Orson Pratt Brown - Martha Diana Romney

Introduction
Caroline "Carrie" Lambourne Romney was born May 14, 1846, at Chievely, Berkshire, England. She was the second daughter born to William Lambourne and Diana Simms Lambourne. She had one sister Isabella Ann Lambourne born April 13, 1845 and a brother, William Lambourne born April 26, 1844 in Chievely, Berkshire, England. He died in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 12, 1915 at the age of seventy-one. William married Martha Wernham and they had ten children. The family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England in the year 1853, when the spirit of gathering came overthem. As soon as they could save sufficient means they embarked for America.

Ancestral Heritage
Carrie's father, William Lambourne, was born February 17, 1823 in Chievely, Berkshire, England. He joined the church in England and was baptized in October 1853. He received his endowments in February 29, 1868 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. William died in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 3, 1887 at the age of sixty-four. His parents were William Lambourne christened December 6, 1801 in Chievely, Berkshire, England and Rachel Bryant born October 22, 1802 in Chievely Berkshire, England.

Carrie's mother, Diana Simms, was born April 19, 1809 in Chievely, Berkshire, England. She joined the church with her husband in October 1853 in England. Leaving England they made there home in St. Louis, Missouri before coming to the Salt Lake Valley. She received her endowments in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on February 29, 1868. She died in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 11, 1894, just prior to her 85^th birthday. Her parents were Jonathan Simms born about 1783 in England and Martha Wernham born about 1787.

Arriving in America
Carrie's family made their home in St. Louis after arriving in America. In 1866, in the company of John D. Holladay, the family was on their way to the Salt Lake Valley. At this time the Lambourne family consisted of the parents and seven children. In the company were 350 emigrants, eight of whom died on the way to the Valley of Salt Lake. It was reported that on the way the company was attached by a band of Sioux Indians while making its way along the banks of the LaBonte River. Two girls had dropped behind the caravan a short distance when the savages rushed upon them, seized one of the girls and carried her away, never more to be seen by her relatives and friends. The girl who made her escape was Carrie Lambourne the mother of Martha Dianna Romney, the first wife of O.P. Brown.

Carrie's Marriage to Miles P. Romney
Miles P. Romney was born August 18 1843 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois to Miles Romney and Elizabeth Gaskell. Miles was born July 13, 1806 in Dalton-In-Furness, Lancaster, England. He died in St. George, Utah on May 3, 1877. Miles was a master builder having worked on the Nauvoo Temple, built the staircase in the St. George Tabernacle and did work on the Brigham Young home in St. George. He died as a result of a fall while working on the St. George Temple. Elizabeth was born January 8, 1809 in Dalton-In-Furness, Lancaster, England. She died October 11, 1884 in St. George, Utah.

After Elder Miles P. Romney returned from his mission in England he built a home in the Seventeenth Ward in Salt Lake City, Utah. Scarcely had it been completed when he, at the request of President Brigham Young, was to take a second wife. The marriage occurred in March 23, 1867, and the bride was Carrie Lambourne, a very beautiful young woman.

Nothing short of a firm belief in the divine origin of the Revelation of plural marriage could have induced Miles to take a second wife, and certain it is that Hannah (Hannah Hood Hill) the first wife of Miles, would never have permitted such a heart-breaking thing to come into her life had it not been for the testimony she had of the divinity of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Leaving for St. George, Utah
During the time the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City was under construction, at the General Conference in October 1867, Miles P. Romney along with 157 heads of other families were asked by President Young to remove their families to the Southland for the purpose of strengthening the settlements on the Muddy River in what is now southeastern Nevada. The Miles P. Romney family, along with a few others, was asked to make their home in St. George to assist in building the tabernacle, which had been in the course of construction.

In St. George, Utah two beautiful children were born to Miles and Carrie. William George Romney born February 14, 1868 and Martha Dianna Romney born February 25, 1870.

