Eleanor McGarry Bowen

Eleanor Ellen McGary was born on 19 October 1836 in Markham, York, Ontario, Canada to Charles James and Charlotte Elizabeth Earl McGary. She was the third of seven children, four girls and three boys. Her father Charles James was born on 5 February 1808 in York, Toronto, Ontario. Canada. He married Charlotte Elizabeth Earl on 24 January 1833 in Home Township, Algoma,Ontario, Canada at the age of 24. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 10 October 1840 at the age of 32. Her mother Charlotte Elizabeth Earl was born on 20 February 1816 in Saint John, St. John,New Brunswick, Canada to William Henry and Sarah Ferdon Syphers Earl.She married Charles James McGary on 24 January 1833 in Home Township,Algoma, Ontario,Canada at the age of 16. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1836 in Scarborough,Ken, Ontario,Canada by John P. Green. It is not known for sure when the first McGarys moved to Canada or why they were living there. In 1783, after the American Revolution,thousands of loyalists to the United Empire (England) left the United States and settled in St. John and surrounding areas of Canada. Also at this time, many people left New England and settled in upper Canada for the richer farm lands found there. It is possible that the McGarys and the Earls migrate d to Canada with one of these groups. They were living in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois from 1839 through 1846. When the persecutions got so bad, the saints were driven from Nauvoo and they made their way to Winter Quarter, Douglas, Nebraska. A story was handed down in the family of the faithfulness of Charlotte’s father William Earl. It bears repeating in this history, so it is quoted: “The Prophet Joseph Smith called a meeting of all the Priesthood to come to the Nauvoo Temple to a special meeting. After prayer Joseph arose and said, "Brethren,I suppose that you are surprised and want to know why I have called this meeting. It is for a very special purpose. I need $500.00 to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon and I have no part of that amount." A hush came over the audience and no one seemed to have anything to say. Her father William Earl, was seated in the back of the room. After a moment or two he arose, held up his hand and said, "I have it,Prophet Joseph, I have just sold property for that amount."He walked up the isle to the pulpit and handed Joseph the$500.00--all the money that he had in the world. Joseph accepted the money. He was so touched that tears came to his eyes. They both stood there speechless. Finally, thinking he had done all he could, Grandpa Earl turned to walk back to his seat. He got only a few steps when Joseph said, "Brother Earl,comeback,come back." Grandpa turned and walked back. Joseph reached for a chair nearby and sat it down in front of him and said,"Brother Earl, sit down here." Grandpa sat down on the chair and Joseph laid his hands upon his head and gave him a blessing, which was so impressive that Grandpa said he never forgot it. (It is unfortunate that we do not have this blessing in written form. It has been passed down to Hubert through his father and his grandmother. It is given here as taken from a tape recording by Hubert Bowen, and transcribed there from by F. J. Earl.) "Brother Earl, in the name of Israel's God and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood which I hold I lay my hands upon your head and give you a blessing." He blessed him for giving all that he had to the Church for the printing of the Book of Mormon and said, "For your great gift you shall be blessed with every blessing you desire in righteousness. I bless you that you shall never want for the comforts of life as long as you live, and I bless you that your flocks and herds shall increase. I bless you that none of your family shall leave the Church. I bless you with health in your body, that no disease shall ever have power over you. You shall be able to minister unto the sick, and you shall live as long as you desire. When the time comes for your passing, It shall be sweet, and you shall never know the sorrow or the pains of death. For you shall go as in the twinkling of an eye. I bless you, Brother Earl, that you shall live to do much good in this world, and that you shall live to see the fifth generation of your posterity before you are called home."He lived to see all of that happen and was so blessed because of his sacrifice. Charlotte and Charles James came to the Utah Territory with the David Evans Company in 1850 also. Charles James was 42; Charlotte was 34; Ellen was 13;Sarah was 8; James was 7; and Eliza Melissa was 2. They departed on 15 June 1850 with 114 individuals and 54 wagons in the company which began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville,Iowa(present day Council