John Rowberry
John Rowberry was born 16 August 1823, in Bishop's Frome, Herefordshire, England. He embraced the gospel and was baptized 21 June 1840, by Wilford Woodruff. He emigrated with his parents from England on the ship, “Isaac Newton”, in October 1840, with one of the first companies of Saints that came to Nauvoo from England. Both of his parents died while in Nauvoo. He passed through the persecutions and sufferings of the Saints while being driven from that place. Before leaving Nauvoo, he received his blessings and endowments in the Nauvoo Temple, which he had helped build.
He crossed the plains in 1849, in Ezra T. Benson's company. In the fall of that year, her moved to Tooele valley and made his home, together with a few others, in what was then a sagebrush and willow fort. John soon became a prominent citizen of Tooele and held many positions of responsibility both within the Church, where he became a Bishop, and in the civil legislature. His first wife, Hannah Jenkins, died in 1852 after bearing him four children. John then married three more wives. These wives were married in plurality, as was legal at that time in Utah. Between them, these three wives bore him a further 23 children.
He went on a mission to England in 1876, and records in his journal, "We took the train for Malvern, a place of resort for the pleasure seekers and aristocrats of England, claimed to be a healthy retreat, in consequence of its altitude. Through the summer season large concourses of people are seen ascending the heights in various ways, on donkeys, in low-wheeled carts or carriages drawn by them, or in baskets carried on either side of them, a complete outfit, according to fancy being readily procured….the next day we walked 5 miles to Ridgeway Cross, where we held meetings….this being the same place where Brother Woodruff held meetings 37 years ago….We next travelled to Fromes hill and visited the place where I, John Rowberry, was born and where I heard the gospel and was baptised. These circumstances of course make the remembrance of those places dear to me.”
After his return in 1877, he was chosen and set apart as the president of the High Priests' quorum in the Tooele Stake. Shortly thereafter, he was ordained a Patriarch. For several years he represented Tooele County in the legislative assembly of Utah, and was an active advocate for laws and principles that would benefit the people.
In speaking of him at the time of his demise, the "Deseret News" says: "All who knew him, speak well of him as a fatherly and kind Bishop, always on hand to bless and aid the poor, and as the kind and affectionate father of a large family. His sickness was but brief, and he passed away without pain. His faith was steadfast in the truth, and he died in full hope of a glorious resurrection."
He died at his home in Tooele 4 April 1884 – Age 60.