This history
like all others is a story of a people seeking a land of freedom. Gideon
Brownell arrived in Farmington some time in early 1848, perhaps left before
Joseph Lee Robinson was first Bishop
he was then called to go and help settle Parawon, he served from 1849
to 1851. Brother Brownell was chosen second Bishop of Cotton-Wood as it
was then called. It was later called Farmington. He and Bishop Robinson
helped the little settlement to build and grow. They had many hardships,
they helped the Pioneers to build, lay-out streets, roads, build school
house, a little store and substitute place for worship. Bishop Brownell's
home was the Rock home where George Papadokis lived, and is still standing.
Gideon Brownell
was born May 5, 1789 a son of Benjamin H. and Mary Ann Danby Ruthland,
Vermont. The mother Mary Ann Russell Brownell father born May 8, 1750
at Dutcher, New York. Gideon married Elizabeth Wheeler, she was born Oct.
16, 1789 Hartsmonth, Bristol Mass. Benjamin was born in New Hampshire.
Gideon and
Mary Ann were blessed with eight children. The history doesn't give an
account of their children except who the eldest daughter Mary Ann, who
was born March 2, 1815, she married Jesse Pearson. They were married in
Nauvoo June 3, 1840. There were no sealings in Nauvoo Temple at that time,
so they were sealed in the Office of President Wilford Woodruff Dec. 26,
1851. After arriving in Utah they were endowed Jan 3, 1846 in Nauvoo.
Gideon had
his first Patriarchal Blessing while living in Nauvoo by William Smith
a kin to the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. He had a second blessing after reaching
Salt Lake City by Joseph Epheram.
In the fall
of 1845 the Brownell family moved to Nauvoo, where Gideon and Father worked
on the Temple. They like all other Pioneers were driven by angry wicked
mobs from there homes, so they all prepared for the long trek across the
Plains.
Brownell
must have been call called by President Brigham Young to go to Cache Valley
to help settle that place. We have no date, but I am sure it was done
after retiring as Bishop from 1855 - to? They built our rock meeting house
1862.
Brother Brownell
died in Logan March 16, 1871 at age of 82. His wife died there also in
1870 at age 81.
Our little
Town had four or five apostles living here at one time also the Budge
Brothers who were sent to Logan they were Doctors.
All the dates
and information I have of Bishop Brownell was given by relatives Clarissa
Clark Issacon from Murray. Thru her we also obtained his picture which
is now placed in that vacant spot we had for a number of years with the
other Bishops of our ward. Gideon Brownell is a Grandfather to Clarissa
C. Isacson, and she is an aunt to Mrs. Gillis who lives here. Justin Clark
who once lived here in Farmington owned land and is the Father of Clarissa
C. Isacson.
Margaret
S. Hess
Historian
DUP
Gideon Brownell Called
as an Elder
TIMES AND SEASONS.
"Truth
will prevail."
Vol.
V. No. 13.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. JULY, 15,1844 [Whole No. 97.
HISTORY
OF JOSEPH SMITH.
(continued.)
April 6th,
1844, afternoon.
The president
arrived at the stand at 1-2 past 2 o'clock, P. M. The choir sung a hymn,
after which prayer by elder J. P. Green, when the choir sung another hymn.
Elder Rigdon resumed his history of the Church of Christ.
(For the
want of room we postpone president Rigdon's remarks for the present.)
The Kalamazoo
conference met at the house of elder Ezekiel Lee, in Comstock, Kalamazoo
county, Michigan, on the first day of June 1844. There were present two
of the quorum of the twelve, viz: W. Woodruff and George A. Smith; three
of the high council, viz:, S. Bent, C. C. Rich and D. Fulmer; five of
the High Priest's quorum, viz: H. Green, Z. Coltrin, Moses Smith, E. Thayer
and G. Coltrin; eight of the seventies, fourteen Elders; two priests,
and one deacon; total 35. Conference was called to order by elder C. C.
Rich; W. Woodruff was called to the chair; C. Dunn and E. M. Webb chosen
clerks.
Conference
was opened by singing and prayer by the president.
The following
branches were then represented:
The Kalamazoo
branch represented 44 members, six elders, one priest and one deacon.
Grand prairie
branch represented eight members, one elder.
Otsego branch
represented 6 members, one elder, two priests and one teacher.
Pawpaw branch
represented eight members, three elders.
Albion branch
represented 26 members, two elders, one priest and one deacon.
Florence
branch represented 10 members, one elder.
Motville
branch represented 7 members, one elder.
Scattering
members, 10.
Total 126
members, 15 elders, four priests, one teacher and two deacons.
It was moved
and carried that Gideon Brownell, Jonathan Willard and Charles Lee, be
ordained elders.
Also Seth
Tuft, to the office of a priest.
Also W. Tyrril,
to the office of a teacher.
The above
named persons were then ordained under the hands of elders S. Bent, Z.
Coltrin and D. Fulmer.
It was moved
and carried that we sustain elders
