Margaret Elizabeth Hussey

Margaret Elizabeth Hussey was born Sep 28, 1819 in Palmyra, New York to William Tucker and Mary Ann Johnson Hussey.

Early Life

The Hussey family lived in Palmyra for many years where William was a merchant working on Main Street next to another store and a school house. In 1831, while Margaret was the age of 11, William died, forcing Mary to look for a new spouse. She met and married John J. Brower, a widower and father of Ariah Coates Brower. The family moved to Ohio where the Brower family had resided. While there, Margaret and Ariah started getting closer until he asked to marry her. After, Ariah went to work in another state until an official wedding was prepared.

LDS Conversion

Though the family was from Palmyra, they were not introduced to the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until 1836 while visiting a debate between Reverend Tracy and Church President Joseph Smith Jr. that went on for two days with the debate topic being "are prophets needed at the present time?" Soon after the debate, 12 families joined the Church, including the Brower and Hussey families, all except Ariah.

Sometime after their baptism, the family sold their farm and began their journey to Missouri to live with the other Saints. They made it as far as Coles County, Illinois before they stopped when they heard word that the Saints were being driven out of Missouri, so the family settled in Illinois until more instructions were given.

Life in Illinois

Sometime after the family finally moved to Illinois, they received a letter from Ariah stating he would be home on a certain date, but if he wasn't home by the date, he left to England to live his life. Because of this misinformation and heartbreak, Elizabeth began going on with her life thinking Ariah had completely moved to England. She began finding interest with another young man in Illinois to marry before Ariah surprised everyone late evening on July 13, 1838. All were excited to see Ariah, all except Elizabeth who slept at the young man's home to avoid Ariah.

The next few days, Ariah and Elizebeth spoke about the letter and their feelings. Ariah spoke about how the letter was just a hoax, and that he did love her. It took many days for Elizabeth to understand that the letter was indeed fake, and on Sep 7, 1838, the young couple were married in Spring Point, Illinois.

Reinstated in the Church

Soon after their marriage, the young couple moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where Ariah found work, and Elizabeth began housekeeping. Along with them was Elizabeth's mother. While there, Elders Hyde and Page from the Church visited the Brower home on their way to Jerusalem. Ariah wrote the following, 

"Here it was, then Elder Hyde and Page passed on their mission to Jerusalem, that I became fully convinced that the doctrine preached by the Latter-day Saints was correct; notwithstanding, the opportunities which I had during my apprenticeship, of making myself acquainted with the doctrine of the church. The wife of my old boss being a Mormon and Painsville being situated 9 miles from Kirtland, I was often invited to drive the horse and buggy to meeting with her, which gave me quite an opportunity for information but being untrained as well as quite young, did not fancy to acquaint myself, thoroughly with the principles of the Gospel, but was perfectly satisfied that if the Mormons were not right, there were no right upon the earth."

Soon after the Elders' visit, the Browers moved back to Illinois where Ariah was baptized into the Church and Elizabeth with rebaptized. 

Life in Nauvoo

The Brower family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1843 where Ariah began his work in the printing business. They lived in a rented room until 1846 when they were able to purchase their own home. Though times were tough in Nauvoo after the death of Joseph Smith, the family continued to work and live. They helped with the construction of the Nauvoo Temple and were present at its dedication. They were sealed in the temple Jan 24, 1846, soon after, they fled to Winter Quarters for refuge before they would move West to the Rocky Mountains.

Westward Journey

The family joined the Edward Hunter Company June 17, 1847. They crossed the plains with no other family than themselves and their children. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley Sep 29, 1847, one of the first companies to do so.

Life in Richmond

The Brower family moved to Richmond in 1864 where they built their home located where the 'Old Fort' once stood. They continued to live in Richmond for the rest of their lives.

Epilogue