Jesse Lowder (1798 - 1875)

Born 14 Apr 1798 in Surry, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Zilpha (Bullard) Lowder — married 6 Jun 1814 in Grayson Co., VA

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1875 at age 77 in Virgin, Kane, Utah, United States

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Biography

Jesse Lowder was born in 1798, a son of Joseph Lowder and Martha Clark. He passed away in 1875. ^[1]

Researchers Notes

From: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KWV3-3P1

Jesse Lowder's personal T.I.B. record says he was born April 14, 1798 in Ardell, Surry, North Carolina to Joseph Lowder and Martha Patty Clark. Raised as a devout Quaker, his father was condemned for marrying "Out of Unity" on 10/19/1793. His mother is reported to have died in 1800, making Jesse about 2 years old at that time. By the time Jesse was 10 years old his father Joseph was "Disowned" by the Quakers.

Blonde, blue-eyed, mild-mannered Jesse matured early and left home at age 14 to enlist as a Private in 7 Reg't (Saunders) Virginia Militia. Here is where he undoubtedly learned to be an excellent marksman with a rifle, as noted later in his life as unequaled by his peers. He served for 2 years in the War of 1812 and afterwards married Zilpha Bullard on June 15, 1815 in Patrick Co., Virginia. The young couple made their home in Grayson Co., Virginia and had a large family, consisting of Lewis, Rachel, Jonathan, Louis, Richmond, James (Armacy) Mary, Levi and Catherine before moving with Zilpha's parents to Versailles, Brown Co., Illinois. Here is where their 10th and last child John Logan Lowder was born in 1835.

Jesse and Zilpha were both converted and baptized into the Mormon church a year apart, first Zilpha on January 1, 1839 and a year later Jesse was baptized in January of 1840 by Joseph Smith and confirmed by Wilford Woodruff. This same year Jesse purchased 80 acres of land in Quincy, Illinois on November 3rd. Nauvoo records show Jesse was active in the 70's quorum of the ? ward. It is probable that Jesse worked on the Nauvoo temple as a skilled craftsman with his skill with an adz.

Driven from Nauvoo with the Saints exodus they settled first in Winter Quarters Mill Branch, Pottowamie, Iowa in 1846 and much to their delight their son Richmond was baptized this same year on July 7, 1846 by Ezra T. Benson, and confirmed the same day by Brigham Young. James, Catherine and John were also baptized members of the church. They remained in Mills Branch until 1850 when Jesse, Zilpha, Catherine and John are recorded in the 1850 census in Harris Grove Branch, Pottowatomie Co., Iowa where they remained until 1852.

Through the assistance of the Perpetual Immigration Fund and the encouragement of Ezra T. Benson, the branch organized and came to Utah in the 21st Allan Weeks Company arriving in the Salt Lake valley on September 18, 1852. They outfitted in Kanesville, Iowa and left for Utah on July 13, 1852. May it be noted that both Zilpha and John were able to play their violins at the dances held on the long trek west.

Jesse was now 57, Zilpha 60, Catherine, already a widow at 21, and John was 16. With them in their wagon was their daughter-in-law Julia (widow of their son James) and their two grandsons Orson Burr and James Monroe. A granddaughter Catherine died and was buried during the trek west. They went first to stay with their son Richmond in West Jordan with his wife Emily Caroline Norton. From there they were assigned by Brigham Young to assist George A. Smith in the settlement of Parowan, Utah. They helped to build up this settlement and it is recorded that Jesse Lowder contributed $150 to the building of the Rock Brick Church while he was serving as 1st counselor in the Bishopric. He is credited with outstanding craftsmanship on this building with the use of his adz in splitting logs that fit as though they had been cut with a saw.

In 1855 Jesse went with Zilpha to the Endowment House to be sealed as husband and wife and they undoubtedly accepted the law of polygamy because Jesse was sealed in May or June of this same year to Mary Richards. Catherine and Julia both remarried and John married Emily Hodgetts and began his family in Parowan. Jesse, Zilpha, John and his family left Parowan in 1864 with Jens Nielsen to establish a settlement in Panquitch, Utah, which suffered many difficulties with Indian problems, etc. during the years they resided there. George A. Smith advised closing the settlement, so the Lowders went back to Parowan, where Zilpha died and is buried.

In his later years Jesse moved to Virgin, Washington Co., Utah. He was sealed in the Endowment House to Ann Davenport, Sarah Liversedge and Susannah Liversedge on 13 October 1869 (End. House Temple Records, No. 14315, pg. 47) Jesse died on September 9, 1875 and was buried in the Virgin Cemetery, but his grave is reported to have washed away in the Virgin River (Find A Grave memorial #5076048). At any rate his name is not listed among the 452 interments of the Virgin Cemetery, Virgin, Washington, Utah

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5076048/jesse-louder: accessed 17 December 2023), memorial page for Jesse Louder (14 Apr 1798–9 Sep 1875), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #5076048, citing Virgin Cemetery, Virgin, Washington County, Utah, USA; Maintained by Susiqsers (contributor 22040498).