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Phoebe DRAPER
Essentials Born: 9 October 1797; Rome, Oneida County, New York Daugher of: William DRAPER and Lydia LATHROP Baptized: 17 February 1833 by Brigham Young Married: 1. George PALMER Jr.; 1815; Ontario, Canada; 2. Ebenezer BROWN; 26 Aug 1842; United States Died: 28 February 1879; Draper, Salt Lake County, Utah Page contents 
One-minute history
Longer biography
Patriarchal blessing
BY DARYL JAMES
Phoebe (or Phebe) Draper was born Oct. 8, 1797, in Rome, Oneida County, N.Y. At age 10 Phoebe accompanied her parents to Frontenac County in Ontario, Can., to visit her dying grand-mother, Lydia Rogers Draper. It was not the intention of Phoebe's parents to remain in Canada, but the death of her grandmother and the birth of her brother, William Jr., kept them there so long they decided to stay. By 1812 Phoebe's family had settled in Cramahe Township in Northumberland County, Ontario. Here Phoebe met George Palmer Jr., whom she married in 1815. Before the marriage, George had spent three years as a private in the Canadian Army during the War of 1812. He received land in Cramahe Township after the war for his service. Phoebe and George had six children in Ontario over the next 16 years. They moved from Cramahe Township to Haldimand around 1820, and from Haldimand to West Loughborough around 1830. In 1832 missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to West Loughborough. Eleasar Miller came first and then Brigham Young. Most of the Drapers, including Phoebe, accepted the new religion and were baptized, but George remained separate. He died in 1834 a few months after Phoebe's baptism, leaving Phoebe pregnant with her seventh child, Rhoda Ann. After Rhoda Ann was born March 15, 1834, Phoebe collected her possessions and moved to Kirtland, Ohio, to spend the rest of her life with the Saints. She probably took five of her seven children with her (the oldest had already married in Canada, and the fourth had burned to death in 1832 at age 8).
In Kirtland Joseph Smith Sr., the Patriarch, visited Phoebe to comfort her and give her a blessing. He promised her that ``if she was faithful and wise she would be blessed with a companion who would be a man of God.'' Phoebe continued in Kirtland until 1838, when persecutions against the Church forced the Saints into Missouri. In Missouri persecutions continued and the Saints moved to Illinois. Phoebe joined a small company to Illinois with her brother, William Jr., and a widower named Ebenezer Brown. Ebenezer turned out to be Phoebe's promised husband, and they were married in Pike County, Ill., in 1842. In the same year Joseph Smith asked all Saints to leave their outlying settlements and come to Hancock County, where Nauvoo was located. Phoebe and Ebenezer moved directly to Nauvoo; however, in 1846, after Joseph Smith and his brother had been martyred, persecutions rose and Nauvoo was abandoned. Phoebe and Ebenezer headed west with a company of Saints. On their way through Iowa they learned that Capt. James Allen of the United States Army had requested the Saints to furnish 500 men to march against Mexico in a batallion led by Col. Stephen L. Kearny. After Ebenezer volunteered and was made a sergeant, Phoebe enlisted as a laundress and cook, and her 15-year-old son, Zemira, enlisted as an orderly. Phoebe was one of only four women to finish the 2,000-mile march to San Diego. After the batallion arrived Jan. 29, 1847, Phoebe, Ebenezer and Zemira re-enlisted to acquire money to travel back to Utah. They were at Sutter's Mill in northern California when gold was discovered; however, Brigham Young, who feared the effects of greed, called the batallion members home in 1849. Phoebe, Ebenezer and Zemira heeded this call and settled in Utah. Phoebe died in 1879 at Draper, Utah, where her son and two brothers formed the first bishopric. -- Sources: 1. "Phoebe Draper Palmer Brown." The Mormon Drapers, pps. 41-52 (On record at Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah); 2. Descendants of George Palmer and Phoebe Draper, pps. 445-461 (On record at Harold B. Lee Library). Longer Biography AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Some time after 1795 (time not known) Phebe’s grandparents, Thomas and Lydia Rogers Draper moved to Canada, and when she was about 10 years old in February 1807, her father received word that his mother Lydia Roger Draper was ill in Richmond Township, Frontenac, Ontario, and not expected to live. She desired to see her son before she died. With the help of an Indian guide, who had brought them word, they proceeded to Canada. Notwithstanding the bitterness of the northern winter and the fact that they were expecting a new baby within a month or two. They traveled in a sleigh and crossed the eastern end of Lake Ontario, on ice. The Indian successfully guided them to their