The trials incident to plural marriage and hardships encountered while in St. George proved to be too great for Carrie and after the birth of her two children, she left her husband and returned to Salt Lake City to make her home. She later married a man by the name of Abraham Meackin by whom she had five children. Upon her death on September 11, 1879, her two children, William George age eleven and Martha Diana age nine, were returned to St. George to live with their father and the family of Hannah Hood Hill Romney. It was said by Hannah that Martha "Mattie" was a dutiful and obedient child ever willing to do her share of the work about the home.

St. Johns Arizona Miles P. Romney again was on the move. In 1881 he received a call from the Presidency of the Church to leave his home in St. George to settle in St. Johns, Arizona. Miles, with his third wife Catherine Jane Cottom, her five children along with William G., a son of Carrie, and two of Hannah's children, Miles and Minnie went with him. Later, Hannah and the rest of her children were to arrive in St. Johns. In 1884, Miles P. Romney returned to St. George with his plural wives leaving only Hannah and her children, along with William and Mattie, in St. Johns until other arrangements could be made for them

When Mattie was twelve years old she went to stay with Catherine, one of her fathers other wives, in St. Johns, Arizona, 20 July 1882.

Living in Mexico
In 1885, Miles, along with his 4^th wife Annie Maria Woodbury and her three children, left for Mexico. It was in 1886 that father Romney sent his sons, Will and Miles, with a team and wagon back to St. Johns to bring his wife Hannah, her children and Mattie to Mexico. The account of the journey of this brave woman and her family from Arizona to Mexico over bad roads and through an Indian country much of the way is touching in the extreme and reveals a heroism sublime.

The family had expected to travel with the Skousen family, but when it came time to begin the journey, Hannah learned to her great disappointment, that the Skousen's were not ready to leave and so it became necessary for her to go the entire distance alone. When arriving in Nutrioso she was advised not to make the trip alone as Geromino, the Apache chief, and his band were on the warpath and they would be in danger of losing their lives. Hannah replied that she would put her trust in her Heavenly Father and she felt certain that He would protect them on their journey.

At Nutrioso, Will, Mattie's brother, obtained employment and stayed, leaving Hannah and her children to complete the journey alone. The night after they left they were caught in a heavy snowstorm, which terminated in a blizzard that chilled them to the marrow. Quilts were wrapped around the younger children to keep them warm. Hannah and the older boys walked to keep from freezing. When the family arose from their beds in the morning they found icicles clinging to the water barrel a foot long but the freezing weather, Hannah declared, did not discourage her.

Apache Hill was so steep that it became necessary to fasten trees to the back of the wagons to keep them from running over the horses. The descent was made without accident. At one point in the journey they saw three dead horses lying by the roadside and learned that the Indians had killed them and their riders a few days before. The Romney boys, Miles Romney and Gaskell Romney, removed the shoes from the feet of the dead horses and nailed them to the hoofs of their own animals that had become tender from traveling.

It was a happy family when the journey ended. Their husband and father, Miles P. Romney, met them. The shelter Miles had prepared for them was a stockade building made of adobe, mud roof and dirt floor. Hannah said, "I was thankful for it, as my dear children and I would be with their father and we could live in peace with no marshals to molest us or separate us again." August 14, 1887, Juarez, near Casa Grande, Chihuahua, Mexico, Mattie now seventeen, went to a dance with cousins. Mattie said, "My brother Will, now nineteen, is determined to leave Mexico and return to Salt Lake City. Father tried in vain to talk Will into staying, however, decided it was best as he was not content here. Father and Gaskell killed two deer today. They had a good hunt."

Mattie married Orson Pratt Brown on October 10, 1887. This was the first marriage to take place in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Shortly, thereafter, Orson was made a rural police officer to catch cattle and horse thieves.

Later Years – Memories by Gaylen W. Brown, grandson
Mattie lived in an apartment on North Temple for a number of years. She was an avid reader and whenever we went to visit her a book would be opened alongside her rocking chair. Her apartment was always immaculate.

Whenever she went shopping, visiting or just taking a walk she always wore a hat. She was a quiet woman and always smiled. Never did I hear her raise her voice in anger. She was the most patient woman I have ever known. She did, however, become angry when her children or grandchildren took the name of the Lord in vain or used any type of swearing or foul jokes. She could not tolerate lying and a foul mouth was of Satan himself.

