The Life of Robina Gowans Moyes

ROBINA GOWANS MOYES, mother of William Gowans Moyes, father of Elmer Allen Moyes, father of Leon Roger Moyes, father of Michael Verl Moyes.

Written by Eva Moyes Ehmann

It is with deep feelings of love and admiration that I write of the life and experiences of my mother. Robina Gowans Moyes who was born at Number Nine Stevenson Place, Paisley, Scotland on November 15, 1843, was a daughter of James and Robina Bryson Gowans. At age four her father died, leaving her mother with the care of her family of five small children, James, Alexander, Sarah, Robina, Jane and Annie.

Grandmother Gowans owned her own weaving shop where she made a good living for herself and family by the weaving of fine shawls, among them the lovely Paisley shawls. Mother was about five feet three inches tall. Her hair was golden brown and her eyes were a deep blue. She spent her girlhood in Paisley and received her education there.

On June 22, 1860, at the age of sixteen, she married William Moyes, nineteen years of age, at Gartland Place, Scotland by Free Church Minister James McGregor. Father was five feet nine inches tall, his eyes were blue and his hair black and very curly. Mother and her family were members of the Methodist Church. Her nephew, the reverend Alexander Pollock, served as chaplain during World War I. He was loved by his entire parrish. Father and his family were Latter-day Saints although he did not do much work in the church until he was twenty one years old and became president of the L.D.S. branch in Paisley. He brought the many missionaries home to their small apartment where mother cooked for them and washed and ironed their clothes; ruffled white shirts included.

Mother had not joined the church but she did not want to deny father the blessings which he believed were awaiting him and his family in Zion. They lost their first child, Robert, who was prematurely born, and were the parents of three; William Gowans, six, James Gowans, four, and Robina, 2 years old. Father’s widowed mother, Elizabeth Hutchinson Moyes, one sister, Margaret, and five brothers, James, John, Stewart, Robert and Alexander, decided to come to America. That was the moment of decision for my parents. Although it meant that mother would leave her mother, brothers and sisters, whom she never saw again, they decided to gather their few possessions and leave their native land.

On June 11, 1868, they set sail for America on the sailing vessel "Emerald Isle." With them were their three small children and my father’s youngest brother, Alexander Hutchinson Moyes. The food served on the ship was poor and the drinking water was bad. Father described the water by saying that to look through a glass of water was like looking through moss agate because it seemed to be streaked with moss. After sailing rough seas for almost eight weeks, on August eighth, mother gave birth to her fifth child whom she named Elizabeth Ivers. The name Ivers was given this baby girl because Captain Ivers of the tug boat which came to bring the Emerald Isle into the New York harbor, showed so much kindness to mother and her new baby. Captain Ivers said, "God bless you and this tiny girl on your long journey" and he placed a silver crown in the baby’s hand. This baby was an American citizen because she was born in American waters. After eight weeks and two days the ship landed in New York harbor on August eleventh. During the journey thus far, thirty five converts and children had died and were buried at sea. Often, mother told us of her sadness at seeing the bodies of the dead floating on the waves for hours after burial.

In New York City, my parents saw tomatoes for the first time. They bought some but did not like them. They left New York by train. The railroad coaches were narrow, uncomfortable and crowded. Finally, they reached St. Louis, Missouri and began the long journey across the plains. They were members of Captain Mumford’s company and traveled by ox team. Mother told us about the many "Indian scares." When it was reported by scouts that Indians had been sited, camp was formed and most of the men rode out to see what could be done. Many of the women wept and became hysterical, fearing that their husbands would be scalped or killed. However, this company was blessed and the Indian rumors proved to be false. Many heads of buffalo were seen enroute. Mother walked beside the wagons during most of the journey. Her skirts were torn to shreds. The three small children and the tiny baby stood the trip very well. In spite of the hardships, mother enjoyed the trip to Utah. She had a very cheerful disposition and a strong determination to reach Zion.

When the train reached Echo, Utah, early in October, they learned that the railroad had been built that far. They were told that there would be work for many of the pioneer men. They continued on through Weber Canyon and arrived in Ogden on October eighth, 1868. The people of the company were taken to a building called "Fireman’s Hall" located near the present site of the Ogden Elk’s Club (the former Central School) on the corner of 25th Street and Grant Ave. They were low on supplies and had little money. Many of the people were met by friends or relatives who had arrived earlier and were taken to their homes. Mother and the children were settled temporarily in Fireman’s Hall and father walked back up Weber Canyon to Echo, where he secured work on the railroad for a few weeks.

Shortly after father had left, a kindly stranger came to tell mother that he and his wife had a log cabin which they had made as comfortable as possible for mother and the children. He took them and their luggage in his small wagon to their first home in Ogden. His good wife had made a fire in a small cooking stove and had brought in food and milk. These good people were none other than Mr. and Mrs. William McKay, the grandparents of our President David O. McKay. Each day they showered mother and her four small children with love and kindness. This first, one room house was located near 26th Street on the west side of Lincoln Ave.

