1700 BC.

She is of the Royal line of Judah through King Zedekiah according to LDS Church records.

Many interesting facts are thus brought out concerning her ancestral lives and their history.

Of her parents family we have the manes of fine other children. Her sisters are as follows: Jean,

Christena, Agnes, Nesbit and Isabella. The parents were probably in humble circumstances, as

Mary worked in a textile mill in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.

When missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints preached the Gospel there,

Mary and her sister Isabella were converted. They were baptized, though it is not known if at the

same time. Mary and Isabella were the only members of their family to come to America. It is

not known if the sister Isabella ever came to Utah as she was not known by her sister’s family.

Elder Franklin D. Richards was one of the missionaries who preached the gospel to Mary.

It was in the fall of 1847 when Mary was reunited with her husband, who had been gone for

more than a year with the Mormon Battalion. It was September 15, 1852 when Mary and her

family came to Utah.

Mary did not have the funds to come to Utah immediately. After her marriage to Caratat, she

lived at the home of her husband’s parents, William Niblo and Candace Blanchard Rowe.

(William held public office as a judge.)

Mary’s very great faith and the friendships she gained kept her happy. She seemed to enjoy the

spiritual gift of vision or prophecy. Many times she knew of coming events before they actually

occurred. She told of seeing a light which filled the room. Within this light, sat her sister, who

lived in Scotland. When Mary saw her sister sitting in a rocking chair, she spoke the sister’s

name. It was not long until she heard of the passing of her sister.

While living in Payson, Utah, Mary gave bread to two girls who were survivors of the Mountain

Meadow Massacre.

An Indian whose name was James Onumph used to come to the home of Mary and Caratat

Conderset Rowe quite often when they were living at Mountainville. Once when he was visiting

with them, “Indian Jim” as he was called, was talking with Mary. He asked her a question

pertaining to a principle of the gospel. Mary was attempting to answer the question. She stated

to speak then said, “I wish I could answer your question so that you could understand. I would

like to have the language to explain it to you and make it clear to you.” Then Indian Jim said to

her “Stand up”. She began to speak. Again he said, “Stand up”. Mary stood up and began to

speak to him. Indian Jim nodded his head because he understood what she was saying. She

continued to speak and Onumph again nodded his head. It was plain that he knew what she

meant. But no one else in the room could understand, even her sons and daughter-in-law (my

uncle and my father and mother who were there) did not know what Mary was saying. But

James Onumph or “Indian Jim” clearly understood what she said. Mary had spoken with the

spiritual gift of tongues. Jim’s blessing was in fulfillment of the Lord’s promise; and this great

blessing was in fulfillment.

From the History of Indianola we read that Onumph learned to speak the English language quite

well. Our uncle Con Rowe, among other settlers there learned to speak the Indian language to

make himself understood by the Indians. The Bishop of Indianola, John Spencer, a former

resident of Payson, also learned to speak the language of the Indians. Bishop John Spencer

chose Indian Jim to be his second counselor in the Bishopric there. Indian Jim was very faithful

in this calling. Other Indians who were active at Indianola were Moroni and Nephi.

Indian Pennywatch was a frequent visitor there. At one time, for some years, about the only

white people there were the Danish Indian missionaries, Elder August Hjorth and his wife.

Hjorth taught Indian Santaquin how to make ditches on Santaquin’s farm which was north of

Indianola, between there and Clinton. Indian Jim’s wife Phoebe was of high rank among the

Indians there. It seems that whenever Phoebe spoke to the other Indians they all listened

attentively and obeyed her instructions.

When James Onumph was just a young lad he warned the settlers of Mr. Pleasant of an

impending attack by the Indians. A lumber saw mill was burned to the ground by no settlers

were slain.

Grandma Mary Napier Rowe passed away March 4, 1902. She is buried at Mt. Pleasant City

Cemetery.

