We decided that we would learn about an ancestor every Family Home Evening. I thought I should write down what we learn here. Mike talked about one of his ancestors last week. Gentleman George. I'll make that into another post. Today it was my turn. I decided to talk about John Borrowman, mostly because of the framed Ensign article at my Grandma's house. It was called Half a Penny and a Pearl, or something like that. Anyway, when I looked him up on familysearch, someone had added a life sketch. That was helpful, and he was born on Mike's birthday! I had just asked if we should have a prize if any of our ancestors are born on our birthdays. Mike says he didn't hear me say that. Maysen confirmed that I started to say something like that and then got distracted. I'm sure she is right. Anyway, this is John Borrowman's life sketch copy and pasted from familysearch.
John Borrowman was born May 13, 1816, in Glasgow, Scotland, son of William and Marion Hannah Borrowman. When he was about 4 years old he went to Lanark, Canada with his parents (Ship: Commerce, 1820) and three sisters, Marion, Mary and Hannah (his oldest sister, Margaret, remained in Scotland until 1825). There he lived and grew to manhood,working in the lumber camps. While still a young man he was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was baptized into that church on June 7, 1843.
Not long after joining the Church he was called to fulfill a mission in Ontario, Canada. While on that mission, a strange incident happened. He was traveling on foot one day, in an open prairie country, with his companion, James Park (a cousin of the woman he later married). It was at the time when Brigham Young was called as President of the Church. These two companions were conversing with each other and wondering if Brigham Young was really the right man for the place, when suddenly they noticed a strange man walking with them. He started to talk to them and said, "You were wondering about Brigham Young. I want to tell you that he is the right man in the right place." They asked him where he came from as they had not seen him come. He replied, " You did not see me come and you will not see me go. Mr. Borrowman made up his mind that he would certainly see him go when he did go, so kept his eyes fastened upon him. They came to a stream, and he glanced down to see where to step. In the instant his eyes were taken from the stranger, he disappeared. They always thought that this man was John the Revelator.
It was on this mission that John Borrowman converted the Park family, among whom was Agnes T. Park, the woman who later became his wife. When he joined the Church, his father "cut him off with a shilling." This meant that nothing further could be claimed from the estate. William Borrowman also willed him the family bible, but wanted him to return to Middleville in order to claim it. Not another member of his family joined the Church. From Canada he went to Nauvoo, and there started with the Saints to come to the Rocky Mountains.
When the President of the United States called for 500 able-bodied men, later called The Mormon Battalion, to fight in the war with Mexico, John Borrowman was among those who volunteered. They left Council Bluffs on July 16, 1846, and arrived in California at Sutter's Mill in the Spring of 1848, shortly after which gold was discovered. Some of this gold he brought with him when he left California.
In October of 1848, he arrived in Utah. On January 9, 1849, he married Agnes T. Park. In November, 1853, they were called to help settle Nephi. They brought with them two small children. Three more children were born to them in Nephi, making five children in all: William Park, Jane Duncan, Agnes Thompson, John Park and Marion Hannah.
On October 26, 1869, he left for another mission to Canada, faithfully fulfilling this mission , returning to Utah two years later. He was Justice of the Peace in Nephi for 20 years, and held the position of Senior President of the 49th Quorum of Seventies for a good many years. He was a well-read man, and few men knew more about the scriptures than he.
They built a small house and lived for two years or more on what was known as the "sawmill lot." Later they built another house and lived the remainder of their lives on the lot where our worthy Captain, Nellie S. Cowen and her husband now live. He served in the Indian Walker War before they came to Utah, and in the Black Hawk war served as a lookout, as he was then an older man and was classed as one of the "Silver Grays." John Borrowman died March 2, 1898. Five months later, on August 6th, 1898, he was followed by his good wife Agnes.
Here are a couple of pictures that I also found on the site. The first is John Borrowman's coin. It was on display at the church history museum at one time. Although when Mike and I went there a few weeks ago I asked about it and the lady had no idea what I was talking about. I'm glad someone took a picture of it and posted it on the family history site.
John Borrowman's coin
John and Agnes Borrowman shortly after their wedding
John Borrowman's obituary
We also talked about how when he was in the Mormon Battalion he was put on guard duty when he was completely exhausted. He closed his eyes for a second and was caught right away. He spent three days in prison. Someone got mad that his sentence wasn't harsh enough. They said it was better to have no punishment then a punishment too light, so he got released. I think I got that story right. It was hard to read because there was about a half a sentence missing about every other line. I remember my grandma telling me this story as well. We talked about how John Borrowman left his family and his inheritance to follow the gospel. When he was in California and very successful during the gold rush, he immediately left it when he was called to come back to Salt Lake. He also left his home and settled Nephi when he was asked to do so. He put living the gospel and following the prophet above anything else in his life. That is something to strive for!
Preston was really excited to do this and begged to be the one who got to go next. We'll see what he comes up with.
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