Daughter of Frederick Reasor & Sarah Kester

Married James Polly Brown, 13 Apr 1826, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona

Eunice Reasor Brown was born on March 4, 1808 in Shelby County, Kentucky. Her parents were Fredrick Reasor and Sarah Hester. On April 13, 1826, Eunice Reasor was married to James "P" Brown, a son of Robert Brown and Margaret Polly. Their marriage took place in Floyd County, Indiana, with her father, a Baptist Minister, officiation. To this union were born eight children. William, the eldest son, was the first to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. William was also instrumental in converting the other members of his family. He died in 1845.
In the spring of 1843, the family moved from Fredicktown, Missouri. Their second son Fredrick, who was born in 1828, died in November of 1843. In the same year the family moved to Macoupin County, Illinois, and then to Nauvoo to be with members of the Church. They were among the many to endure the persecutions of the Saints. One incident recorded was about a precious feather bed which Eunice refused to leave when the Saints were driven out of Nauvoo. She clung to it and said. "If I can't take it with me, I will open it and let the feathers fly." Later on she sold the bed for an ox to replace a tender-footed one. She also had foresight to provide herself with several dresses before she made the trek across the plains.
When James "P" and Eunice Brown reached Council Bluffs, the call came for volunteers to join the Mormon Battalion. James "P" Brown enlisted in Company D as a private. After reaching Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, James found that he could bring his family with him and sent for them. The family had two teams, two yoke of young oxen, three cows, and a tent. Newman, age 16, and Robert age 14, drove the teams, and Sarah Jane, age 12, had the duty of driving the three cows. The wagons were placed at the rear so Sarah Jane would be near her family while tending the cattle. She often remarked: "The Battalion followed the flag and I followed the dust." It has been reported that Alma, age 6, and Mary Ann, age 4, went along to. Alma Shroch (or Shrock) was an Indian boy that James had bought from Navajo Indians for $25.00. He was regarded and treated as if he were one of their own children.
When the family reached Fort Leavenworth, Robert, their son and one of the teamsters, was ill. His father was permitted to drive the team. The James "P" Brown family was among the group that went with the Higgins Detachment in September of 1846 to Pueblo, Colorado. As they left, Sarah Jane felt a sense of loneliness. She would miss the security of so many people. Her father was one of the men who assisted Captain Higgins in bringing the group to Pueblo. (Tyler, 158).
On the way to Pueblo, the company came upon an Arapaho Indian village. The group was somewhat frightened. The Indian chief teated them with kindness, and led them to a good place to camp. Sarah Jane was sitting by her mother in the wagon when the chief passed by. He wanted Sarah Jane to ride with him on his horse. Eunice refused to allow her to accept the ride and it was decided that a guard was to be on duty that night. There were many prayers offered in behalf of the safety of the group. When the family reached Pueblo, they camped by the Mississippi Saints who were already there. They built their log houses between the homes of the Mississippi Saints.
In November of 1846, Eunice, James and their family were to see the second detachment of women, children, and the sick soldiers come to Pueblo. All the women except five and some children had been sent to Pueblo. After Captain James Brown brought them to Pueblo, he left again. In the spring he returned with some of the soldiers' pay, and also had orders that the group at Pueblo was to leave under his leadership to Ft. Laramie, Wyoming. On the route to Ft. Laramie, Eunice gave birth on June 2nd to a baby boy whom they named John Taylor Brown.
The company arrived in Salt Lake Valley on July 29, 1847. At this time, the Battalion members were released from their service duty. Their year of enlistment had expired. Under the leadership of Isaac Morley, the Brown family moved to Manti to help settle the area. Their first home was on the south side of the hill which is the present site of the Manti temple. Another child, Eunice Ann, was born on March 13, 1851. During this period of time, the families encountered many Indian skirmishes.
Eunice Brown died July 28, 1858 in Manti, Utah. She is buried in the Manti City Cemetery. When Sarah Jane was seventeen, she married John Lowery, and eventually became the mother of nine children. She was devoted Church member and worked in the Manti temple. She died in October of 1920, and was buried in the Manti Cemetery.
Mary Ann was four when her parents joined in the Battalion. She married Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan. Mary Ann died in February of 1901 in Glenwood, Utah.
Source:
Lyman, Amy Brown, Pres. "Women of The Mormon Battalion."
from Women of the Mormon Battalion
Compiled and edited by Carl V. Larson and Shirley N. Maynes
keyed to digital by Renda Taylor Feb 2005




James (Polly) Brown and his wife Eunice Reasor Brown. James was a private in Company D, with Captain Nelson Higgins and 1st Lieutenant George Parker Dykes. He married Eunice Reasor who was born 4 Mar 1808 in Renbrely, Shelby, Kentucky. They had nine children. By 1851 the family was in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah. It was here in Manti that Eunice died on 18 Jul 1858. She is buried in the Manti City Cemetery along with two daughters, Sarah Jane Brown who married John Lowry, Jr., and Eunice Ann Brown who married Peter Mikkel Munk. Eunice's grave is marked with a plaque stating that she was among the women who marched with the Mormon Battalion. The plaque was placed by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.