Caratat C. Rowe and Mary Napier Row ~~~ Pioneers of the Month !~~~ February 2022

 

 Way back in 2009  we posted Caratat Conderset and Mary Napier Rowe As Pioneers of the Month.  I have found so much more information on them and have had a lot of requests for more information on them.   You can read the original post here: 

 https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2217707143168230507/8499223279971595742

 

BIOGRAPHY OF CARATAT C. ROWE BORN 1823, PERRY, DELAWARE COUNTY, INDIANA Arrive in Utah, July 29,1847 Written by a Granddaughter, Candace B. Michelson  

  Grandfather Caratat Conderset Rowe, a son of William Niblo Rowe and Candace Blanchard Rowe was born in Perry Delaway County, Indiana in 1823. When young Tat was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the family moved westward. When the Mormon Battalion was organized Tat and his brother William enlisted and he was a member of Company A. However, the Rowe brothers were with the "Sick Detachment" under Captain James Brown which was compelled to winter during 1846=1847 at Peublo, Colorado. The main body of the battalion continued the journey into California, to San Diego. Among these latter were some friends of the Rowe brother, James, Riley, Alfred and Reddick N. Alfred later of Spring City. During the travels toward Utah, brother William Rowe became very ill and was unable to travel. He lay down on the ground and his brother Tat was tenderly watching over him. As the others of the company were passing by one of the Captains said to Tat, "We must move on, it seems that your brother will live but a short time. You had better come along with us." Tat sat beside his brother, cross-legged with his gun across his knees. "I am staying here," he said to the Captain. Then the Captain turned to several of his men and told them to place the dying man in the wagon. The men did so and the company moved on slowly. The group consisted of besides Captain Brow, Captains Nelson Higgins, and William W. Willis. There were 140 of the sick detachment and 40 of the Mississippi Saints also bound for Utah. There were only 29 wagons, 1 carriage, 100 horses and mules, and 300 head of cattle to make the journey. This company arrived in Utah just five days after the arrival of the original company on July 29, 1847. The sick were cared for by the Brothers and Sisters who had arrived there previously. When President Brigham Young and a few companies returned to the Missouri River where the most of the Saints were, a number of the Battalion Boys in Iowa had returned from California and some of the Pueblo detachment who had recovered from illness also went back east with President Young to be with their families. In this group were William and Caratat Rowe. Tat's wife, Grandma Mary Napier Rowe while living at Fremont, Iowa gave birth to a daughter, Candace Blanchard, born July 24, 18_. Mary was a Scotch lassie, who joined the Church and came as a young girl to America. In 1852 the C. C. Rowe family came to Utah in the company of Captain B. M. Jolley's train of covered wagons. They left Kanesville, Iowa in 1852 and arrived in Utah September 15, 1852. There were 340 people in the pioneer company. After a while at Salt Lake City the family located at Payson where a daughter Janette Sterling Rowe was born on August 24, 1855. She was baptized in 1864. When the Walker Indian War was raging in Utah County grandfather C.C. Rowe served his part being commissioned a Second-Lieutenant was on of "The Silver Grey's, a member of Company B of the Nauvoo Legion of the Payson Post. They removed to Sanpete County and in 1860 settled in Mt. Pleasant. He served in the Black Hawk Indian War, for which service he received his old age which is a pension from the U.S. Government. He was very grateful. For sometime grandfather C.C. Rowe did farming and herding in Thistle Valley at Indianola in early times. Others were Aaron, Joseph and Nathan Staker, later of Mt. Pleasant. Later he removed with his sons, Con and Allen to the "Round Hills," or Mountainville, north east of Mount Pleasant, where they did farming. Each of them reared a good sized family of line healthy children who were well respected. Uncle Con Rowe went back East to help bring in the Mormon immigrants. Uncle Allen "Lene" Rowe, filled a mission for the Church, all of these men were firm in the Faith. Grandfather Rowe was always concerned over the welfare of his family and friends. When people were ill in Mt. Pleasant he would go out with another Elder into the homes of the sick and administer to them in the authority of the Holy Priesthood. He always exercised Faith, and was rewarded in that the sick were healed, etc. and his family received many blessings as a result of the faithful devotion of this great and good man. Tat was not wealthy in his worldly goods and he had suffered much privation in pioneer days but he enjoyed the peace of mind of a good conscience and the happy association of his large family and many many friends. He kept a weed less vegetable garden. He was witty, and full of fun. He enjoyed singing jolly songs to his children and grandchildren. It is a family tradition that Grandpa Rowe was one possessed with power over sickness, doubtless because of his authority in the Holy Priesthood, and his pure life of service. At one time he was called for by someone who told him of someone else who was bleeding excessively. Grandpa told them that the bleeding had stopped, though he did not go to their home. No doubt, he offered a silent prayer to our Heavenly Father, for the one afflicted and the prayer was answered as desired.

