Memorials › Jesse Noah Rowley

Jesse Noah Rowley

18 Feb 1874 – 27 Oct 1966

Birth18 Feb 1874
Death27 Oct 1966
CemeteryCity of Mesa Cemetery
Mesa , Maricopa County , Arizona , USA
Added byMarlin J Haws on 19 Sep 2010
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7348500

Bio

History shared on familysearch by MobleyDarlynn1 Jesse's parents, John Rowley and Mary Ann Gadd, were both originally from England, and crossed the plains with the Mormon pioneers. Jesse was born on February 18th 1874 in Nephi, Utah where his family lived for more than 20 years. Though he was the 6th child born in a family of 12 children, he was only the second boy and consequently shouldered a huge burden of responsibility at a very young age. He helped his father dig ditches, herd livestock, build a water wheel and make plaster for the temples being built in Salt Lake City and Manti all before he was even a teenager. He became a hard worker with a will of iron and the muscles to match. His father was a polygamist and spent a great deal of time running from the law, leaving his two oldest sons in charge of everything at home. The family all took part in operating the plaster mill, but Jesse and his older brother John were the ones in charge when their father was in hiding. When Jesse was 16 years old the family was forced to move to Old Mexico to get away from the ever pressing lawmen. They traveled pretty much on the run from Nephi, Utah, to Manti then into Arizona. Jesse and his mother and her children stayed in Central, Arizona, while his father took the other families down into Colonia Diaz, Mexico. After about a year John returned to Central to get Mary and the children. In Colonia Diaz Jesse helped his father build a mill to grind cornmeal and wheat and a 20' x 20' limestone building. Then they built a windmill and placed it on top of the building to run the mill. At that point Jesse's father again left Mary and her children to move his other families to Pacheco. Jesse ran the mill for a year or two then sold it and bought him a blacksmith shop. In 1896, at the age of 22 Jesse married Lucy Alvina Norton and they were sealed by Apostle George Teasdale in Diaz, Mexico. He built a good three room brick house and a larger blacksmith shop where he fixed wagons and plows for the townspeople. In 1904 Jesse was called on a mission to Mexico City, where he served for two years and seven months. He was put in charge of the whole mission for a time while his mission president, Hyrum Harris went to South America. He spoke Spanish fluently and was a powerful and convincing missionary. In July 1912 members of the church were directed by the church leaders to leave Mexico to stay out of the war down there. Jesse, his wife and six children ended up in Tucson, Arizona with nothing to show for their hard work in Old Mexico. Jesse was able to get a blacksmith job there and he worked for 11 months then moved to the Rieito. There he borrowed a horse and begin clearing 20 acres of land where he planted alfalfa, corn and peaches. A friend helped him get 11 heifers and as soon as he got them paid for he bought more. While living there his wife got sick and was sick for several years. She died and left Jesse with 8 children. Nearly a year later, on August 24th 1919, he married Martha Haws and they immediately began having children to add to his already large family. They lived in a one room home with a sleeping porch. After two floods and a fire the Rowley's moved to Mesa, Arizona where one of Jesse's daughters, Veda had moved. Jesse bought 30 acres of land and went to work again, but got behind on payments and lost it all. Then he leased a blacksmith shop, bought a lot and a house more in town and started over still another time. He raised chickens and cows for a while then there was another fire and everything went up in smoke again. After many moves and many new starts, Jesse finally found a permanent place to spend the rest of his days on South Olive Drive in Mesa. Late in 1933, Jesse's and Martha's oldest son, then 13 years old was hit by a truck on the corner of what is now Broadway and Mesa Drive. Heber was taken to the hospital but died just as Jesse arrived to see him. Jesse fathered 19 children and worked hard to support them and teach them the gospel. Though he was a tall and domineering figure with a commanding voice, he was dearly loved and respected. He was strong and vivacious all his life, riding a bicycle around Mesa even when he was in his 90's. His wit was quick to the very end. He died in Mesa at the age of 92.

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