She instilled in me a desire to read anything and everything of worth. Books to her were the doors that opened up a vast new world she could only dream about. Reading helped her to pass away the many hours, days, weeks and years of loneliness when her O.P. Brown returned to Mexico leaving her to fend for herself with eight children to feed and cloth. She was a proud woman. Junious Romney and other brothers wanted to help her but she refused their offers and stood steadfast in her belief of making ones own way by the sweat of labor one performed to feed and care for her children.

Mattie made many rugs from rags. They were all colors and shapes. They were very thick and heavy and she made them to last many, many years.

Mattie worked cleaning office buildings for a number of years in Salt Lake. She was able to walk from her apartment, which was great for her because she didn't own a car.

Elaine on occasions would play the accordion for grandma of which she enjoyed immensely. When grandma lived on Princeton Avenue she enjoyed walking down to 9^th east and back until she became too weak to climb the hill. We lived at 1183 Princeton Avenue in Salt Lake City and our house was the 2^nd house going up a very steep hill. Princeton Avenue began at 9^th east and went to 12^th east and was uphill all the way. However, the incline was gradual for one third of the way but steep the two thirds. Junious Romney, Mattie's brother, lived on 12^th East just off Princeton Avenue.

Every evening Ray and I would fill her wood box and her buckets with coal. Then dad would make her a fire before he left for work, as her stove would go out during the night. She lived in the basement, however, the house being on such a steep hill put her apartment entrance on the grand level facing West and we entered the main level from the street side facing south or the north side of Princeton Avenue.

Twice I remember Grandfather Brown visiting Mattie and dropping up to see dad and mom before returning to Mexico. He was an impressive figure of a man, well clothed and walked and spoke with great confidence. Twice is all I ever saw of him. Still they were found memories, which I will always cherish.

Martha Diana Romney Brown died on January 16, 1943 in Salt Lake City and was interred in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Her large family and a host of friends mourned her loss. She loved the gospel and spent her life in service to her Heavenly Father and family. She has been faithful in all things and has endured to the end.

It will be well said of her, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21)

She and Orson had acquired sufficient means to give them a comfortable home and with an income from their land and cattle as to make them relatively independent . Around 1901, she and her husband moved to Colonia Morelos where her husband was ordained a Bishop and elected as Sheriff and where they encountered many experiences and dangers during the civil war in Mexico. Mattie was faithful in the performance of her duties in the Relief Society and as the wife of a Bishop. She received a remarkable testimony in regard to polygmay which at that time was practiced in the Mormon Church, and she gave her consent for her husband to take three other wives.

Mattie recalls, "I remember when Orson made the adobe for the Stowell Grist Mill and my father did the carpentry and joining. The mill was being built in Colonia Juarez, June 1889.

September 30, 1888, Mattie and Orson had their first child, a little girl. They named her Carrie Brown after her mother, Caroline Lambourne Romney. She writes, "The weather is much warmer this year on account of the lack of rain."

May 20, 1890 - Our beautiful child Carrie has passed away and now lay to rest. It is a very sad day for Orson and I, but we know Carrie is in the arms of our Father in Heaven and we are at peace with that.

August 28, 1890 - Orson and I had our second child, a beautiful boy, which we named Orson Pratt Brown [Jr.]. Our lives once again are blessed. Our hearts are full.

January 1891- Severe coldness of the weather is taking a great toll on the colony herd of sheep. Orson is in charge of them this year. We are losing ten to fifteen every night. May the Lord help us that our loss will not put a greater hardship upon our families.

Sept 13, 1891 - Orson is now teaching Sunday school and he is a very good teacher and well liked.

April 10, 1892 - Orson and I lost our baby boy, Orson Pratt Brown [Jr.], today and we are now without children. It is a day of great sadness and our burden heavy, but with faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we will survive. On top of the loss of our son, Orson is struggling desperately against all odds to save the sheep he is in charge of. This is his 2^nd year and the worst. The 1^st year, thanks to the Lord, turned out to be after all a good year. Some type of disease has come upon the sheep this year and they are dying by the hundreds and the severe wind and dust storms are scattering them, so there are several hundred missing sheep and lambs. But as the Company states, 'Orson is a very energetic young man and when the sickness and storm's are over he will have prevailed'.