BIOGRAPHY OF MARY NAPIER ROWE BORN MARCH 30, 1823 at KILSYTH, LARRACK, SCOTLAND ARRIVED IN UTAH SEPTEMBER 15, 1852 

By Mary Loretta Rowe Burnside  

 Mary Napier was born March 30, 1823 in Kilsyth, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her parents were Janette Gillis and John Napier. Mary is descended from the Royal family of Scotland and of Ireland. Genealogists have traced her linage back for many generations, on one line to 1700 B.C. she is of the Royal line of Judah through King Zedekiah according to Church records. Many interesting facts are thus brought out concerning her ancestral lives and their history. Of her parents family we have the names of five other children, her sisters, as follows: Jean, Christena, Agnes, Nesbit, and Isabella. The parents probably were in humble circumstances, as Mary worked in a textile mill in the city of Glasgow.

 When missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints preached the gospel there, Mary and her sister Isabella were converted. They were baptized, though it is not known if at the same time. Mary and Isabella were the only ones of their family to come to America. It is not known if the sister Isabella ever came to Utah as she was not known by her sisters family. Elder Franklin D. Richards was one of the missionaries who preached the gospel to Mary. It was in the fall of 1847 when Mary was reunited with her husband who had been gone for more than a year with the Mormon Battalion. It was September 15, 1852, when Mary and her family came to Utah. Mary did not have the funds to come to Utah immediately. After her marriage to Caratat Conderset Rowe, she lived at the home of her husband's parents William Nible (he held the public office of a judge) and Candace Blanchard Rowe. Mary's very great faith and the friendships she gained kept her happy. She seemed to enjoy the spiritual gift of vision or prophecy. Many times she knew of coming events before they actually occurred. She told of seeing a light which filled the room. Within this light, sat her sister who lived in Scotland. WTien Mary saw her sister sitting in a rocking chair, she spoke the sister's name. It was not long until she heard of the passing of her sister.

 While living at Payson, Mary gave bread to two girls who were survivors of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. An Indian whose name was James Onuph used to come to the home of Mary and Caratat Condrset Rowe quite often when they were living at Mountainville. Once when he was visiting with them "Indian Jim" as he was called, was talking with Grandma Mary. He asked her a question pertaining to a principle of the gospel, restored, and Mary was attempting to answer the question. She started to speak, then said, "I wish that I could answer your question so that you could understand. I would like to have the language to explain it to you, and make it clear to you. Then the Indian said to her, "Stand Up", She began to speak. Again he said, "Stand Up". Mary stood up and began to speak to him. Onuph nodded his head because he understood what she was saying. She continued to speak and Onumph again nodded his head. It was plain that he knew what she meant. But no one else in the room could understand, even her sons and daughter-in-law, my uncle and my father and mother who were there, did not know what Mary was saying, because she spoke in a language which her children did not understand. But James Onumph or 'Indian Jim", clearly understood what she said. Grandma Mary Napier Rowe had spoken with the spiritual gift of tongues. James blessing was in fulfillment of the Lord's promise; and this great blessing was in fulfillment.

 From the History of Indianola we read the Onemph learned to speak the English language quite well. Our Uncle Con Rowe, among other settlers there, learned to speak the Indian language, to make himself understood by the Indians. The Bishop of Indianola, John Spencer, a former resident of Payson, also learned to speak Indian. Bishop John Spencer, chose Indian Jim to be his second counselor in the Bishopric there. Indian Jim was very faithful in his calling. Other Indians who were active in Indianola were Moroni and Ephi. Indian Pennywatch was a frequent visitor there. At one time, or for some years about the only shite people there were the Danish Indian Missionary, Elder August A. Hjorthand and his wife. Hjorth taught Indian Santaquin how to make ditches on Santaquin's farm which was north of Indianola, between there and Clinton. Indian Jim's wife, Phoebe, was of high rank among the Indians there. It seems that whenever Phoebe spoke to the other Indians, they all listened attentively, and obeyed her instructions. When James Onumph was just a young lad, he warned the settlers of Mt. Pleasant of impending attack by the Indians. A lumber saw mill was burned but no settlers were slain. Grandma Mary Napier Rowe passed away March 4, 1902. She is buried at Mt. Pleasant City, Cemetery.

INDIAN JIM

 

The following is taken from: Jacob Barlow's Fredom Cemetery

There is one Indian buried in the cemetery and his name is “Indian Jim” or Jin Wanup. The Mt. Pleasant DUP put a beautiful marble headstone on his grave in 1975 but his name is misspelled on it. It is spelled James Onump on his headstone. He was a full blooded Ute Indian. Indian Jim was a good friend to the people of Freedom and he would spy for them and let them know when the Indians were going to attack. The people of Freedom built him a dugout to live in on the west side of Freedom. The cemetery is still visited by many people each Memorial Day and other times during the year. It is still a very peaceful and quaint little cemetery where those that come can remember what Freedom used to be like.

