Chapter VIII Why they named the city Cedar was more than I could understand, a quaint old town appeared to me more suitable, but the Cedar part was true to nature all right as there was an abundance of that growth of tree visible in all directions. To be sure everything and everybody was strange to me but I soon discovered that there was an enterprising people, a whole community awaiting the time and opportunity for further development that was sure to follow. Arrangements for employment were agreeable and I was to have a room and board with Sister Haight but I must wait a few days for a bench and a few fixtures to be made suitable for my workshop and Bishop Terry returned home leaving me one of the loneliest mortals this side of the promised land, or paradise.
I learned that Parowan was only about twenty miles further on the road and that gave me what I considered a favorable opportunity to visit my old time neighbor Caleb Orton who I heard resided there. I hired a horse and, “Oh, my that ride,” hours in the saddle for although the road was fairly good the journey was experience although, altogether new to me so that when I did arrive I was quite easily induced to rest for a few days. Brother Orton I found in sorrow as his dear wife had passed to the great beyond recently so our time was spent principally in talking over events of our past life not forgetting the object of our coming to Zion as we always termed coming to Utah. I stayed in Parowan three days but did not make many new acquaintances other than the Orton families, there being four branches residing there, brothers and cousins. Upon my return, again, that ride! And I will here state that about half way I met an Indian, real live one and to make me realize that he knew I was trying to get out of his way, which I certainly was, he crossed the road in front of me but just at that we spied a coyote and he chased after it while I rode on as though quite unconcerned. But I surely was watchful if not fearful that day. Yes upon my return I was agreeably surprised to find that Bishop Arthur had made all necessary arrangements for me to commence business in connection with the Co-op Store and Tannery. The next day being Sunday I enjoyed a much needed rest. On Monday morning I was quite busy in my small room and being supplied with necessary material I felt more at home soon had orders for boots and shoes and repairs of various kinds. Bishop Arthur proved himself to be a genuine friend to me a stranger and I shall always remember him as such for when an offer was made to me to take a neat little home if my family would come and reside there he encouraged me with promises of assistance if needed. For three months I enjoyed the pure mountain breeze, the quiet surroundings and the confidence of the people, but sickness in my family called me home before final arrangements could be made for us to make our permanent home in Cedar City. Good Sister Haight had been like a mother to me. Bishop Lunt, Henry Leigh and Joseph Coslet also were as brothers during my brief stay and when I had to leave I could hear them remark, Brother Bowler we had contemplated having you stay and make your home here but as sickness has intervened we hope you may be permitted to return in the near future. Before leaving however I was called in consultation with the leading authorities and the proposition they laid before me was I might take sufficient leather and other material to work up and pay them in boots and shoes as I had been doing. Very different this from those false predictions of those apostates in Council Bluffs and thousands of other people that I had heard tell of the terrible condition that prevailed in Utah and how a stranger was mistreated and robbed.
When my son arrived with the wagon three hundred dollars worth of material was loaded and God bless you Brother Bowler was the parting expression from all present. Words that have found lodgement in my very soul. I hastened homeward only stopping to feed the team and take a short rest as at times they appeared tired. Upon our arrival I found my dear wife somewhat improved in health and delighted to see me looking so well, that was a hearty reception to be sure and upon telling my family of the kind treatment I had received while in Cedar City we all rejoiced exceedingly to realize that such good noble minded people were to be met with.
