In the year 1864 there lived in Madison County, Illinois, a family by the name of Brough. The father, Thomas, was born in Longton, England, October 22, 1834. His wife, Jane Patterson, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, April 12, 1830.

They had five children. The first child, Thomas, passed away at the age of one month; the next was Martha Jane, William G., Samuel R., Adria E., Mary Ann, and Emily Ellen the baby, who was 3 weeks old at this time.

The parents and two older children had migrated from Longton, England, and had remained in Illinois to make means to come on west, At this particular time, the Civil War between the North and South was raging and the husband did not know but what time he would be drafted for the war. He had previously made up his mind to migrate west with his family. Their facilities for moving were meager, consisting of a lumber wagon, two yoke of oxen, and a cow. The cow was tied behind the wagon.

For the benefit of you who have not seen oxen hitched—up I will explain. The only harness they had was a wooden yoke that was placed on their necks, and bows of wood to encircle their neck and go through the yoke and fasten with a wooden key. There was a ring of iron in the middle of the yoke that fastened them to the end of the wagon tongue. They pulled very heavy loads.

After traveling about five-hundred miles one of their oxen took sick and died and crippled their team and it was impossible for them to travel further. His neighbor, in the company, had a cow about equal in size and strength to his cow and the two were yoked together and used as a team. Then a single yoke was made for the lone ox and he was put on lead where he worked faithfully and well and governed the yoke of cows. The oxen were taught to come to the right when the driver said, "Gee" and to the left when he said, "Haw" and with his whip he made them mind.

One of the cows was a milking cow, and night and morning they milked her. The mother put the milk in a crock jar in the wagon, and the shake of the wagon churned a little pot of butter which the family enjoyed each day. The cow was red—and—white with big horns, and her name was Pede. She lived until she was 25 years old, Baby Emily rode in the wagon across the plains pulled by Pede. When Emily was older she milked Pede many times. The cow was finally traded to an uncle who took her to Randolph, Utah. There came on a hard winter and feed was scarce. In her old age she could not stand these conditions and Pede died leaving her bones to bleach on the Prairie. This was so sad after the faithful labors she had performed. Pede had many calves, some of which grew to oxen, and Samuel R. worked them hauling wood for the family. Such was the history of old Pede.

Now back to the move. The father said they would have to take only those things they needed as there was not enough room in the wagon. They had to sell all their furniture. They had room to pack in their wagon their clothes, some food, and some wheat which they intended to plant when they arrived in the valley. The oldest child was only ten years of age and the youngest three weeks. The mother surely had courage to undertake such a perilous journey with a babe that young. Most of the children had to ride, but the mother and some of the older children walked many a weary mile.

When the mother was packing up her things she looked fondly at the old family clock and said, "Hey, I can't leave my clock!'' Fearing the husband would say there was no room in the wagon she packed it in the bottom of a box of clothes and said nothing to him about it. After arriving, when it what was unpacked he was glad, as it was the only clock in the pioneer settlement.

This family belonged to the Latter-day Saints and at this time the church was persecuted by the world, and even in the state of Illinois there was a bitter feeling against these people. They decided to move out and come west to the Rocky Mountains where they could worship God in peace. There was a company of emigrants, about one hundred wagons, which left Illinois for the west. There was a captain over them, I think his name was Martin. The Brough family traveled in this company.

For eleven dreary weeks this family traveled across the trackless plains, making roads and bridges over which to cross. The mother would cook night and morning for this large family besides taking care of the baby. Their supplies were scant and they suffered the hardships eminent of such a journey. They were frightened several times by bands of Indians, but they were not molested by them.

At last on the 18th of September, 1864, they arrived at a little place called Porterville, in Morgan County. They were travel work and weary after the long journey and were willing to try to rest in any selected spot. They were thankful to God however, that none of their number had lost their lives and all were well and happy. There were only two or three families in this place. They had no home or house to go to. There wagons were their homes and what they had in them was all they possessed in the world. There was no material with which to build a house and it was too late that season to build one, so the husband, full of energy and ambition, dug a hole in the hillside and covered it with brush and dirt and made a comfortable room for the family for the winter.

They had no fuel except green willows they cut along the river bank. They had no flour and there was not a flour mill closer than Ogden, twenty-five miles from there. The winters were so severe and the snow so deep that teams were unable to get through Weber Canyon, so the father fastened the old iron coffee mill on the wall low enough for the children to reach. They took turns grinding wheat and the mother mixed the whole thing for bread. It was truly whole wheat bread.

The family lived in this dugout until the fall of 1865. The husband made adobe and built a small room which the family enjoyed. In 1866 and 1867 the husband made brick, burned them and built two rooms adjoining the adobe one. Thomas was a brickmaker also. These were the first bricks made in Porterville and at this writing, sixty-seven years hence, some of the houses are still standing which were built by these bricks.

After moving into the new house another daughter was born to them, Alice Eliza. The husband took up land in the surrounding country and began to farm. He was a man of sterling integrity, upright and honest with his fellow man. He was bishop of the Porterville ward for many years. He held this position until his death. He was a devoted husband and a kind father. He was taken suddenly ill one Monday with terrible pain in the bowels. He died the following Saturday. We would call it appendicitis today. Those days they called it inflammation of the bowels. I don' t think there was a doctor in that vicinity. Hot fomentations were applied, and all was done that was possible, but he passed away on the 6th of May, 1882. He was in the prime of his life, only fifty-nine years of age.

Before he passed away he called all his children to his bedside and b1essed them one by one like Jacob of old. The writer remembers distinctly her blessing. He told all to be true to the Gospel for it was the "Plan of Salvation." He said, "We fear death but oh how sweet." It is only a change. I will soon take up my labors again. He exhorted all to be honest and never to be found in anything small.