Coal Bed ... continued, The Spirit of Wales

 

PIONEER OF THE MONTH, APRIL: Caratat Conderset and Mary Napier Rowe

Caratat Conderset and Mary Napier Rowe sitting on the front porch of their home at an unknown location. (probably Mountainville)

Excerpts taken from histories by Loretta Rowe Burnside and Jennie Allred Brotherson which can be found in "Mountainville History" by Melba Hill.Caratat Conderset Rowe, son of William Niblo Rowe and Candace Blanchard Rowe, was born in Perry Township, Delaware County, Indiana on May 11, 1823. The family had migrated from the northeastern states. He often told his grandchildren that his name was Caratat Conderset Nichols John Rowe. The grandchildren thought this was just another joke that their witty and fun-loving grandfather was telling them. But he may have been named for the Marque de Jean Marie Antione Nicholas Caratat Condercet. Caratat was of medium height and had dark brown hair and brown eyes.

It seemed that the Rowes lived near the Latter Day Saint Church headquarters and were acquainted with the early church leaders whom they respected. As a youngster, Caratat heard the gospel from missionaries. It was not until he realized how much the “Mormons” were being persecuted for their faith that Caratat became interested. He was baptized August 12, 1842. As a young man he married Mary Napier, a lovely blue eyed, red haired Scotch lassie who was a “Mormon” convert immigrant.

Mary Napier was born March 30, 1823 in Kilayth, Lanarkshire Scotland. Her parents were Janette Gillis and John Napier. Mary was descended from the royal family of Scotland and of Ireland. Genealogists have traced her lineage back for many generations; on one line to 1700 B.C. She was of the royal line of Judah through King Zedikiah according to Church records. Many interesting facts are thus brought out concerning her ancestral lines and their history.

When missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints preached the gospel in Scotland, Mary and her sister Isabella were converted. They were baptized, though it is not known if at the same time. Mary and Isabella were the only ones of their family to come to America. It is not known at this time if Isabella ever came to Utah. Elder Franklin D. Richards was one of the missionaries who preached the gospel to Mary.

Mary’s great faith and the friendships she gained kept her happy. She seemed to enjoy the spiritual gift of Vision of Prophecy. Many times she knew of coming events before they actually occurred.

Shortly after their marriage came the call for enlistments in the Mormon Battalion. Caratat joined with his two cousins, William and Manning Rowe. The Battalion left Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and marched toward the southwest to prevent further trouble between the United States Government and Mexico. The trials and hardships the men endured are well known. A sick detachment of men were sent to Pueblo, Colorado to spend the winter of 1846-47.

During the journey William Rowe became very ill and was unable to walk. The officer in charge thought this poor sick man would die. He advised the company to leave him there and move on. Caratat sat cross-legged on the ground beside his sick cousin. With his musket across his lap, he refused to leave. Finally, the officer in charge gave an order and William was lifted into a wagon. He recovered and was able to endure the journey into Utah.
Bound for Utah with the sick detachment, which included 140 members of the Batallion, were 40 Saints, 29 wagons, one carriage, 100 horses and 300 cattle. This company arrived in Utah just five days after the arrival of the first company of pioneers. (July 29, 1847).
Caratat traveled east to meet his family. He left Salt Lake Valley on August 26, 1847. During the journey his feet were frozen.

While Caratat had been away with the battalion, his wife, Mary, lived with Caratat’s parents in Iowa. Caratat Conderset Rowe, Jr. was born in Iowa on August 10, 1848/49. Candace Blanchard Rowe was born July 24, 1851 while the family was still in Iowa.

The family were members of a wagon train company which left Kanesville, Iowa in 1853 headed by Henry B. Jolley. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 15, 1852. Caratat and his family settled in Payson in Utah County.
Here three children were born: William Napier, born 15 September 1853; Jennett Sterling, born 24 August 1855; and a son, Ilinian (called Allen, Lin or Leen) born 12 July 1858.

When the Walker War was raging, Caratat served under the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was a member of Company “B” of the Payson Post of the Nauvoo Legion and also a member of the “Silver Greys”.
In 1860 the family moved to Sanpete County and settled at Mt. Pleasant. On April 23, 1861, a daughter Mary was born.