Needless to state that I was soon engaged in cutting and arranging boots and shoes uppers for goods to be sent to Cedar City as per agreement and although rather cramped for room in the carpenter shop of Brother Don G. Robbins I was progressing fairly well for about a month when the greatest disaster of my life occurred. Early one Sunday morning I was startled by the cry of fire , fire, and discovered the shop in flames with no water at hand so that although every man in town was soon there to render assistance nothing could be done to save anything at all. Never can I forget that Sabbath morning. My tools were gone and also the material brought from Cedar City which fairly left me as it appeared helpless in a strange country, nothing was left that I could use or make use of, all was destroyed both mine and that of Brother Robbins. If ever I felt discouraged it was then and I felt as though I should lose my senses. Oh, my poor head seemed to burst as the sight of all future prospects seemed to fade and I shed bitter tears before relief came. Though one hundred miles from the railroad and fifty miles from Saint George there was a telegraph station in Hebron, Brother Daniel Tyler in charge and the news was spread far and wide. Here again I had the pleasure of learning that I was not entirely left or forgotten when help was needed for our dear old friends, Apostle F. M. Lyman, in Salt Lake City, Bishop George L. Farrell in Smithfield, William Ashworth, superintendant of the Beaver factory and other well known brethren read the news and proved themselves true brothers in very deed. This was a source of much encouragement to realize that I was associated with such noble minded people far and near and proved conclusively that the members of our church are far above the estimate placed upon people called Mormons by the world in general. A better lesson could not have been given to my family in their youth to show them where “True christians live, and know what souls are worth,” even in that isolated condition. I was engaged to teach school that winter and I here state truthfully that as a family we appreciated the fact of being connected with a band of true worshipers of the God of our salvation enjoying the spirit of the true and everlasting gospel revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
The confidence reposed in me by the parents and the love shown by the children in school, music class Sunday School and Mutual Improvement Association was to me a greater joy than anything on earth could have been in any other position. Thus we find that mans extremity is Gods opportunity, and the promise although a test and it certainly had been a test had the desired effect of knitting us more closely together in the bonds of brotherly love and fellowship thankful to our heavenly father for his love and mercy shown on that occasion, as on others also. We received hopeful encouragement from Cedar City which was to us more than words can express because we had been troubled in mind to know how we could meet our obligation there, more anon. The Christmas holiday was enjoyed much as usual, considerable call for musical talent as the school children were advancing in that art very nicely and enjoyed taking an active part to the delight of all concerned. Our boy George Hebron was now a year old and a fine promising child to be sure, pet of the home to be sure, and all our family enjoying the best of health made it plain that, there is joy in every sound when there’s love at home. Thus the winter of 1881-82 passed very agreeably along. Something useful, helpful in many ways every day so that we became more and more reconciled and accustomed to the new conditions by which we were surrounded and we so reported to our relations and friends in England and other places. As spring approached we began to consider what would be best for us to do as my tools were burned and none to replace them in that out of the way place and being convinced that I could not adapt myself to farming or looking after cattle as the men did there so we finally agreed that I had better write to Brother William Hardy of whom I have written as the man who at least partly learned me my trade in England and now resided in Salt Lake City. We received a favorable reply to my letter and when school closed we began to make necessary preparations for our journey and as Sister Pulsipher wished to care for three of our children, Harry, Ann Elizabeth, and Florence Matilda we agreed that they should stay until a suitable home could be procured for them with us.
Brother John and George Laub were preparing to go to Milford and having no conveyance of our own we gladly accepted their offer to go with them and a parting that was to be sure with our children and the school children and our dear friends and neighbors. The hundred miles across the desert did not then appear quite as strange as when we first made the trip nor was it under as favorable conditions, especially with my dear wife, it being spring time instead of November so we made good time arriving at Antelope Spring about dark. The first night we spread our quilts, had a cold bite and retired. But not to a quiet sleep because just as I was dozing with my head close to our “grub box” something tried to raise the lid. This appeared to be more sociable than welcome and I sat and watched a while not caring to tell anyone of our hungry visitor. I don’t know how long we must have slept when the same howling as on the first trip bid sleep be gone, for the present at least. We lay and talked over the difference between our bed chamber there and those in England.
Brother John and George Laub were two of the most sociable men we had the pleasure of traveling with and we were happy to reach Milford in good time feeling very thankful for the good health and many blessings enjoyed since last we saw the railroad. Only eight in number now we found accomodation a little more handy but our thoughts were almost constantly reverting back to those we had left behind, not doubting for one moment that they were in good care with the good people in Hebron. Morning dawned rather cloudy and after a hasty meal we felt prepared to continue our journey with hopes as firm as the hills around us for our future. With a hearty handshake and God bless you Brother and Sister Bowler we parted from those two good brethren and entered the train then nearly ready to take us to the city of the Saints, as Salt Lake City was known by a good many at that time.