Show William Fowler buried in Manti Monti Editors Editor's note The following following following follow follow- ing story was written several weeks ago by Mrs Ellice Moffitt Manti ManU resident now making her home in Salt Lake City The author of or one of the most well-known well hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Latter Saints was written by a man who called Mantl Manti home In fact he is buried burled In the ManU Mantl tery The famous man William Fowler was the author of We Ve Thank Thee 0 O God for a Prophet William was born on May 9 1830 in Australia where his fa father ther and mother had moved from England His father was wasa a member of the British army and was stationed In Australia Williams William's first contact with the Church came in 1848 when he heard Its message On July 1849 he went into the waters of baptism In 1854 he married Ellen Bradshaw He and his wife and three small children decided to leave for this country in 1863 They left London on June and arrived In Salt Lake City on October 3rd Soon after their arrival In Utah they set setout setout setout out to make their home in MantI Mantl Mr Fowler contacted a cold while crossing the plains and never fully recovered Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Tuber Tuber- set in as a result of this cold which finally caused his death in August of 1865 The tall dark complexioned man was a cutler by trade and was very proficient but the pioneer tradesmen were at a disadvantage for lor lack of tools and machinery to work with This coupled with ill health caused them at times to suffer for the necessities of life Kind neighbors and friends helped them as much as their limited means would allow Mother Mrs Jorgen Madsen has told us that when she was wasa a child being a neighbor was often sent by her mother to the Fowler home with food and other things for their comfort At that time Fowlers Fowler's home was a log hut but that had been built on the corner of the block where Marlton MarIton Lowrys Lowry's home now stands One day when mother was T.-d T. sent there on an errand she was very impressed as she entered the room She had heard them singing We thank thee for every blessing bestowed by thy bounteous hand We feel It Ita ita ita a pleasure to serve thee and love to obey thy command A small cloth that was used to cover the window had been fastened to one side so light could shine into the room Bro Fowler was standing In Inthe Inthe inthe the light playing his violin an English melody When mother was admitted into the room she wondered What blessings have they for which to be thankful thankful thank thank- ful She handed the basket to Sister Sister Sister Sis Sis- ter Fowler With a smile on her face she kept humming as she took the cold boiled ham bread and Danish buns from the basket and laid the food on ona ona ona a small table last was a package package package pack pack- age of tea She opened the package and wi with th her long bony fingers she took a few leaves and laid them on her husbands husband's tongue She put a few leaves on her mouth A cup of tea was wasa a life saver for lor an Englishman but a good cup of coffee was a alife alife alife life saver for a This hungry and thirsty couple smiled and truly felt that the he Father was good Many times this scene has presented itself to mothers mother's mind while she has been singing singing singing sing sing- ing the song with the congre congre- gation This hymn has become one of the most popular and andis andis andis is sung universally throughout the church Summing up the contents of the hymn It is this first verse thanks to God second consolation and hope third a song of 01 praise The melody to which this song is sung Is not an original Latter-day Latter Saint composer There were two brothers who came from England In the early sixties one William WIlllam and the theother theother theother other Henry Fowler The brother William wrote and composed composed composed com com- posed this hymn and adapted the music of The Officers Officer's Funeral to this hymn of ours An officer of 01 high rank was killed in the battle of Black- Black lava at the close of the War of 1854 between the English English- French allies against the Rus s i |