William Earl

William Earl

September 21, 1965, Frand J. Earl visited with Hubert Brown of Torrance, California, at Ogden, Utah. The following story was handed down to Hubert by his father, Charles Bowmen and his grandmother, Eleanor McGary Bowmen, who was a daughter of Chalotte Earl McGary, who was the daughter of William Earl.

Hubert's story, in substance, is as follows: The prophet Joseph Smith called a meeting of all the Priesthood to come to the Nauvoo Temple to a special meeting . After prayer Joseph arose and said: "Brethren, I suppose that you are surprised and want to know why I have called this meeting. it is for a very special purpose. I need $500 to pay for printing the Book of Mormon and I have no part of that amount." A hush came over the audience and no one seemed to have anything to say. Grandpa, William Earl, was seated in the back of the room. After a moment or two he arose, held up his hand and said, "I have just sold property for that amount." He walked up the isle to the pulpit and handed Joseph the $500--- All that he had in the world. Joseph accepted the money. He was so touched that tears came to his eyes. They both stood there speechless. Finally, thinking he had done all he could , Grnadpa Earl turned to walk back to his seat. He got only a few steps when Joseph said, "Brother Earl, come back, come back." Grandpa turned and walked back. Joseph reached for a chair nearby and sat it down in front of him and said, "Brother Earl, sit down here." Grandpa sat down n the chair and Joseph laid his hands on his head and gave him a blessing, which was a o impressive that Grandpa said he never forgot it. (It is unfortunate that we do not have this blessing in written form. It has been passed down to Hubert through his father and grandmother, Eleanor McGary Bowen. It is given here as taken form a tape recording by Hubert Bowen, and transcribed there form by F.J. Earl.)

Part of his prayer follows: "Brother Earl, in the name of Israel's God and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood which I hold I lay my hands upon your head and give you a blessing." He blessed him for giving all that he had to the Church for printing of the Book of Mormon and said, "For you great gift you shall be blessed with every blessing you desire in life as long as you live and I bless you that your flock and heads shall increase. I bless you that none of your family shall leave the Church. I bless you with health in your body, that do disease shall live as long as you desire. When the time comes for you passing, it shall be sweet and you shall never know the sorrow of the pains of death, for you shall go as in a twinkling of an eye. I bless you. Brother Earl, that you shall live to do much good in this world and that you shall live to see the firth generation of your posterity before you are called home."

In 1850 William Earl and his family came to Utah. They first settled in Ogden and later in Logan. William Earl's oldest child, Charlotte Elizabeth, married Charles McGary. The McGary's first child Eleanor married Casey Potter Bowen. Their first child Charlotte, married William Boatright. The Boatright's first child was born in 1873 at Corrine, Utah, and named James Potter Boatright.

Grandfather William Earl, hearing of the birth of the baby, James Potter Boatright said, "I am going over to see that baby for he is my fifth generation." He hitched up his oxen and drove over the mountain road to Corrine, went into the house where he found the mother and baby still in bed. He leaned over and kissed the mother and then took the baby into his arms and kissed and loved him and stood there and cried for quite a while. Then he said to those present, "I'm ready to die now. Every word that the Prophet Joseph told me has come to pass and I have now lived to see the fifth generation of my posterity.

After completing his visit, he kissed the mother and took the baby in his again and love him. Grandma said, "He drenched the baby in tears." He then put the baby in Grandma's arms and left to return home.

Before his death in 1879, William Earl sent word to all his children and his posterity to come home that he wanted to see them before he died. My father said, "So many people came that it filled the lot with their wagons." When they arrived Grandfather William Earl shook hands with all the boys and kissed the women and children, for he was a loveable character. He visited with them, called them into the house, and said, "I want to relate some things to you." Then he told, in his own words, the story I have related. Among other things he said "Every promise Joseph, the Prophet, made has been fulfilled. I have never wanted money miraculously. I have had good health. I have had the blessing of a large posterity and none have left