OCTOBER 1994 NEWSLETTER History of Charles Ezra MOWER, son of George Caldwell MOWER and Emma Amelia BIDWELL. George was a son of Henry MOWER Sr. and Mary AMICK. Charles Ezra was born 14 Jun 1877 in North Ogden, Weber, Utah. His mother died about two hours after he was born. His father was on an errand and not at home at the time. Someone came to Pleasant View to tell him his wife was dead. Charles always said he should have been a twin, but that his mother, Emma Amelia died before the other child was born.
His Uncle Calvin WHEELER, and his wife took him for the first nine months, as she was nursing her own baby at the time. When he was nine months old, his Uncle and Aunt, John and Sarah Ann (Bidwell) MOWER, took him to raise. John was a son of Henry and Mary (Amick) MOWER.
Before Charles was a year old he became very ill and was dead for half an hour, but through the prayers of Uncle John and Aunt Sarah the Lord restored him back to life. Uncle John said while he was praying a voice spoke to him and said, "Go get Brother Johns." He came and as they worked and administered to him his life was restored. His eye sight was affected from that time on. the covering that comes over the eyes at death came over his eyes and his eye sight was very poor for the remainder of his life.
The early part of his life was spent on the farm helping his Uncle and Aunt. Many times the duty was to herd cattle, sometimes near home and sometimes about a mile from home to the northwest, below the Utah Hot Springs, what was then known as the big sage. [This hot spring is located east of Smith and Edwards War Surplus Store--- you drive right by the spring when you drive I-15 north from Ogden to Brigham City]. Charles carried a lunch with him. Many times he shared his lunch with others who were not as fortunate as he was to have food.
He played on the big alkali knolls, writing or drawing, while the cattle were grazing. Some people brought their cattle from Willard, North Ogden or Pleasant View. While herding cattle at home one day he was became entangled in a rope around a bull's neck and was dragged by his feet down the lane over rocks, ruts, etc. He was injured severely. There was always a place on his head that sometimes became very sore and bothered him.
His Aunt Sarah was always known for her cooking, especially her sweet butter and buttermilk, and her salt rising bread. Charles carried much of her fresh churned butter to different people--- such as the Walkers who owned Walker Bank. He went so often to the Utah Hot Springs that he knew how many ties were on the railroad tracks from their crossing to the springs.
Charles attended school at Pleasant View, attending first in a dugout in the ground and later in a granary. When the next school was built a large pot-bellied stove was in the center of the room. The students had desks and slates with ink quills and slate pencils to write with.
Despite his poor eyesight he did well and attained the reading level known as the fifth reader. In arithmetic, he was very gifted. He could solve problems in his head while others were struggling on paper to do it. Charles had the ability to tell the time of day almost to the minute by looking at shadows on the ground.
Charles was baptized when eight years old at Wilford CRAGUN's pond on 2 June 1886 by Wilford C. CRAGUN, and he was confirmed 3 June 1886 by William HICKENLOOPER.
When Charles was a young boy, he and his brother Robert were sent by Uncle John down in the field across the railroad tracks to mow some hay. Soon a long brilliant, gorgeous, highly decorated circus train came along the track. Soon they saw a cute black and white animal they thought had escaped from the train. They tried to catch the animal and ended up killing it, but the smell was unmistakable and they had a hard time being let back in the house.
Uncle John rocked many wells for people in the area and Charles passed the rocks and mortar down to him. Charles said, "I can still hear Uncle John calling, 'mort'". This meant to send down more mortar and rock.
It was also Charles' job to place the Hubbard squash side by side in the crawl space under the house for winter storage. Some of the squash Uncle John grew were so large they had to be rolled up a plank into the wagon to be moved.
On 18 March 1896, Uncle John went to Ogden to get their supplies. In his shopping he bought Aunt Sarah a new set of dishes. That same night Charles and Uncle John were sleeping in a bed on the floor. During the night Uncle John talked with Aunt Sarah and she asked him what time it was, he answered 12 o'clock. In the morning when Charles awoke, he found Uncle John cold. He died during the night. Charles was 19 years old and this was a great loss and deep sorrow to him.
Charles had barely known his own father, George Caldwell. George had taken his children and gone to American Falls, Idaho to raise cattle. One day he was panning for gold and was shot in the back and killed. Charles was 6 at the time.
When he was 22 he met and married Melvina GRAVIET in Ogden. She was not a member of the L.D.S. Church. They lived together 13 years and 4 girls were born to them---Susie Melvina (1900), Emma Amelia (1902), Ethel (1904), Ruby (1907).
In 1913 Melvina left Charles and in 1914 she gave birth to another girl which was given to her brother and sister to raise. In Jan 1915 Aunt Sarah died after 15 years of bed-confinement. The next month Charles took his four daughters, who had chosen to live with him, down to the hot springs where they were all baptized.
Charles had not been too active in the Church during his life. He had developed an inferiority feeling due to his health, but in later years became active, was ordained a High Priest in the Church and became a faithful Church and temple attender. In his later years he took trips to various parts of the country and enjoyed traveling. In June of 1950 he passed away in Ogden, Utah. His life was not known for great and famous works. He liked peace and order in all things. His deeds of mercy, love, kindness and his sharing and generosity will be long remembered by those whose lives he touched. [Although Melvina never returned to Charles, the daughters had temple work completed on 13 July 1960 for their mother and the four children were sealed to their parents on that date by special permission of President RAYMOND of the Logan Temple.]
Many thanks to all who keep this work going. Here are some more pictures provided by Rosemary LEYDEN of some of our GUISINGER relatives. On the left is William M. and Josephine (Neininger) GUISINGER. William is a great grandson of Charles GEISSINGER. His father is on the right---Charles GUISINGER, son of Michael GUISINGER (who was a son of our Charles).