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 they were driven out of Illinois. Once in Winter Quarters, 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 on 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 US 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 home to serve in the Navajo nations for several years. Brown was called again to serve on 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)

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