I have seen him sow many an acre of wheat by and then harvest it with a cradle. I have seen a sulky plow, a drill or a harvester, he would hire himself out by the day to cut grain with a cradle. I have seen him cut acres of hay with a scythe. He was a very industrious, hard working man. He was a true Latter-day Saint, never touching liquor or tobacco. He was very strict in having his family keep the Sabbath day holy. Thus a good man passed away mourned by all.

The mother was now left to get along alone. All of the members of her family were married except Emily and Alice who were 16 and 18 years of age. Martha Jane married John Flint of Kaysville, Davis County, thirteen children were born to them. William G. married Emilly J. Cotterell of Farmington, Davis County, seven children were born to them. Samuel married Adeline Cherry of Porterville, eight children were born to them. He latter married Eliza Carter of Porterville, eight children were born to them. Adria married Thomas Rich of Porterville, ten children were born to them. Mary Ann married August E. Rose of Richville, six children were born to them.

Jane Patterson Brough was born of Scottish descent. Her parents were George and Jane Patterson. Her mother died when Jane was 12 years old and as a young girl she made her way over to England, met and married Thomas Brough at Langton, England. After the death of her husband she resigned herself to her position and made the best of it.

She was an ambitious woman and worked hard to keep up her home and support her children. She was a midwife and a successful nurse. She devoted her life to the service of others. Any time day or night that she was called upon she would go, off times through inclement weather and severe storm and cold to wait upon and comfort the sick. She was a noble minded, hospitable woman, believing that it was better to give than to receive. The sick had unwavering faith in her skill and would remark, "If Sister Brough will come I know I will get well." She had unbounding faith in the Priesthood and would call for the Elders before commencing her work. She doctored with simple herbs she grew in her garden. When she was called upon a case she would go to her herb sacks and take a little of this and little of that. She had herbs with which she could break up a fever and some she used for pneumonia and etc. She made a canker medicine from wild grape root, willow bark, honey, garden sage and etc., that excelled any canker medicine that could be bought. The merits of this medicine was known far and wide. The following are the herbs she used: Wormwood, hyssop, catnip, thyme, garden sage, plant leaf, yarrow, dandelion, and wild grape root. She had wonderful faith and scarcely ever lost a patient. She passed through the hardships of early settlement of Porterville. During the grasshopper war I have often heard her say the people were united in their poverty and would share the last crust of bread. She said a wedding dance was held in their little town and they dance until morning on a dirt floor and their refreshments were a potato pie with a bran crust. They had only one fiddler but they danced until morning and were happy and enjoyed themselves. If a family got a sack of flour they would be sure to share it with others.

She practiced midwifery and nursing for twenty-five years among the people. She never thought of reimbursement only that she might help suffering humanity. She would attend a mother and babe nine days for $3 and then take a load of wood, a sack of wheat, or a little pig, anything she could use around the home. Many, many cases she had attended free of charge. The comforting, blessed hours she spent with the sick, no one but her Heavenly Father knows. She needs no slab of granite on her grave, as she lives in the hearts of the people she served so long.

She was a widow twenty-one years and battled with life's problems alone. She used strict economy and everything around her home showed industry. She kept up her home and at her death, she owed no man a cent. With all that any Pioneer woman of the West accomplished in the building of this great state, her efforts and sacrifices will measure full.

With her needle she fashioned clothing for her family. She carded wool, made quilts, rugs, and carpets, knitted stockings, and cured meats, cheese, butter, dried and preserved fruits, and she learned by her industry and economy to prepare and utilize everything so her family might be provided for.

She was perfectly aware of her approaching death, weeks before it came. She settled up her affairs, and had her burial clothes made. She saw, handled, and admired them. She ordered her casket made by a good carpenter, of redwood with silver handles. She wanted her son to bring it home and let her see it but the family thought that was too much and it was not done. She gave full instructions as to her funeral and died within twenty-four hours of the time she set.

She was a diligent temple worker and spent much of the latter years of her life redeeming her dead, and was a faithful Relief Society worker. For days before she died she had her little notions brought to her bed and divided them among her large family, seeing that every little grandchild had something as a keep-sake. She admonished her children to be upright, honorable and faithful during their lives. She herself was a strict observer of God's Commandments. As her children stood around her bed waiting for the end to come she told them that her husband had come to escort her to her haven of rest. Then fell asleep. That sleep that knows no awakening until the resurrection of the just.

She died on the 6th day of August, 1903. She was seventy-three years old. Hers was a peaceful and beautiful death. Her remains rests beside that of her husband on the little grave hill at Porterville, Morgan County, Utah.

The children of these noble ancestors were all faithful Latter-day Saints and have held many prominent positions in the church. William G. was Stake President of the Young Men of the Morgan Stake for many years and was loved and respected by all. He filled a two year mission to the Eastern States. Samuel was a Bishop for over twenty years and was loved and respected by all. He filled a four year mission to Great Britain. He had a large and respected family. Emily presided over the Relief Societies of the North Davis Stake for a period of ten years and filled a two year mission to the Western States. She had not married but has devoted her life to redeeming her dead, and has done much for the redemption of her Father's and Mother's house. The other girls besides raising their families all held positions in their wards. Alice married William Florence of Porterville, and had four children. At the present writing she and her sister Mary Ann have passed away, (six months ago).

The writer thanks God for her noble parentage and the wonderful heritage that has been given her.

WRITTEN BY EMILY ELLEN BROUGH

Sedgwick Research Home Page