Bluffs). They had many terrible storms along the Platte River. After they had passed South Pass, they were able to dance at night and enjoy themselves a little more because they were away from their enemies and closer to Salt Lake City. They arrived in the valley 17 September 1850. Eleanor Ellen was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 25 October 1849at the age of 13. She married Cacey Potter Bowen on 25 July 1851 in Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory at the age of 14. They received their endowments and were sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory when she was 21. Cacey Potter was born on 13 December 1830 in Shaftsbury, Bennington,Vermont to Elias and Cynthia Harrington Bowen. He wasthe oldest of five children, one girl and four boys. His father was baptized into the Church in October 1830 when the Church was just six months old. His mother was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1831. They moved to Ohio sometime between 1834 and 1837 and were about nine miles south of the Kirtland Temple. They were driven out of Ohio in 1838 and went to Missouri in the summer of 1838. Their son Norman had been born blind. Brigham Young met the family and commented on what a handsome boy he was, but wondered what was wrong with his eyes. He gave him a blessing and he was able to see. His father Elias helped with the building of the Nauvoo Temple. After the saints were driven out they started to head west but Elias got sick. They were forced to stay behind. He in all appearances look like he had passed away. The boys were preparing a grave for hi and he opened his eyes, bore his testimony about the Church being true. He urged his wife to continue on west and stay with the body of the saints. He then died and was buried in the desert about 12 miles west of St. Joseph, Missouri. His mother got employment cooking for ranch hands and the two older boys worked at various jobs. They worked there for two years when a company of saints were ready to come west. The rancher for whom she had been working gave her the money that she would need to make it across the plains. They came to Great Salt Lake City, Deseret with the Silas Richards Company in 1849. Cacey was 18; Jonathan Slocum was 15; Joseph Leonard was 12;Norman was 11 and Rhoda was 9. His mother met Francillo Durgey and married him. She was 37 and he was 37. They departed on 10 July 1849 with 246 individuals and about 100 wagons inthe company which began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iwaa (present day Council Bluffs). While they were passing through the Rockies they had severe snow storms and many cattle perished. Some places the snow had drifted as high as the bed of the wagon. Many of the wagons had to be dug out of the snow. They arrived in the Salt Lake valley 25 through 29 October 1849. His family settled in Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory where he, as a young man, helped in the construction of Farr’s Fort and Mound Fort to protect the settlers from the Indians. They went south with the saints in 1858 when Johnston’s Army was approaching Utah Territory. When they moved back, they went to Cache Valley. Cacey was one of the 50 minute men charged with protecting the saints there. Eleanor Ellen and Cacey had thirteen children, ten girls and three boys. They first lived in Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory where the first four were born. Charlotte Elizabeth was born on 19 February 1852; Cynthia Ellen was born on 1 September 1854; Sarah Zelphia was born on 29 November 1856; and Cacey Potter Jr. was born on 24 October 1858. They moved to Providence, Cache, Utah Territory where the next four children were born. They settled by Spring Creek which it was called before being changed to Providence. Melissa Jane was born on 24 December 1860; Charles McGary was born on 10 February 1863; Lillian May was born on 8 April 1865; and Rhoda Belle was born on 22 February 1867. They moved to Beaver Dam., Box Elder, Utah Territory to raise cattle. The rest of the children were born there. Mary Ann was born on 2 December 1870 and Louisa was born on 22 May 1874. They both died ata young age. William Orson was born on 4 August 1874 and died on 23 November 1887 at age 13. Nellie Myrtle was born on 10 March 1877,and Edith Ivy was born on 22 September 1879. Eleanor Ellen died on 9 October 1890 in Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah Territory at the age of 53. She was buried on 11 October 1890 in the Deweyville Cemetery, Deweyville, Box Elder, Utah Territory. Their youngest child was nine years old. Cacey did not remarry but kept the home with the help of his daughters. He died on 21 January 1902 in Ogden, Weber, Utah at the age of 71. He was buried on 24 January 1902 in the Deweyville Cemetery, Deweyville,Box Elder, Utah.