Life of Sarah Jane Howell



Sarah Jane Howell was born 15 March, 1858, at Franklin, Iowa. She was the daughter of James and Rosannah Monk Howell.

In June, 1863, Sarah and her family met with the Alvus H. Patterson Company in Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha). Sarah crossed the plains with her parents, younger brother, younger sister and her grandmother. Sarah was just five years old when this journey began. Though they were not LDS, they joined the LDS Saints on this trek. There was about 50 wagons and 200 emigrating Saints from South Africa, England, Canada, and the states.

The plains were not the most exciting scenery to cross. With nothing but sand, sky, and hills, they pressed on.

Perhaps the most exciting event that happened along the trail, was the celebration of Pioneer Day on July 24th. They traveled 9 miles, and stopped for noon at Castle Creek. There was much rejoicing, as here there were some teamsters stationed, from the church, with cattle, and flour. The company started up again and traveled 6 miles, and camped for the night at the Platt river. After dinner they had a party, and there was dancing till around midnight!

Around the middle of August, they saw in the distance, mountains with snow on the tops. It was nice for the Saints to have a change in scenery, though there was still much sage brush and what seemed the never ending dust.

It was a happy day, in September, when Sarah's parents decided to make their home in Kaysville, Utah. No more walking! Her parents built a log home and some furniture. They stayed in Kaysville for about five years, where another brother was born, and then to Willard for a short time. They eventually settled in Portage in 1868. The next year, in November, Sarah, her parents, and her brother Thomas were baptized in the Malad River. She was eleven years old.

Sarah's family was poor, and so Sarah Jane had to go to work. She was just fourteen when hired out as a housekeeper for a man named Levi Thornton and his wife Elisa Thornton, who were both in their 50‘s. He had fallen from a horse and was severely injured and had to stay in a wheel chair. Mr. Thornton also lived in Portage, Utah, and worked as a shoe maker. Because Sarah Jane was staying with him both night and day, the concern of what the townspeople would say aroused great thinking, so Sarah became another wife, when she was sixteen years old. They were married at the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, in December, 1874. Four years later, her sister, Nancy, married her step-son William Thornton. Sarah took good care of her husband, Levi, until he passed away in 1889.

A year after Levi's passing, Sarah Jane and Thomas Marshall Tims were married. Sarah, then 32, went to live with her new husband, Tom, in Portage. Ten months later she and Tom had a baby, Rosie Vilate Tims. Sarah loved to go dancing with Tom, and would often play the accordion at the dances.

Sarah and Thomas had another girl, Nancy, in 1892. During her third pregnancy, Sarah Jane went blind. She had a hard time until the baby was born, yet still managed to take good care of her family. After the birth of Thomas Charles, Sarah's eye sight returned. In 1897 she had her fourth baby, named after herself, Sarah Jane. Nine months later Sarah and Thomas endured the death of their first child together, Rosie. Rosie died at the tender age of seven, in April, 1898.

The following year, Sarah Jane Howell was reunited with her daughter Rosie, as she passed away in September 1899. Her death was caused from complications from childbirth. She had been very sick before her death. Thankfully, her son, Leroy survived.

Sarah Jane Howell was said to be a very kind and loving person, who taught her children how to pray. She had long, black hair whcih she often wore in braids.

Compiled and written by Meliah Porter Crow, from information gathered by Leona Grace Nish Hall, George H. Baugh, Ida H. Harris, and gov and church records.