DID YOU KNOW - James Powell threw his own brains into a fire?

James and Jemima Powell were living in Caldwell County, Missouri in the early days of the church. They were not members of the LDS church at the time and a mob came, requesting him to join them against the Mormons. He said, "No, I will not join you. I don't know anything about the Mormons." They replied, with a warning, "If you do not join us, we will kill you."

The mob then headed in the direction of Jemima's parent's home, where the Powell's young daughter was at the time. James and Jemima feared for her safety and followed the mob. 

As they met up with the posse, one member of the mob became angry and hit James over the head with his gun barrel, smashing his head and giving them a warning that if they weren't gone by the next morning, they would return and kill all of them.

Jemima ran for help. Her family were Latter-Day Saints and a blessing, by the laying on of hands was given to James. Afterwards, he arose and walked about 200 yards to the family house.

They decided it was best to leave for Huntersville (a town about four miles away) and packed their belongings in a wagon, driving all night through a wooded country, followed by the posse who were determined to see them gone.

Upon arrival, they were surrounded by a crowd of three hundred men who asked what they had in the wagon. Jemima replied, "If you must know, we have a wounded man in the wagon." They then asked if we had done anything for him and if we were Mormons. Although Jemima's parents and two sisters had joined the church, at that time, neither James or Jemima were Mormons and had never heard a Mormon preach. 

One of the men told them to go to a certain vacant house, where James was taken out of the wagon and doctors performed an operation on his head. They cut his scalp in four parts, drawn down as far as his ears and forehead, but they were fearful of the posse and left him in this condition.

During James illness, nearly one fourth of his brains were taken out. The doctors were showing them to others present in the room, when James requested to see them. They were handed to him. He looked at them closely and then threw them into the fire, remarking, "There is a miracle for you! (A man holding his own brains in his hands, throwing them into the fire and living to see them burned!)

His left arm and side was paralyzed through the blow, but James recovered sufficiently to work and care for his family, even though he never had the use of one arm. He suffered from seizures the rest of his life.

The family joined the Mormon Church and moved in fear from place to place, eventually moving to Nauvoo where they stayed until the Saints were driven out. They settled in Odgen, Utah.

In Ogden, the Weber River divided their farm land and their home. In July 1854, James was crossing the river on his horse, caught in a fit and being alone, fell into the river and was drowned. His body was found the next day and was buried.

James suffered great physical hardship throughout his life as a result of his faith, but remained true and faithful to the end.

Descendency

James Powell (1809-1854), husband of Jemima Wimmer

Simeon Comfort Powell (1842-1918)

Hannah Caroline Powell (1882-1947)

Allen Berry Williams (1905-2000)

LaVon Williams (1932-2015)

Diane Finlinson

Sources: 
Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, p. 2436
Incidents in the life of James Powell were written in Feb 1860, as related by wife, Jemima Powell, after James' death. (They were written in the handwriting of Jemima Wimmer and was found in an old family record book of Peter and Elizabeth S. Wimmer in the possession of Robert Wimmer, a grandson of afore mentioned Robert Wimmer)

*This story was condensed by Diane Miller, but is in its entirety on myfamilyfiles.blogspot.com