October 4, 1892 – We are again blessed with a fine son. We named him Ray.

December 4, 1892 - There is talk of people chartering a car to take those who desire to attend the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple and to be sealed. Orson and myself and our friends Miles A. and Frances Turley Romney are hoping to raise the money to go.

May 8, 1893 – We have just returned, Orson, Orson's mother and myself, from Salt Lake City where we took out our endowments and attended the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple. My good friend Frances Turley Romney was unable to obtain the funds to go. Though she feels very depressed, she knows her time will come in the near future. We had supper with Catherine Cottam Romney this evening (one of Miles' plural wives).

November 27, 1894 – Again Orson and I have been blessed with a son. We named him Clyde Brown.

January 1, 1896 – Orson and my father, Miles, are going to open a store at the farm.

Catherine Romney told her son today that we should refrain from speaking the word of deity (God) in vain, that doing so is a very grievous offence to God.

Orson spoke in last nights meeting. He quoted a scripture which says, "He that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." That struck me very forcibly for if we do not both watch and pray how liable we are to stray and be over taken by sin.

March 28, 1896 – Orson and our 3^rd child Ray, age 3, and our 4^th child Clyde, 16 months, have been very sick for the past week and I have been sick for close to two weeks now. For the last few days they were sure I wasn't going to make it. I am now improving slowly but cannot bare the noise. The boys are living with Catherine's family while I'm recovering. It is now April 17^th and I still cannot sit up long or walk.

May 5, 1896 - My brother Junius Romney (Catherine Cottam Romney's son) took me in the buggy to the park. It has been seven weeks today since I came down sick and today is the first day I have been out of my room. Orson had to go to Kansas several weeks ago and has yet to return, but will likely be home in a few days. Oh, how I miss him and the children. I thank my Father in Heaven for allowing me yet to live a little longer. Having lost two children already I pray the Lord will allow me to raise my two sons to manhood.

On April 8, 1897, our 5^th child was born and we gave him the name of Miles Romney Brown.

On November 14, 1898 our 6^th child was born and we gave him the name of Dewey Brown After bringing into the world one daughter who passed away and five sons of which one passed away I have almost given up hope of ever being blessed with a daughter. But I am happy with my family. Orson and I are very blessed and thankful for them.

In the fall of 1899, Orson, shortly after the official dedication of the newest colony, Colonia Morelos, was given the responsibility of getting the colony underway by the Mexican Colonization and Agricultural Company. Mattie said, "I was extremely pleased as he has worked very hard. " We then traveled from Colonia Juarez to our new home in Morelos.

April 17, 1901 – My prayers were answered as Orson and I were finally blessed with a perfect daughter. We named her Vera Brown. Life was at this time very difficult. When we left for our new home in the fall of 1899 the roads was almost unbearable. We traveled for ten days over mountains then dropping into the valley and then mountains again and valleys over the rockiest road I have ever seen. There were few of us there until January 1900 when others slowly trickled in. Our first winter in Morelos was far from what one might dream of but it was our home and that's all that mattered.

At this stage in their married life Mattie was confronted with a severe trial but she met it bravely. Her husband, Orson Pratt Brown, felt it his duty to subscribe to the principle of Plural Marriage, resulting in his taking a second wife Jane Bodily Galbraith March 28, 1896. O.P. married his third wife Bessie Macdonald on January 15, 1901, and his forth wife Eliza Skousen on September 2, 1902.

May 1901 – Orson was made bishop of the colony of Morelos and I was very proud of him as was the children. We sustained him with all our heart and souls leaving the rest to our Father in Heaven.

