Emma Ozella Johnson was born October 17, 1858 in Springville, Utah County, Utah. She is the oldest child of Lorenzo Johnson and Emma James. Her siblings are James Parley, Orrissa Jane, Martha Sylvania, Mary Ann Viola, Sarah Maria, and George Aaron.
It is one of the granddaughters of John and Ozella Johnson Rowley that we are indebted not only for information on Ozella's life, but for much detail describing the exodus from Mexico in 1912.
After the death of John Rowley, the Rowley families were all very ambitious, and through much hard work were able to provide for themselves. Ozella's children were old enough when their father died to operate the flour mill and work in the fields with their mother. They lived off corn meal, which they made, the vegetables they grew, and milk from their own cows. The boys built a cellar of logs, where they stored food for the winter. The family always had a large bin of potatoes and squash. In the fall, they pulled up the tomato vines and hung them on the walls of the cellar, thereby enjoying tomatoes for weeks into the winter.
Ozella was an immaculate house keeper. Her walls were always whitewashed with lime from the Rowley mill. Like most women of her day, she spent much time in her garden. During the harvest, she joined the children shucking corn for the grist mill. She also owned a few sheep which her boys sheared. The wool was then washed, carded, and prepared for Ozella to spin. Spinning was one of the normal chores of life that Ozella enjoyed. Having spun her own yarn, she knitted stockings and sweaters for the family. She taught these basic pioneer skills to each of her daughters.
Ozella is described by her granddaughter as a kind neighbor, one who was always willing to assist where needed. She was often called to care for the sick, even in the middle of the night. In 1910, when Ozella's son William received a call to the Southern States Mission, he left a wife and four children. Ozella watched over his little family like a guardian angle during his absence.
In late 1910, the smoldering discontent of the impoverished and oppressed masses in Mexico ignited into violent revolution. The country divided into three factions, the rebels, the pro-government federales, and the lawless bandidos. All were armed and dangerous. During the next two years, different factions rode into the colonies from time to time, disrupting community life, and helping themselves to whatever provisions they wanted.
The residents of Pacheco, where Ozella and Orissa Rowley lived with their families, were mostly Americans, and mostly Mormons. On 22 July 1912, as the residents of Pacheco prepared for the 24th of July celebration, a group of rebels rode into the settlement, telling the residents that they intended to occupy the town on the 24th. More rebels followed the next day. Plans for the celebration were canceled, except the scheduled ball game. The whole town was watching the game the morning of the 24th when an army of eighty rebels arrived.
The next Sunday, the Saints attended their meetings as usual. The men remained after Church, giving what we would now call a home teaching report--reporting on the status of each family. Ozella had just arrived home when her daughter-in-law came to the house, saying that Ernest Exile Rowley, son of Orissa, had just ridden into town with an urgent message from the stake president in Colonia Juarez. All women and children were to be ready to leave the colonies for the United States early Tuesday morning. A few of the men would take them to the rail head at Parson's Mill, then return to Pacheco to protect their homes. Remorse and fear swept through the entire colony, but most of the settlers harbored hopes that the troubles would soon blow over and things would return to normal.
Reaching the lumber mill, the party halted for the night. Ozella later recalled that she did not sleep well on the floor, partly for the discomfort, and partly from thinking to herself that some of the rebels might be sleeping in her feather bed at home.
The rebels took possession of Ozella's home, and her son David's. David slept in the house with them one night. Next morning, as he was out tending the animals, they fixed their own breakfast, eating his food and using his dishes. He came in to find them all seated at his table.
After the exodus from Mexico, Ozella lived for a time in Thatcher, Arizona, Salt Lake City, and the Pacific Northwest. In the end, she settled in Provo, Utah where her mother Emma, sister Orissa, and other family members lived.
She was known for her wonderful quilts, and the fresh vegetables from her garden. After the death of her mother in 1925, she lived mostly with son David and his wife.
Two years before her death Ozella suffered a severe stroke. Her children nursed her back to fair health. She was up and around in the house, reading and doing what she could to stay busy. One day in January 1938, she sat reading the Relief Society Magazine. As she arose from her chair, she suffered another stroke. She remained bed-ridden for another fifteen months, cared for by her daughter Emma, and family. On 22 April 1939, Ozella Rowley slipped peacefully away, her daughter and children at her side.

Copied from "Rowley Family Histories"