Sarah Ellen (Nellie) Schow, daughter of William and Harriet Hales Fotheringham was born in Beaver City, Utah, August 1st, 1866, was educated in Beaver City schools, and also at the University of Utah.
At the age of 13 she worked at setting type in the Beaver Printing Office, a position she held for four years.
The eldest child of a large family she devoted considerable time to helping her mother care for her younger brothers and sisters, thus creating an interest in, and devotion to children which was to last all of her life.
She taught school in Milford in 1887 and 1888, then in Central, Sevier county in 1888-1889.
The school houses of that period were not the beautiful modern, landscaped buildings we erect today for our children, but were usually of crude log construction. This was the case in the Milford school. The floor boards of rough plank were so widely spaced that the cold air coming up thru the resultant cracks created a constant draught and a resultant cold building in spite of all efforts to heat it. Miss Fotheringham decided to remedy this situation. She enlisted the aid of her pupils in locating burlap bags, solicited a load of fresh new straw from one of the parents, declared a half holiday, then teacher and pupils set to work, they scrubbed the floor boards, placed the straw evenly over the clean surface, then tacked the burlap bags over all this to serve as carpeting, contributing greatly to the comfort of all, thereby. That she was something of a diplomat was borne our by the fact that she converted the school bully, a great overgrown hulk of a boy, who retarded in his schooling and developing an inferiority complex thereby, had become a terror to pupils and teachers alike--in to a loyal and devoted ally almost overnight.
In November of 1889, while teaching at Central, she married Nels C. Schow, the marriage taking place at Richfield, Utah. They made their home in Panguitch for the next three years, after which they moved to Reed, Utah, a newly opened homestead country where it was said "Fabulous crops of grain could be raised to the acre." Here they spent the next 19 years.
Due to the remote location and a serious shortage of capital the pioneer homes of that section were crudely built of logs, rough planks or even half dugout with the upper half of rough planking. In order to create a home like atmosphere for her little family, Nellie as she was affectionately known, papered rough plank walls in several such frontier homes tho the wall paper must very often of necessity, be plain newspaper. The floor coverings made of surplus rag strips woven into a sort of carpeting.
Because she was anxious that her own children and those of her neighbors should have all the educational opportunities possible, Mrs. Schow accepted the position of school teacher for the small school at Reed. In order to do this, it was necessary that she send the baby of the family, Marie, to a sister in Beaver and then take the other children, Kenneth and Metta to school with her--though only the oldest was of school age. They made the trip daily to and from their isolated homestead to the school in a small, topless one horse buggy.
This school like most of the others was built of logs with holes here and there in the chinking there thru which the sun and fresh air circulated freely. Being possessed of a fine Alto voice and a great love for music, she did her best to share this knowledge and appreciation of the fine old hymns and songs of Zion with her neighbors, both in the school work and in the Sunday School which she organized.
This period of time at Reed, was for the most part a time of hardship. Alone for days at a time with her small children when it was necessary for Mr. Schow to be away from home, either shearing sheep at Blackrock, or, helping out a neighbor to supplement their small funds between harvests--Nellie must be Doctor, nurse, teacher, guardian, housekeeper and all around support of her small family as was every pioneer mother in those isolated sectors. There were days at a time in the early summer and late spring when the high water from the Reservoir at Minersville came down in the two big irrigation ditches that divided the valley, that individual families were completely cut off from their neighbors. There were also at this time, a great many loose footed drifters who passed thru the valley, causing lone housewifes considerable uneasiness. One such "Gentleman of Leisure" drifted to Nellie's back door one morning and asked if she would let him have a little salt. This was given to him, and apparently feeling he must make some payment for the bounty given the drifter pulled a partly filled flask from his pocket and holding it out asked his benefactress if she would like a little nip! Drawing herself to her full 5 ft. 2 inches, Mrs. Schow replied "Sir, I am a lady, I thought you were a gentleman," and slammed the door on a very red faced man.
Mrs. Schow was an ardent church worker from the age of 16 to 70 years, being president of the relief society for many years and president of the primary association for a number of years both in Panguitch and Milford. She has a genius for organization and was always able to surround herself with loyal and capable workers in both organizations.
The primary children of that period must remember with gratitude the parties, dances etc., sister Schow organized for them along with the regular primary program. Especially the Xmas parties,the little plays pantomimes, the big Xmas trees, the mammoth popcorn balls that were passed out, along with the ropes of taffy or sacks of hard candies at that time. Not to mention the Jack tournament at which the grand prize, a splendid needle case, fully equpped, was won most unexpectedly--by a boy . . .
Much was accomplished during her time as president of the relief society also, one instance particularly, was her devotion to a little widow who had been left very suddenly and with no preparation with the care of three small children, Mrs. Schow took little Mrs. _______ under her wing and helped her with her problems whenever it was possible, there were many instances when feeling that the little widow was being imposed upon, she took up the cudgels for her vigorously. Early one Winter, discovering that the coal supply was almost demolished at that little home Mrs. Schow went to one of the local merchants, outlined the situation, and suggested that a half ton of coal would be a very generous gift--the coal was delivered that very day.
Because of ill health in later life she was unable to appear in public very often, but she devoted this period to reading widely and was well versed on most subjects. Her children remember with gratitude that if they were ever at a loss to name a capital city, or, puzzled over the proper spelling of a word Mother always knew the right answer.
Mrs. Schow had 10 children, six of whom are living, 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
She passed away at Milford, November 10th 1947, just one day after her 58th wedding anniversary. Of her it might well be said, "Well done my good and faithful servant, enter unto thy rest."
[This history was written by her daughter, Mary Schow Crookston.]
I would like, as I did with Grandpa Schow's history, to add a little of my remembrances. She was so little! She was a tiny little woman, who to me, was always old. I don't think she was very well, her hair was always gray-white and she had brown eyes.
She was always good to me and I don't remember eating sugar cookies, or cinnamon rolls any better than hers! She'd give me a pail and send me out to the backyard to pick ripe currants; there were bushes growing down both sides of the yard. If I was lucky enough to find a pail full of ripe ones, she would make me a currant pie!
She didn't feel well enough to go on very many picnics with us but I know she was there in spirit. There is a letter she wrote telling about the Fotheringhams, and she used to tell me the story. The following is part of the letter she wrote to her brother Stephen Fotheringham,
My Dear Brother,
Your very interesting letter received an hour ago. Am sure you'll want this information asked for as soon as possible. The story told us by dear old grandfather is as follows;
About the latter part of the thirteenth century, during the reign of King Edward I, William Wallace, a young Scot, gathered an army to defend Scotland from English invaders. After several successful attacks on England, Wallace was betrayed, turned over to the English, and beheaded in 1305.
The three McDougal brothers were very close to Wallace. They had to leave, went in different directions to locate. One took the name of Edwards, one of Phillips, and our name Fotheringham. If you will look this up in an encyclopedia you will find it very interesting.
I remember Grandma telling me this story and telling me to read the book titled Scottish Chiefs. Well, I looked for years for that book; just last January, 1995, did I find it. It was originally published in 1921, I bought it, read it and found it fascinating. Do you suppose that story is really true?