August 1902 – Apostle Teasdale and his wife visited us today. We have had a terrible drought. The land is cracking open because of lack of moisture and intense heat. The river and creeks are dry and the wheat and barley are without water. Orson told Apostle Teasdale about the drought we were having. The next morning Orson instructed the Sunday School Superintendent to have the children sing, "In our Lovely Desert" a favorite of Apostle Teasdale's. Then Apostle Teasdale spoke, "I the Lord God declare unto you that your crops will mature and you will have plenty of spare. The seasons are changing and there will be early and late rains if you will but serve me and keep my commandments. Thus sayeth the Lord your God, Amen." A miracle came when crops matured in the dry climate and the following years the rain came as promised. When not getting a drop of water the brethren, after Apostle Teasdale had returned home, came to Orson with much concern. Orson said to them, "The Lord has promised it unconditionally and He never fails when He makes a promise." The crops matured and the rains came the following years as promised.

1903 – Orson had a vision that the homes being built would be washed away in a great flood. Some built on higher ground taking their bishops advice and those that didn't believe built homes in the valley or on lower hills. He said to those building on higher ground that your wives and families will escape through the mercy of God.

January 30, 1904 – Our 8^th child was born. We named him Anthony Morelos Brown after General Morelos.

February 1904 – Father Miles Park Romney went to Hannah's house about 9 p.m. He there suffered a massive chest pain and before his family could arrive he was pronounced dead. The bishopric administered to him but could not restore his life. Just a year ago he was pronounced dead and was administered to and returned to life to further his work. His work is now finished.

December 18, 1904 – I now have four living children. Three are down with typhoid fever and Ray has his leg badly cut in a wire fence while on horseback.

November 1905 – An unusual heavy snowstorm hit covering hundreds of square miles of mountains on the headwaters of the Bavispe River. Warm weather followed and then came a torrential rain storm that melted all the snow that brought down a flood such as never been know in over a hundred years. The families were barely saved but every home was uprooted, foundations and all, and washed away.

December 4, 1905 – Orson and two partners opened a mine of gold and silver in Sonora. A great flood came rumbling down the mountain washing the mine away and also the town of Colonial Oaxaca was completely washed away.

April 23, 1906 – We were blessed with another daughter that we named Phoebe Brown. How gracious of the Lord to give us another daughter. Her face is round, her hair is dark and her eyes are glowing with life. What a beautiful little baby Orson and I have to further enrich our lives.

December 28, 1908 – Orson Juarez Brown was born in Colonial Dublan, Mexico. He is our 10^th child.

1910 – The conditions are becoming worse here in Morelos as the Mexican Armies are stealing our goods and threatening our lives and putting great fear into our hearts. I fear for Orson who travels through the colonies, Chihuahua and the United States. We pray for him daily and for the Lord to keep us safe here in Dublan, Mexico where we are now staying.

Summer of 1911 – My son Anthony was bitten by a rabid dog and the dog was dragging him around the yard until I went after him with the broom. I sent Anthony to Mexico City with my brother Leo Romney to receive Pasteur shots for treatments for hydrophobia. I was terribly worried that Anthony and Leo might not get there in time for the shots to be effective. I prayed the Lord would be with my son and heal him for nothing is more devastating, more painful than rabies as it eats away the brain and you finally go mad before dying. After several days of praying and fearing for his safety I received word that all was well for which I am eternally grateful to our Father in Heaven.

Leaving Mexico
January 1912 – Many Mexicans on horses and on foot came into Colonial Dublan and Morelos. They brought prostitutes with them who openly plied their trade with the soldiers. They bathed naked in the ditches polluting the water and slaughtered cattle in the streets.

March 12, 1912 - We were given a few hours to leave our homes. Hundreds of us were taken by lumber wagons to safety and with only the possessions we could carry - never to return. We went to El Paso, Texas on the train.

A short time later Mattie and her children took a train to Thatcher, Arizona. Later the family moved to a beautiful farm between Denter and Roswell, New Mexico in 1914. They had a large artesian well that flowed continually into quite a large reservoir and which was used for irrigating the alfalfa and fruit trees and other vegetables. They lived on the Pecos River and during a flood stage there were all kinds of animals floating down the river.

