James Brown Syme (1834-1910)

                                                                   

James Brown Syme was born 26 August 1834 in Stobsgreen, Edinburgh, Scotland. His temperament blossomed as a full Scot by adulthood. One grandson remembered: "Grandfather Syme lived with us for some time. He was quite stern and was always telling my mother that she should give me a good strapping. I remember getting quite a few lickings from my mother and I guess that I deserved most of them" (ACSJ). A granddaughter recalled his "straight forward . . . speech, which could be very biting." Although, if he did not like anyone, he would not backbite; instead, "he just left them alone." Yet if, when playing checkers, the house was not completely quiet, he would growl "sternly" at the "boisterous" grandchildren, "uttering either one of two expressions: 'By the powers/By the flames, if you don't sit down, I'll knock you down'" (JBS). His Scotish character did not just produce fierce words and a fiery temper, once he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he firmly defended the truth until he died.

As an adult James Brown Syme measured 5 feet and 11 inches tall, 160 pounds, and a chest of 44 inches. His eyes were blue, his hair dark--albeit when he got older it went white, and he grew a flowing beard to go with it. James married Margaret Livingston Haldane on 3 July 1857. The union produced 12 children. By mid-May 1863 James and his wife joined the Church, and he was appointed the presiding elder of the local branch. His ecclesiastical duties sidled next to his employment as a coal miner in Haywood, Scotland--the residential area of the Symes. He found enjoyment and relaxation through fishing and hunting; he raised and loved "greyhound hunting dogs," especially a girl, bluish in color, that he called, "Nellie"; he was a fine marksman: "he could step off twenty steps and shoot the clothes line in [half] with his" 22-caliber rifle (JBS). Despite recreation, family, and fruitful employment, "after joining the Church, all thoughts turned to traveling to Zion" (JBS).

James and a son-in-law left Scotland in 1880 and immigrated to Almy, Wyoming, where James worked in the coal mines. By the end of 1881 money was sufficient for the entire family to relocate to Wyoming. In 1886 the family moved to Wellsville, Utah, which allowed them to receive the sealing ordinance in the Logan Temple. But in 1888 the family once again moved back to Wyoming and resided in the town of Rock Springs--where James once again presided over a branch of the Church (JBS). James staunchly honored the Sabbath day and his spiritual gifts developed as he matured.

One morning before working in the mines in Wyoming he "received the impression that he should not got to work. He obeyed. . . . There was an explosion in the mine that day." A similar experience occurred when he dreamed one night that the mine experienced a cave in; as before, he did not go to work, but the following day returned and found his dream fulfilled. One of his daughters, Mary, was a sickly child. "It seemed as though every time . . . she would have a bad spell, even when [James] was at work, he knew. He would go home immediately and administer to her. She would recover for a time." His youngest daughter, Jane, recalled dying, but being "brought back" through her father's priesthood administration (JBS). He even healed those outside his family circle.

"James and a Brother Voss were called to Mountain View, Wyoming, to administer to a young girl, Ida Johnson, who had been struck by lightning. When they arrived at the home the girl lay on the bed seemingly dead. Many people, [who were smoking and using foul language, came] from [the surrounding ranches] . . . came to the home. [Thus, the scene which greeted the two elders was one of smoke and verbal filth. James] said to Brother Voss, ‘The spirit of the Lord can’t enter this home full of tobacco smoke.’ They did administer to her, but to no avail. They left the home and went to the river bank where the willows grew thick and there they knelt and prayed to the Lord. When they arose to their feet something told them to go back and pray over the girl again. They requested all the people to leave the home except the father and mother of the girl. [One wonders how "nicely" the Scot asked them to vamoose.] After the people left they again administered to the girl. In just a few minutes she opened her eyes and soon began to talk to them. In a short while she was able to sit up in bed, and before the day was over she was up walking around."

James lost his wife in 1891 and he passed away in 1910. They are buried side-by-side in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

 (“Autobiography [Early Years] of Cecil Syme James [1900-1988] - written in 1979” [ACSJ] www.FamilySearch.org>James Brown Syme [KWJC-6CH]>Memories>Stories; Viola James Reese, "James Brown Syme" [JBS], www.FamilySearch.org>James Brown Syme [KWJC-6CH]>Memories>Documents).