destination where they found Lydia still alive. She died within a few days after their arrival at the age of 60. April 24, 1807, Phebe’s brother William was born at Richmond, and a daughter was born at Newcastle in 1809, another son born in Cramahe Township, Northumberland County Ontario in 1812, Zemira. Records show that they were back to Frontenac County, Loughborough Township, in 1832, where most of the Drapers were converted to Mormonism. Thus we find that William did not make the rugged trip back to Rome, as there was good land still available to new settlers in Canada and all of William’s brothers and sisters were living there. They too decided to make Canada their home. No records remains of their doings from that time on until 1832. As it was noted above Phebe’s brother was born in Cramahe Township, in 1812, where no doubt Phebe met and married George A. Palmer Jr. (Though no record is known of their place of marriage.) Their first child was born in Cramahe Township also. They may have become acquainted even before George went into the Service. In 1832 Eleazer Miller came to Loughborough, Frontenac County, Ontario, preaching Mormonism and in 1833 Brigham Young arrived. Most of the Drapers accepted this new religion, but apparently George did not. When Phebe was baptized by Brigham Young, he remarked, “So you had to get your backside wet, did you?” As George died soon after this, leaving her a widow with five children and another soon to be born, she no doubt began to make preparations to leave with her brother William or other Saints for Kirtland, Ohio to join the Saints. Contrary to the statement that Phebe left Canada with seven fatherless children, her daughter Eliza, whose birth date has been established as 1824, died at eight years of age, having been burned to death in 1832, before her fathers death. Phebe did not leave until after Rhoda’s birth in March 1834. Also Lovina had married Henry Munro in 1834, and evidently did not come when her mother did. No records of their first son, Asahel have been found, he may have stayed in Canada, he would have been 15 or 16 years of age. If this is true then Phebe had but four children with her when she came to Kirtland, her baby Rhoda Ann, Zemira (age 3-4), Lydia Elizabeth (age 8-9), William George (age 13-14). Phebe arrived in Kirtland, Ohio in 1834-35. From that time on her life was one of hardship and struggle. Along with the Saints she was driven from Kirtland to Missouri, to Nauvoo, Illinois. How she managed to protect and care for her children during all this persecution can only be left to the imagination. Her trials and burdens were heavy. In 1836 Patriarch Joseph Smith Sr., visited her at Kirtland and comforted her with a blessing that promised her “if she was faithful and wise she would be blessed with a companion who would be a man of God, and that she would be able to bring up her family right; that she would have good happy days.” The Saints from Kirtland had hoped to find peace in Missouri, but the persecutions became worse than ever, and with the help of her brother William Draper, Phebe crossed the Mississippi River back to Illinois. Ebenezer Brown had accompanied them and the three families settled down the river near Pleasantville, Pike Country, Illinois. At this place in 1842, Phebe married Ebenezer Brown, a widower with four small children. Hostilities again broke out and they moved to Nauvoo, heeding the call of their leader. While they lived in Nauvoo, Phebe was baptized for her husband George A. Palmer Jr. Again in Nauvoo they had no peace. The Prophet was martyred and the Saints were forced to leave their beloved city. On their way through Iowa they learned, through Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball that Captain James Allen of the United States Army had requested the Saints to furnish 500 able bodied men to March against Mexico. This was known as the “Mormon Battalion”. The men gathered at Council Bluffs, Iowa; Ebenezer Brown was among those who enlisted. His wife Phebe was chosen as a laundress and cook and her son Zemira became an orderly to Captain Allen. Phebe was a kind-hearted woman, and throughout the journey, many of the burdens of the soldiers were lightened by her kindness and sympathy. The March of the Battalion was exceedingly difficult and many sickened and suffered from the difficult and terrible conditions. Most of the women, children, and sick soldiers were sent north before the Battalion left Santa Fe. Phebe had entered Santa Fe on her 49th birthday, October 9, 1846, but she must have been in good condition, for she was one of the four women chosen to continue the March. Ten days later they began the worst part of this appalling March. Food was scarce for men and animals and the search for water was frantic. Their clothing was worn out, and they suffered severely from lack of shoes. Great