Brown, James S. (James Stephens), 1828-1902
Dates
- Existence: 1828 - 1902
Biography
James Stephens Brown (1828-1902) was a member of the Mormon Battalion and one of the first men to discover gold at Sutter's Mill.
James Stephens Brown was born on July 4, 1828, in Davidson, North Carolina to Daniel Brown and Elizabeth Stephens. He was a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and joined the trek west as the Saints were driven out of Illinois. After arriving in Winter Quarters, Nebraska, Brown enlisted in the Mormon Battalion. He served the Iowa Mormon Battalion Regiment D in 1846. After discharge from the Battalion in California, he was employed on the Sacramento River and was one of the men to first discover gold in California at Sutter's Mill. Brown arrived in Salt Lake Valley in 1848. Shortly after, in October 1849, Brown was called on a mission to Tahiti where he served until November 1852. On July 23, 1854, in South Cottonwood, Utah, Brown was married to Lydia Jane Tanner. Together they had seven children. Brown was also married in September 1854, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Rebecca Ann McBride. Together they had nine children. He served a mission to England from April 1860 to July 1862. Brown married his third wife, Eliza Lester, on January 31, 1863, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Together they also had nine children. Brown served on a mission to the U.S. Territories in October 1869. He married his fourth wife, Elizabeth Mary Clegg, on March 4, 1872, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Together they had six children. In April 1872, Brown served a brief mission to the Northeastern United States but returned to Utah to serve in the Navajo nations for several years. This mission included Arizona. Brown accompanied a Navajo delegation to visit Brigham Young in Salt Lake City in August of 1877. Brown was called again to serve a mission in Tahiti from April 1892 to July 1893. He returned to live and settle in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1898, he was a guest of honor at the 50th anniversary of the discovery of gold in California celebrations. Brown continued to travel around the Utah territory as a popular speaker. Brown published his autobiography titled, Life of a Pioneer, in 1900. Brown died on March 25, 1902, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Citation:
FamilySearch, May 23, 2024 (James Stephens Brown; b. July 4, 1828 in Davidson, North Carolina to Daniel Brown and Elizabeth Stephens; m. July 23, 1854 in South Cottonwood, Utah to Lydia Jane Tanner; seven children; m. September 1854, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Rebecca Ann McBride; nine children; m. January 31, 1863, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Eliza Lester; nine children; m. March 4, 1872, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Elizbeth Mary Clegg; six children; Member of the Iowa Mormon Battalion Regiment D in 1846; Latter-day Saint mission to England in 1860; after discharge from the Battalion in California, he was employed on the Sacramento River and was one of the men to first discover gold in California at Sutter's Mill; arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848; Latter-day Saint mission to the Society Islands in 1849 and 1892; served several Latter-day Saint missions to the Navajo reservations; traveled around the Utah territory as a speaker; d. March 25, 1902, in Salt Lake City, Utah)Wikipedia, May 23, 2024 (James Stephens Brown; Latter-day Saint missions to Tahiti from October 1849 to November 1852, England from April 1860 to July 1862, US Territories in October 1869; United States in April 1872, Navajo nations in October 1875 to unknown date, and Tahiti from April 1892 to July 1893; was a guest of honor at the 50th anniversary of the discovery of gold in California celebrations in 1898; wrote an autobiography titled Life of a pioneer: Being the autobiography of James S. Brown)
Life of a pionoeer : being the autobiography of James S. Brown, via WWW, December 26, 2024 (Accompanied a Navajo delegation to SLC in August 1877)
Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:
Orson Hyde blessing given to James Stephens Brown
Handwritten blessing given to James Stephens Brown when he was going on a mission for the Mormon Church.
James Stephens Brown diaries
Typescript of diaries. Brown writes about his life in Ogden, Utah, and in Arizona. He also tells about his activities in the Mormon Church including his missions for that faith to England and Tahiti.
James Stephens Brown diaries
Handwritten diaries. Brown writes about his life in Ogden, Utah, and in Arizona. He also tells about his activities in the Mormon Church including his missions for that faith to England, Tahiti, and the Navajo Indians.
James Stephens Brown diary
Photocopy of typescript. Author recounts his call to serve as a missionary among the Navajo Indians by Mormon church president Brigham Young (1801-1877); the trip to Arizona; his activities among the Indians; and his return to Utah a year later.
James Stephens Brown papers
Certificates, poems, deeds, biographies, and letters received. The items relate to Brown and his descendants most of whom lived in Tooele, Utah. The letters are from family members and the certificates relate to Brown's Church activities. Brown was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Photographs of James S. Brown and visit of Navajo delegation to Salt Lake City
Contains photographs and corresponding negatives related to James S. Brown, Arizona pioneer and missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Navajo Indians in Arizona from 1875-1876, during a visit of a Navajo delegation to Salt Lake City, Utah. Dated approximately 1870-1879.
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 2
- Diaries 2
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- French Polynesia -- Tahiti (Island) -- History 2
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- Great Britain -- History 2
- Latter Day Saint missionaries 2
- Latter Day Saints -- Arizona -- History 2
- Letters 2
- Material Types 2
- Missions and Missionaries 2
- Ogden (Utah) -- History 2
- Polygamy -- Religious aspects -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History 2
- Arizona -- History -- To 1912 1
- Biographies 1
- Certificates 1
- Church work with Indians -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History 1
- Correspondence 1
- Home and Family 1
- Latter Day Saints -- Colonization -- Arizona -- History 1
- Latter Day Saints -- Utah -- Tooele -- History 1
- Navajo Indians -- History 1
- Navajo Indians -- Missions -- Arizona -- History -- Sources 1
- Navajo Indians -- Photographs 1
- Photographs 1
- Safety film negatives 1
- Salt Lake City (Utah) -- Photographs 1
- Social Life and Customs 1
- Tooele (Utah) -- History 1
- United orders (Latter Day Saint churches) -- Arizona -- History 1 + ∧ less