For several years Caratat and his sons did farming and stock raising in Thistle Valley at Indianola. Here they were active in defense of this summer settlement when Indians were on the war path. Both Caratat and his son “Con” were active in the Blackhawk War. Whenever possible, they tried to remain on friendly terms with the Indians. “Con” learned to speak the Indian language and had many friends among them.

A more detailed description of those early days is given in the history of Indianola from Centennial History of Sanpete County, “These Our Fathers”.
Indianola, originally called Thistle Valley, is located in the northern end of Sanpete County on Highway 89. As the name indicates, it was once the home of a tribe of Indians. They settled in a protected cove in the southeast part of the valley, called “Indian Hollow”. Here their horses and stock could feed throughout the winter among the cedars and in the ravines of the canyon. A large part of the valley consists of grass meadow land. It was for this reason that the early colonists of Fairview and Mt. Pleasant, among them Caratat Conderset Rowe, used this valley and Milburn Valley as summer pasture for their beef and dairy heads, their sheep and pigs.

They constructed small movable buildings called “herd houses” or “dairy houses”. The roofs of these buildings were somewhat in the manner of our sheep wagons of today and were covered with canvas. They could easily be moved about on wheels and follow the herds. In those the “herd boys” lived.

One year a herd of pigs had been brought to Thistle Valley for the summer. When they were being driven back to town, the men who were driving the pigs tgried to make them travel a little faster. As a result they all died from becoming overheated. The particular spot on the road about half way between Indianola and Hilltop is still known as the “Hog Dugway”.

Peter Gottfredsen, Caratat Conderset Rowe, Coderset Rowe Jr., Nathan Staker and his sons, Aaron and Joseph, were some of the herders of these flocks. Peter Gottfredsen in his book, “Indian Depredations in Utah” notes that after the close of the Tintic War in 1856, the Indians were comparatively peaceful until 1863. They again became dissatisfied, thinking that their hunting grounds were being taken from them by the white settlers.

In June 1866, Captain Albert P. Dewey of Colonel Kimball’s command was ordered to establish a key post in Thistle Valley. There were 22 cavalry and 35 infantry, the latter under Captain Jesse West. A few days later, they were attacked by a band of Indians under “Chief Black Hawk”. The battle lasted all day and Charles Brown of Draper was killed. If help had not arrived from Mt. Pleasant, there is no doubt that the Indians would have taken the camp.

The mountain now known as “Blackhawk” was used by Chief Black Hawk and his warriors as a signal point. Just east of this peak, in the Red Cliffs, is an old Indian burial ground. Undoubtedly, the Indians killed during the Blackhawk War were buried there. Many of the older Indians were buried here after they made peace with the whites.

One of the most horrible deeds committed during the Blackhawk War by the Indians was the massacre of the John Given family in the Thistle Valley on the morning of May 26, 1865. John Given, his wife, son and three small daughters were killed instantly. Two men, Charles Brown and Charles Wager Leah, who lived with the Givens, were able to escape and go down the canyon to a small settlement and report what had happened. After the massacre, the Indians gathered up the possessions of the family and killed or crippled the calves, and drove off with between one hundred and two hundred head of horses and cattle into the mountains.

While Caratat was living in Indianola, he built a wagon. The wheels were sawed off log ends reinforced with pieces of iron nailed around the outside edge of the wheels. Later, Caratat, his sons, Con and Allen moved their families to a valley east of the “Round Hills” in Sanpete County. They acquired farming land. The little settlement became known as Mountainville. Caratat was presiding Elder of this branch of the Mt. Pleasant North Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for many years.

An Indian whose name was James Onumph usedto come to the home of Mary and Caratat Rowe quite often when they were living at Mountainville. Once when he was visiting with them, "Indian Jim" as he was called was talking with Mary. He asked her a question pertaining to a principle of the gospel and Mary was attempting to answer the question. She started to speak and then said, "I wish that I could answer your question so that you couyld understand. I would like to have the language to explain it to you, and to make it clearer to you". Then the Indian said to her, "Stand Up" She began to speak. Again he said "Stand Up". Mary stood up, began to speak to him. Onumph nodded his head because he understood what she was saying. She continued to speak and Onumph again nodded his head. It was plain that he knew what she meant. But no one else in the room could understand, even her sons and daughter-in-law. She spoke a language which her children did not understand. But "Indian Jim" clearly understood what she said. Grandma Mary Napier Rowe had spoken with the spiritual gift of tongues. Later, "Indian Jim" became a second counselor to Bishop John Spencer of Indianola

Caratat Conderset Rowe died February 10, 1904

Mary Napier Rowe passed away March 4, 1902. She is buried in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery