Chapter X Additional responsibility was given to me on this occasion being elected Justice of the Peace, Supt. of Sunday School, and President of Mutual Improvement Association and the Lord was my helper in giving me much joy in my labors and we resolved to devote our best efforts to the accomplishment of every good that might be presented. The hymn “Our life as a dream our time as a stream glides swiftly away,” more of a reality than we ever realized before. The good impressions implanted upon the minds of the youth during that season I trust may never be forgotten by those who participated although I did not fully realize until later that I had not given my own children attention I had to others which was demonstrated later when they did not reach the standard of education necessary for their advancement. It had been my aim to be just to all and partial to none which I believe was accredited to me by all my pupils so that it could not be said that I had given most attention to my own children.
Time glided swiftly along and many changes must of necessity occur for nothing remains stationary and on the fourth of July a change was awaiting us which was entirely unlooked for. My choir did themselves grand with the parts rendered. Bishop Joseph S. Huntsman of the Gunlock Ward was so favorably impressed that he gave us a pressing invitation to give his Ward “Our Best” as he termed it on the 24th of July. This we did and had a very enjoyable time with the few Saints there.
Gunlock appeared to be a war-like name and aroused my curiosity and upon inquiring I teamed that Apostle George A. Smith so named it as a kind of memento of events connected with William Hamblin and pioneer life. Being only about three thousand feet above sea level the climate was rather warm but not barren by any means in the town proper it having an abundance of fruit of all kinds which appeared quite a luxury in those days to us. Being so favorably impressed I accepted the request to go and teach their school the following winter which appeared quite agreeable to all concerned. Thus another change which culminated in our removal to Dixie as the southern district of Utah was known and properly so I presume for it was Southern. Here I found another field of usefulness for musical talent and teaching school and other duties connected with the ward which we enjoyed very much during the mild winter months. The greatest change was early in the new year when Bishop Huntsman made the following proposition to me. Brother Bowler I am going to move away and I want you to buy me out, so strange was this sudden announcement that at the moment I did not take it very seriously but upon his repeating those same words I realized that he was in earnest. I therefore purchased his whole interest in Gunlock for it was then made plain to me that this was my sphere of action. Franklin 0. Holt was sustained Bishop with William Jones and myself counselors and by Apostle Erastus Snow. During the five years following I taught school alternately in Gunlock and Hebron in which capacity I enjoyed the confidence and consideration of a number of the best people it was my pleasure to associate with anywhere.
We were busy during the growing season in field and garden with fruitful orchard and vineyard there being abundance of peaches. It was customary to have bees to spread the peaches out to dry, after they were cut open. these being placed on a temporary scaffold. I may add to throw them at each other was also customary. This with other social amusement characterized the mode of living in those primitive days when money was scarce and willing hands were ready to join in some kind of mutual entertainment. The first and last crop of cotton we raised was a reminder of those cruel slavery days, they used to sing about and “they never did come again” but that everlasting picking for which we received nine cents a pound. I always had Christmas holidays with my family and on one of those occasions I did not know but that would be the last in this world, it was the thirty-first of December, and I had promised to celebrate New Years day with my school in Hebron but being detained rather late with our neighbors I urged my horse on the way to find while passing through the Mountain Meadow settlement that he showed signs of lameness. There was fifteen miles further to go and my promise appeared vividly before my mind so I must be patient and give my horse plenty of time and when at Holt’s Ranch twelve miles yet to go I passed the mail carrier, Benjamin Knell Jr., who told me to stay right there that night for in half an hour it would be black as h---. His words proved true for a blacker night I never saw when I reached the open desert and the rain came also with an occasional streak of lightening and my horse refused to stay in the road but I thought I could coax him to go through all right. That horse taught me one of the most potent lessons by telling me plainly as he knew how that “that night cometh when none should work.” The first I discovered in the darkness was that I was among the tall sage bush, which side of the road I did not know. Matches were of no use but I was well protected from the strong storm with overcoat, chaps and top boots but although thus heavily loaded when I found the road I concluded that the safest plan for me was to walk if only I could endure to the end, or reach Brother Taylor’s home at the mouth of the canyon about six miles further. I had heard it said that such is life in the far west and they had rightly named it, for so it appeared to me that night or until morning I assure you.
Early next morning Bishop Terry came along and anxiously inquired for me and in an excited manner stated that when he stopped at Holt’s Ranch and heard that I had gone he just pictured me in just the condition I really was, as related. Now, just listen, he drove on and I saddled my horse and followed him to see his buggy turned over and him not in sight, was he dead was my first thought. No for at that moment he crawled from under side and although slightly bruised he was able with my help to straighten things out and we went home. The next year I taught school again in Hebron but decided to try a different mode of travel when going home for Christmas so although I hired the same horse I harnessed him to a two wheeled cart but the traitor tried his best when near Cane Spring to upset the whole business and would have succeeded had I not been too quick for him and keeping a tight line. He did turn the cart over and then looked to see if I was there. My readers may think these experiences were funny and I believe the horse may have had that same thought but I did not enjoy the joke as fully then as while relating these incidents briefly to you. I will pass along however not entering too lengthy in detail and state here that the following summer was agreeably spent at home and again I was requested to teach school in Gunlock which proved very satisfactory to all concerned. I was elected Justice of the Peace and the first case that came before me was of rather exciting nature, a complaint was entered that a sheepherder had pointed a gun at one of our respected citizens and a warrant of arrest was issued. At the preliminary hearing the evidence faltered with reference to the gun other than in self defence and the case was dismissed. And there was but little need for officers of the law in those primitive days. The same regime was observed in our amusements, only one round dance, or waltz and our social gatherings were of the most agreeable nature, to be found anywhere.
By adapting ourselves to the various conditions we became acquainted with the customs of the comparatively new country and the song we sang in days gone by “some day I’ll wander back again to where the old stands” had to some extent lost its charm. My school season dawned auspiciously and proved to be one of the most enjoyable occasions I ever had in that vocation, at the close of which I took the Mail contract from St. George to Pine Valley, forty-two miles and back the next day except Sunday on horse back. This was tedious in the summer and disagreeable in winter when the snow was deep my boys assumed the responsibility while I was in school and performed their duty faithfully. Not being accustomed to riding in the saddle and especially on such rough roads forty-two miles each day, this occupation was quite unpleasant for me. By the request of our neighbors I promised to return in the night to celebrate on Independence day. Postmaster Pymn in St. George granted me this privilege by handing me the return mail at nine p.m. on the third day. I started for Gunlock but my horse was tired as myself and played a trick on me by going to the field instead of the Santa Clara Post Office, this in the darkness took me by surprise but he tried the same trick again on the trip home. Day dawned ere I reached tired and sleepy but the captain of artillery was just firing his first salute which was a signal for all to keep awake, at least till his ammunition was exhausted. Forty-two mile ride was having its effect on me and sleep I must for an hour or two before I could take my part in the program so with my dear wife on guard I had brief repose. On those occasions, in small settlements we had to all take part which we certainly did in one way or other, the fiddler and a few heels on the boots doing their share. It not being customary in England to attend dance halls we had not learned to Balance all etc., but we did now enjoy looking at the children go through the several evolutions in such graceful form and dignified deportment.
Shortly after I was called to witness the first death in our family connections in Utah, returning to St. George my last trip for the week on Saturday evening a telegram was handed to me from our daughter Ann Elizabeth in Hebron stating that their little James was very ill would I come at once. Come, of course although after riding two-hundred-fifty-two miles that week in the saddle I was quite in need of rest on the Sabbath. My horse again tried to trick me but I was on the alert and made fairly good time to Gunlock where Bishop F. 0. Holt kindly loaned his buggy and we arrived in Hebron about three p.m. to find the child past human aid. All had been done that could be and he passed to the home of eternal light the next morning while my hands were on his head in answer to my prayer that our heavenly father would set his spirit free. We did not remain long in Gunlock after the Mail contract was completed but those five years had been quite pleasantly spent and the new change altogether unsought presented itself. I might here mention an incident that occurred previous to this however, while teaching school in Hebron. I hired a horse one Saturday intending to go home and return on Sunday apparently forgetting a rule I had strictly observed from my youth. All appeared favorable however until I reached the desert and it was then I was made to realize my condition as snow began to fall in large flakes before I reached Spring Creek it was a blizzard. During that night a flood came rushing down near the room I slept in and at intervals it sounded as though the world was falling to pieces. Myself going to fall in the whirl pool and after a sleepless night I started for Hebron not knowing the danger ahead of me. While trying to cross the old torrent my horse absolutely refused to go until I crowded him so closely that he fell in and I had to roll off or be drowned and he also. We scrambled out separately and so remained the remainder of the journey and I said as I had often avowed before that Sabbath breaking is risky business.
Our boys had been investing in cattle and concluded that Gunlock was not quite suitable for that industry and finally persuaded me to trade our home to John F. Laub for his in Hebron and we for the fourth and final time moved back to the old stomping ground. Again I was appointed Justice of the Peace, taught school once more and made myself useful in every way during that winter. In June following at the general roundup or public drive when trying to prevent a stampede a heavy log fell on my foot and mashed my big toe to a pulp. In that condition Merkens Terry insisted on me taking himself and daughter and her babe to Milford and although I remonstrated I could not pacify him so lame as I was I started on the one-hundred mile journey and camped at the old rendezvous Antelope Spring. We started in the morning in a cloud of dust so dense it was that I missed the direct road and went around by Rush Lake where we arrived at midnight where with much pleading the mother and babe were admitted to the home, but Brother Terry and I found quarters in the wagon. While going down the canyon the next morning off came one of the tires to the dismay of my company they having been accustomed to city life they felt that all was lost for it was about so rough a road, it could not be called a road. This is the colloquy that followed: “Brother Terry please hand me that tin plate from the dinner box,” “Wha--wha-- what are you going to do what wha--wha--,” “And those scissors too,” “Wha--wha-- do you want them for.” I cut the plate into shreds and we fastened the tire on and without further trouble arrived at Minersville for noon with a lame horse and I thought a new shoe was needed so I asked a boy standing by the low house to loan me a hammer and pincers and he proceeded to do the job himself but the first nail he drove to the head and when he pulled it out blood followed. The result was that my horse was so lame that we did not reach Milford in time for the train and no trains running on Sunday we had to wait until Monday. We stayed with an English man named Hardy, not the Hardy of former acquaintance but a machine agent and shoe maker and I purchased some things necessary for my home work, and trade. On the train was Apostle Francis M. Lyman one of the dearest friends I ever met both in England and also in Zion who took charge of Brother Terry, daughter and babe. With God bless you Brother Bowler the train proceeded to Salt Lake City.
Alone I started for home with a lame horse but no load excepting feed for my team and myself but I would not care to duplicate that journey and what followed. Poor old Bally faithful animal though he was doing his best but it was painful to see him limp along and I helped him all I could by alternating the shoes by tacking them on and then taking them off. The first night I camped by the hot spring and the next night I met a drove of cattle which blocked the road so long that I had to make a dry camp, there I had a dream in which I saw a man shot, that man was shot to be sure but by his own hand. When I reached Antelope Spring I tore a pair of overalls in two and soaked it good to keep the dirt from the horses foot and thus I traveled to Pinto Canyon that day. My feed being gone I turned my team loose on the desert knowing they could not wander far away. About midnight I was awakened by Henry Holt and Sarah Canfield on their way to investigate the report of the death of Moroni Canfield which proved to be too true. I doubt if ever home sweet home was sung with more vim than on my late arrival on the 9th after leaving just in time to celebrate the glorious fourth of July which we did in right good Yankee fashion.
The 24th or pioneer day was rather quietly observed because of several being from home and a case of sickness that took the attention of most of those present. In August it was reported to me that two men, strangers had killed a cow belonging to Henry Barnum and a warrant of arrest was issued for their arrest returnable at 10 a.m. the day following. Those men being well armed it was arranged to take them by surprise at early dawn which was done in true western style and their guns were of but little use to them. Court convened at once and they were proven guilty and sent to the District Court but through some misunderstanding they returned stating they had a choice of two things to stay or leave the state at once they chose the latter and did it quickly. I had risked my life once with them in the following manner, on the night they were held in our back room they soon appeared to be sound asleep and there being a dance in the school house opposite I was left alone with the prisoners but they soon came between me and their guns. I did not appear to notice their actions and just as the opportunity presented itself the constable appeared and intercepted their movements and a guard was placed over them until morning.