Later, when the railroad reached Ogden, father worked at what is now the Union Depot. The family moved to Terrace, Utah where, again, father worked for the railroad. When my parents returned to Ogden, they purchased a large lot from Mr. John Everett at 218 26th Street. They built a small house at first but later added to it, making a comfortable six room home which was the family home for some fifty-one years. Here, mother gave birth to nine children, who with the four born in Paisley, Scotland and the one born at sea, made fourteen.

Robert, born and died in 1861 in Scotland.
William Gowans, born January 10, 1862 in Scotland. Died April 28, 1937 Twin Falls, Idaho.
James Gowans, born January 14, 1864 in Scotland. Died April 28, 1938 in Ogden, Utah.
Robina, born Feb 14, 1866 in Scotland. Died Aug 8, 1940 in Kanesville, Utah.
Elizabeth Ivers, born at sea Aug 8, 1868. Died Oct 20, 1869 in Ogden, Utah.
Elizabeth Ann, born in Ogden, Sep 30, 1870. Died Mar 18, 1873 in Ogden, Utah.
Robert Alexander, born Sep 14, 1872 in Ogden. Died Aug 8, 1945 in Ogden.
Jane, born Feb 6, 1875 in Ogden. Died Oct 2, 1949 in Renton, Washington.
John, born Feb 23, 1877 in Ogden. Died Feb 25, 1877 in Ogden.
May, born May 31, 1878 in Ogden. Died June 23, 1878 in Ogden.
George Gowans, born May 26, 1879 in Ogden. Died July 16, 1959 in Ogden, Utah. Dee Memorial Hospital.
Arthur, born Sep 10, 1881 in Ogden. Died May 18, 1892 in Ogden.
David Gowans, born June 26, 1883 in Ogden. Died Oct 8, 1901 in Ogden.
Eva, born Aug 23, 1885 in Ogden. Still living as of Aug 3, 1965.

The eight children who lived to man and womanhood branched into different walks of life and were a credit to their parents. William Gowans was a talented violinist, he later became a farmer but spent many of his evenings playing in dance orchestras. He became the father of 13 children. James Gowans was a businessman who, with his father, owned and operated the James G. Moyes and Co. lumber yard and planing mill, located on the northeast and northwest corners of 23rd Street and Lincoln Ave. Robert A. was a cashier of the Commercial Security Bank in Ogden for 35 years. David G. became assistant principal of Mound Fort School at the age of 18. He died of typhoid that same year, 1901. George Gowans became a physician and surgeon and practiced in Ogden for 35 years. The oldest daughter, Robina, became the wife of Henry P. Green, a prosperous farmer and lived in Kanesville, Utah. Jane was an expert seamstress. She married William Charles Schmalz, a sheepman of Uintah. Eva, the youngest daughter, graduated from the University of Utah and taught school for 36 years. She married Charles H. Ehmann.

Mother and father made two trips to Europe where they were able to visit their native Scotland. They were able, during their later years, to spend their winter months in Calif. They were loved and respected by a large circle of friends because of their generosity and kindness. Our home was indeed a happy one where friends and family, including the grandchildren, often gathered. A favorite guest in our home was David Eccles, father’s cousin. Mother and father celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on June 22, 1910. Friends and family came from far and near. Seventeen friends who had attended their wedding in Paisley, Scotland in 1860, joined in the 50th wedding celebration.

Mother was an avid reader; she had promised father that she would join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after she had studied the doctrine until she was sure. She read the Bible and the Book of Mormon and studied their truths. On June 28, 1891, she and her youngest son, David, were baptized in the Second Ward. The favorite authors which mother read over and over were Shakespeare, Burns, Byron and Moore. She had a remarkable memory and a keen wit. She was able to make suitable quotes on almost any occasion. One of my favorite memories is hearing mother sing while sewing or working about the house. "Bonnie Sweet Bessie" and "Silver Threads Among the Gold" were two of her favorites. About 1879, mother bought a "New Home" sewing machine. Up to this time, she had made the family clothing by hand. Now she was able to run seams for neighbors who did not own a machine as yet. Neighbors of whom my parents were very fond were the two families of Richard Douglas who lived across the street from us until the deaths of the parents. The mothers of those families were Elizabeth (Aunt Betty) and Eliza Powell Douglas. Other good neighbors were the James Cassin family who lived next door for fifty two years.

On March 13, 1920, father passed away at 78 years of age, leaving mother alone after almost 60 years of marriage. Five years later, on May 19, 1925, mother passed away. She was 81 years of age. Both parents were laid to rest in the family plot in Ogden City Cemetery. At the time of mother’s death she was survived by four sons, three daughters and thirty eight grandchildren.
　
[Author not named but must be Eva Moyes Ehmann, the youngest, since she is the only child mentioned still living at the time of writing in 1965 as she approached her 80th birthday].