Sarah Olive Newell

Sarah was born on January 22nd, 1844 in Nauvoo, IL in the United States to Almon Newell and Olive Comstock. She was the fourth and last of their children, and the only girl. Her mother died when she was eighteen months old and her father married Rachael Bunn Lundy Jerman, a widow who had two small sons. Her father and Rachael had a third son together a few years later.

The family arrived in Provo, UT by 1852 when she was eight years old.

She married David Tarbell Drown on December 9th, 1860 in Provo, UT, on his twenty third birthday. Sarah was fifteen.

Their first child, Ellen Elizabeth, was born on May 3rd, 1862 in West Jordan, UT.

Their second child, David Almon, was born on March 15th, 1864 in West Jordan.

Their third child, Alice Adelia, was born on December 18th, 1865 in West Jordan.

Their fourth child, Charles Madison, was born on October 10th, 1867 in West Jordan.

Their fifth child, Olive Marie, was born on May 7th, 1870 in West Jordan.

Their sixth child, Alfred Carlos, was born on June 15th, 1872 in Midvale (formerly W. Jordan), UT.

Their seventh child, Eva Geraldine, was born on July 4th, 1874 in Midvale.

Their eighth child, Clara Valeria, was born on January 25th, 1877 in Midvale.

From a family history of Sarah Newell:

Sarah Olive Newell was born in 1844 at Nauvoo, Illinois. Her mother died when she was eighteen months old; the father then married a widow German, who had two sons. The family left Nauvoo in 1846, then left Iowa in 1852 for Utah. They were in a company of 75 wagons, including the Cutler family, who also settled in West Jordan (Midvale). They reached the valley October 5, 1852 and camped on the grounds where the City and County building stands.

The Newell family moved to Provo, but Sarah came to Midvale and lived at the home of Harmon Cutler. She married David Drown in 1860. They first lived in a cave in a hill near the river south of present Center Street. Ten children were born to this couple, the first four being born while living in the dugout.

In 1866, David, Sarah and their children moved to a two-room log house erected on the North side of Center Street, about 300 feet west of Main Street. From 1866 to 1890, this log cabin was the home of the Drown family with the exception of the summers of 1880 and 1881 when they lived on the farm of Fred Cooper in South Jordan. In 1890 the log cabin was moved to the rear of the lot and a rustic frame house was built on the site.

In 1880 they lived in West Jordan, UT in their two room log cabin with seven children; David, Alice, Charles, Olive, Alfred, Eve and Clara. David and David Jr. were farm laborers.

In 1900 they still in West Jordan, now in the larger rustic frame house, with three of their children; Alfred, Melvin and Ruby. David was still listed as a farm laborer, Alfred was a brakeman, and Melvin was a railroad laborer. Ruby was at school.
David died in 1907 when he was struck by a train while gathering coal scraps along the tracks.

In 1920 Sarah lived with her widowed son, Charles, and his daughters Lillian and Burnice in Midvale, UT. Charles was a common laborer.

Sarah died on December 30th, 1922 in Salt Lake City, UT, and was buried in the Sandy City Cemetery.

Do you know anything about Sarah? Do you have any memories, photos or information to add? I would absolutely love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below to add your information. If you have photos to share, please send them to me along with any other information at tomebug (at) gmail (dot) com.