Rachel Ann (Mayer) Myers was the oldest of a family of eight children. Her parents were descendants of the early settlers of Pennsylvania and of German descent. She was born Febuary 9, 1829 at Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio - daughter of George Mayer and Ann Yost Mayer.
After six children were born the family moved to Logansport, White County, Indiana and in her father's journal it says they were very prosperous.
George Mayer, her father, was an expert wagon and plow maker and held important military offices.
Rachel Ann received her education and studied as an apprentice tailor which was very beneficial to her in later years. Her father became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on November 11, 1843, and the family joined him in his belief. They moved to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois in 1844. He was a guard at the Nauvoo temple. His wife and all the children over eight years of age were babtized into the church.
While at Logansport, Rachel Ann's father made 22 wagons and sold them, he also disposed of his property while there. He purchased equipment to move west with the pioneers and on the 22nd of April, 1846 they left Nauvoo equipped with three yoke of oxen, two cows and plenty of everything they could comfortably take, they traveled in Brigham Young's Company and Heber C. Kimball's ten. Brother Kimball was ill and George Mayer took charge of ten wagons leaving Rachel Ann to drive the wagon that carried the Mayer family which she did from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City. She would always get out of the wagon when it was going up hill and climb back in when it was going down, thus making it easier for the animals. Her father said in his record "Rachel Ann" my oldest daughter (she was 19 years of age) had become a great teamster and Berg and Buck, the oxen became very obedient to her commands. They were the best oxen I ever had, always willing to pull, etc.
They arrived in Salt Lake Valley in 1848 and on account of these being good pasture for the animals the family located in "Sessions" settlement some distance north of Salt Lake City. Rachel Ann experienced much responsibility in driving the oxen and taking care of the mother while the younger sister, Mary Ann, helped the father get out logs to build a house. However, before the house was built a sister was born in a wagon box, now Mrs. Diantha Lollin, 238 So. Main Street, Salt Lake City. The family had had the sad experience of burying their only son and brother Benjamin on the plains. Later another son George, Jr. was born in Salt Lake.
During the time the gold rush was in California George Mayer, Sr. made 110 pack saddles and sold them to people who were enroute there. The saddles sold from $2 to $5 each, he obtained a valuable piece of land near where the Salt Lake City and County building now stands one acre and one half (1 1/2 acres).
In 1853 her father was called to preach the gospel in Switzerland, he opened that mission and remained there four years when he returned he seemed almost a stranger to the family. During his absense Rachel Ann earned money to help support the family, she went to work for a neighbor Mrs. Rhodes who took boarders and they were members of the "Legislature" there she met George Brimhall a member of the "Legislature from Iron County". She was married to him by President Brigham Young February 2nd, 1852, he had been married before in the east and was separated from his wife with two children on account of the gospel and from his marriage with Rachel Ann Mayer ten children were born, her oldest son George Henry Brimhall became president of the Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah, other children were Rachel Emma B. Robertson, Emer N. Brimhall, Orvilla B. Boyack, Ruth Rose Brimhall, Tryphona B. Garff and Grace Brimhall Calderwood.
Rachel Ann Mayer Brimhall the mother of these 10 children was a brunette with large brown eyes and a kindly face. She was 5 feet 5 inches tall, quite heavy and with a stately carriage. She often spoke of being slender until she was about 40 years old. She was a woman of high ideals with great determination and strong emotions of love, joy and sorrow. She was every obedient to the cause that made her a pioneer. Soon after her marriage she went with her husband to "Iron County" and they were among the first settlers of Parowan. Next they moved to Ogden, Weber County and were among the first builders of that city. Later they were sent on a mission to the "Little Muddy Mission and were amoung the first settled in the Moapa Country. In 1865 they moved to Spanish Fork where she said "This is enough, we will remain here" which the family did, by this time her father had taken a second wife and moved there also.
Her husband and sons made a house and obtained a good farm, Rachel Ann did not have the opportunity of a higher education, while her husband was educated in letters and music and was always called into public affairs which left to her the responsibility of the home and family. One of the most trying occasions of her life was when she attended the first "Legislature Ball" her husband liked to dance and she had never learned how and every one danced with their partner. She made a resolution that her children should never suffer this humiliation that they should be educated and learn to dance and move in any society of which she accomplished as six of her children were teachers and two had their higher degree as doctors, Dr. George H. Brimhall, President Emeritus of Brigham Young University and Mrs. Grace B. Calderwood, the others chose different occupations. Rachel Ann believed in doing one thing at a time, the children knew there was a special day to make the soap, melt tallow to make candles, put new (blank space here) in the loom/either to weave cloth or carpet, her home was always full so she hardly ever left home only on special occasions like the Zebedee Coltrin's annual dinner, the fourth of July, the old folks party and on occasional trip to Salt Lake City and always to the polls to vote. The things she liked best to do were read and sew and wearing two pair of glasses and a magnifying glass. She knew the scriptures well and loved them, so much that three of her sons were named after the Book of Mormon and two daughters after the Bible. At the age of 66 she was left a widow and at the age of 78 her eyesight was almost completely gone. During the following ten years she had every comfort and convenience that could be given except her eyesight. She passed away at the age of 88 years, five of her children had gone before although she had reared them all to manhood and womanhood. Her other five being at her bedside at the time of death. Her philosophy of life was to live and help others and make them happy. She would never allow anyone to speak evil of those in authority in the Church and if she thought any of her children were doing wrong she would talk to them about it no matter what position they held. She was a very good manager and held on to her farm which brought a good price after the World War I. The Spanish Fork Junior High School now stands on the corner where her home was.