must have been their Thanksgiving upon reaching San Diego on January 29, 1847. The next day their commander addressed them saying, “History may be searched in vain for an equal March of infantry; nine-tenths of it was through a wilderness, where nothing but savages and wild beasts were found, or deserts, were want of water, there is no living creature. There, with almost hopeless labor, we have dug deep wells, we have worked our way over mountains...and hewed a passage through a chasm of living rock..Thus marching, half naked, and half fed, and living upon wild animals (without salt...), we have discovered and made a road of great value to our country.” Ebenezer, Phebe and Zemira had yet more than one thousand miles to travel before rejoining their loved ones in Utah. As they had no money for the trip, they re-enlisted and served more that another year. They then started northward until they reached Sutter’s Fort. Here they worked for Sutter and were among the group who discovered gold on the American River near Sutter’s Mill. In spite of the lure of gold, they answered the call of Brigham Young and returned to Utah the following year. Phebe rode a mule named “Ginny” all the way from California. In the south end of the Salt Lake Valley they found an unsettled cove watered by Willow Creek and here they brought their families. It was later known as Draperville in honor of the first Presiding Elder there, who was Phebe’s brother William Draper (Ebenezer Brown, Zemira Draper, and also Zemira Palmer served as councilors to William.) Draperville is now known as “Draper.” The Browns had come to raise and fatten cattle to sell to the immigrants of their way to the gold fields. Soon the fame of the pasture land grew, and more families moved into this locality. Prior to 1852 religious services were held in the homes, and apparently schools were also. Phebe “kept school” for the little ones in the summer time, but we are not told when or where her school was held. Ebenezer Brown was appointed the first postmaster, though his wife Phebe kept the office at her home within the fort. She always took an active part in Pioneer and Church activities. She was a well read woman and had a fairly good education for that time. She was a very faithful woman in serving the Relief Society of the Church for many years. In 1853 and in 1854 in accordance with the principle of polygamy Ebenezer took other wives, his first wife was Ann Weaver, who died in 1842, second was Phebe, his third wife was Mary Elizabeth Wright, who also died 29 March 1870, at the birth of her eighth child, leaving Phebe at the age of 73 with a third family to raise. His fourth wife was Elsie Samantha Pulsipher, who also died two years before Phebe leaving small children. She earned the undying love and devotion of all these children. It is said she also raised some of her grandchildren. Although she was five years older than Ebenezer, she outlived him. In her last days she is pictured as a gracious old lady beloved by all and ever faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, distinguished by the cape she wore and the cushion she carried under her arm for the hard benches of the chapel. Ebenezer died 25 January 1878 in Draper and is buried there, and Phebe followed him 28 February 1879 at the age of 82. Following are some words written for Phebe Palmer Brown by E.G.H.? Rejoice my dear sister the spirit of love
You shall live on the earth till you’re seventy-two
Therefore now rejoice in Jesus’ Love
-- Sources: 1. "The Mormon Drapers," by Elbert M. Draper; 2. "Heart Throbs of the West," by Kate Carter;
3. Bible and family records of Phebe and her descendants.
Patriarchal Blessing GIVEN BY JOSEPH SMITH SR.
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ADDITIONAL PALMER ANCESTORS
Phoebe DRAPER
John LOTHROP
(aka John Lathrop or Lothropp)
Samuel LATHROP
Alma Zemira PALMER
Dora PALMER
George PALMER Jr.
Zemira PALMER
CHILDREN WITH GEORGE PALMER JR. 1. Lovina or Jane PALMER Munro; b. 20 Jul 1816; Cramahe Township, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada 2. Asahel PALMER ; b. 26 Jan 1819; Cramahe Township, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada 3. William George PALMER; b. 25 Aug 1821; Haldimond Township, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada 4. Eliza PALMER; b. 31 May 1824; Haldimond Township, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada 5. Lydia Elizabeth PALMER Bruno; b. 16 Oct 1826 or 1827; Haldimond Township, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada 6. Jim Zemira PALMER; b. 9 Aug 1831; East Loughborough, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada 7. Rhoda Ann PALMER Anderson; b. 15 Mar 1834; Cramahe Township, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada CHILDREN WITH EBENEZER BROWN None |
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