Their stay there didn't last very long. They moved to Provo, Utah where they lived for about a year and then traveled to the Carson farm in Cache Valley between Richmond and Smithfield, Utah in 1915. They had a large farm consisting of quite a number of cows. They raised hay and grain.

Well, again they picked up and left the Carson Farm and went to Rupert, Idaho, an agriculture town that had been founded just four years prior to their arrival. This was the beginning of their hardships and suffering in the United States. Orson purchased a small farm for Clyde (brother) to operate which he lost and Orson left for San Francisco on an idea of making chewing gum from the Mexican bush called "Ocatea", which was a failure. He went back to Mexico and stayed there leaving us to battle it alone. The boys found odd jobs to help support the family.

In the meantime, it was just about Christmas and Miles had found a job and a house in Pocatello and had tickets for Mattie, Phoebe and Orson to go to Pocatello, Idaho

There were few incidents in Pocatello during the year they were there. Orson and Anthony, with their wagon, went through the alleys and collected copper and brass for the war efforts. They made a few dollars that way and then sold "The Salt Lake Tribune" Sunday mornings. They would leave home at about midnight so as to get a good place in line that morning. They slept in large boxes and sometimes it was so cold they would go over to the depot and stand on the hot air vents to keep warm and at times the cook would hand them some hot cakes.

Move to Salt Lake
In January of 1919 they went to Salt Lake City and lived at the Lake Hotel on Post-office Place.

Mattie was all that could be expected of a first wife for she dealt justly with all members of the family. Years later, after the exodus from Mexico, a separation occurred which was no fault of Mattie's and she and her younger children went to Salt Lake City to make their home. Mattie was the mother of ten children all of whom grew to adulthood save two who died in infancy. The remaining eight children accompanied her to Salt Lake.

There they had a struggle to survive but the children rallied to the support of their mother and themselves by selling papers on the streets and in working at anything they could find to do, however menial. Mattie was too independent to accept help from outside sources, even from relatives who would gladly have given her aid. [Other accounts state that Junius Romney was of help to Mattie.]

Mattie was truly one of the great pioneers who spent her entire life for her Church and family and she has the undying love of her children and friends. She died after a short illness in Salt Lake City the 16th day of January 1943 at the age of 73.

Orson Pratt Brown's First Wife:

Martha Diana Romney Brown

Born: February 25, 1870 at St. George, Washington, Utah
Died: January 16, 1943 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children of Orson Pratt Brown and Martha Diana Romney Brown

Carrie Brown

Orson Pratt Brown Jr.

Ray Brown

Clyde Brown

Miles Romney Brown

Dewey B. Brown

Vera Brown Foster Liddel Ray

Anthony Morelos Brown

Phoebe Brown Chido Gardner

Orson Juarez Brown

ORSON PRATT BROWN FAMILY UPDATES

ORSON PRATT BROWN 1863-1946

ORSON'S JOURNALS AND BIOGRAPHIES

ORSON PRATT BROWN'S PARENTS
- Captain James Brown 1801-1863

- Phebe Abbott Brown Fife 1831-1915

- Colonel William Nicol Fife - Stepfather 1831-1915

ORSON'S GRANDPARENTS

ORSON PRATT BROWN'S 5 WIVES

ORSON PRATT BROWN'S 35 CHILDREN

ORSON'S SIBLINGS from MOTHER PHEBE

ORSON'S 28 SIBLINGS from JAMES BROWN

ORSON'S 17 SIBLINGS from STEPFATHER FIFE

ORSON PRATT BROWN'S IN-LAWS

INDEX OF MORMON COLONIES IN MEXICO

INDEX OF MORMON MEXICAN MISSION

INDEX TO POLYGAMY IN UTAH, ARIZONA, MEXICO

INDEX TO MEX. REVOLUTION & THE MORMON EXODUS

INDEX OF SURNAMES

MAPS OF THE MEXICAN COLONIES

BROWN FAMILY MAYFLOWER CONNECTION 1620

BROWN's in AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1775-1783

BROWN's in AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861-1865

BROWN's in WARS AFTER 1865

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