Mary Ann Cox

Mary Ann Cox Walker

Mary Ann Cox Walker

Mary Ann Cox Walker, my grandmother, was born in Wootton, Northampton, England, August 17, 1828. She was the oldest child of Charles Cox and Ann Harris Cox's four children.

She first heard the gospel in England from Elder George D. Watt (the first convert to Mormonism in England and later a friend and neighbor in Davis County, Utah). She was baptized by Brother John D. Williams, May 29, 1848 in Dorchester, England at the age of twenty years. She at once had the desire to go to America to join the Saints but her parents disagreed with the idea.

One month later on June 26, 1848 her father died, leaving her mother with the two girls, Mary Ann and Ellen, and one son, William Collett. The death of her father, no doubt, postponed her plans for sailing for America. She was determined, however. For five years before leaving she was employed by a lady as a dressmaker to secure money for her passage. The lady and her family kept it a secret that Grandma was a Mormon as it would not have been possible for her to continue working had their friends known. She might have gone earlier with a family who offered to have her join them, but she was counseled against it. It turned out that the family she might have gone with made it only to St. Louis and apostatized there. Instead, Mary Ann Cox waited until she had the money to finance her complete journey to Zion.

At Birmington she bade good-by to her mother and sister, Ellen, and set sail from Liverpool for New Orleans, January 25, 1853 on the ship 'Golconda'. The voyage over the Atlantic lasted nine weeks. A girl friend that left England with her became dissatisfied while on the ship and later returned to her native land. While making the voyage, the Captain inquired of the passengers if anyone would make him a set of white shirts. Grandma said that she would, so spent some time making them with the tiny tucks down the front. The Captain was very well pleased with them and paid her for her work.

Grandma was met in New Orleans by Brother Williams, the one that had baptized her nearly five years before. With him and others she came up the Mississippi river to Keokuk, Iowa. Here she remained for seven weeks before the journey west.

One evening at a camp fire meeting just before leaving Keokuk, Brother John R. Winder called upon a young man to lead the group in singing the hymn, "Weep, Weep Not for Me in Zion". The man was tall and of English birth also Grandma was curious and real short so she stood on her tip toes in order to see the one that was to travel in her company. It was then that she first saw her future husband, James John Walker. She said many times in her later life, she fell in love with him right then.

On June 1, 1853 she left for Salt Lake City with Brother Williams and his wife in the Ten Pound Company as a member of the Cyrus H. Wheelock Company. She endured the trials and hardships of covered wagon days, walking a distance of 1400 miles. She has told us among other experiences of the easy way they had of churning, of tying the buckets of milk or cream under the wagon. As the wagon jolted along the rough roads the churning would be done. Then, when they stopped, the butter would be taken care of. A member of that pioneer company Hannah L. Conaby wrote the following account of their journey across the plains, as recorded in the Church News:

Our road lay through a broken, sparsely settled country, much of the way through clearings in the woods, the stumps of the trees still standing, and sometimes through swamps and morasses; but with the blessing of God, we performed with but trifling accidents. We performed the journey of 400 miles from Keokuk to Council Bluffs in a month and two days, reaching there on the 3rd of July. At Council Bluffs we stayed a few days to make final preparations for our long, long journey across the plains. There we made our first acquaintances with the Indians, purchasing some moccasins of them, which we found much more comfortable than shoes in dry weather...

By a little forethought and management, the daily routine of camp life was by no means irksome. I often think that the weeks spent crossing the plains were as full of instruction and interest as any part of our lives. Admiring nature, we had abundant opportunities of beholding its varied beauties. Especially did we admire the flowers growing in some places in great profusion handfuls of which daily adorned the wagon and delighted our child which was in the care of a sister, who was too feeble to walk. The delicious wild fruits, met with at different stages of the journey, were much relished and afforded a wholesome variety to our diet.

As a consequence of the wagons being heavily loaded, all who were able walked. It was a very interesting sight each morning to see our company break camp; the long company stretching itself out like a huge snake and winding its slow length along the boundless prairies.

Those [unreadable], starting ahead of the train, presented the motley appearance in their travel-worn dress, walking in groups, chatting, singing, laughing, talking principles and politics, or passing jokes as the case might be, all care being left behind. Some might be seen rambling on the prairie gathering flowers, others picking berries; sometimes an inviting stream would present itself when fishing tackle would be in requisition. Those who were expert at hunting would go in quest of game, and would supply our camp with fresh meat.

At night, when we camped, the wagons were drawn in a circle for protection, and also formed a corral into which the oxen could be driven to be yoked. The teams being unyoked, were driven to grass by the herdsmen, who guarded them through the night. Our camp presented a busy scene, some gathering fuel (which consisted mostly of ‘buffalo Chips” or sage brush), some bringing water, other building fires and preparing supper, or baking bread for the next day‘s journey.

After supper, groups could be seen around the campfires, until the bugle call for prayers, when all except the guards (for we watched as well as prayed) retired for rest.

About 300 miles out from Salt Lake, at four o'clock one morning, Grandma was aroused from her sleep by someone asking Brother Williams for a spade. The young man, James John Walker, desired to dig a grave for his mother that had died during the night. Mary Ann Mellows Walker, my great grandmother, for that is who it was, had died. She had made a bird pie for their supper the night before but no doubt had been a little more tired at the end of that hot August day than usual after the many weeks of travel. She was sixty-seven years of age, had endured with the others the heat, the rain, the winds that swept the barren plains, crossed rivers, and subsisted on the meager diet of bread, beans, bacon or what game they could secure along the way. When just within that short distance of the Valley and the realization of her hopes and anticipations, she passed away August 12, 1953, another martyr for the gospel's sake. Her grave was dug. She was wrapped in a blanket, the blanket was sewed and she was then lowered into the grave. She was covered over with prairie sod and rocks. A fire was burned over her grave to keep the wolves from digging the body up. After the burial the company moved on.

Grandma arrived in Salt Lake October 11, 1853 with twenty five cents left in her pocket. She had spent everything to get there. However, during the trip across the plains this Mary Ann had found a way to endear herself to the tall Englishman who had led the singing in Keokuk, Iowa. On November 23, 1853 she was married to James John Walker, her hero of the plains, and later when the Endowment House was finished, April 1856, they were sealed by President Brigham Young. Their first home was located in Salt Lake City, two blocks west and one block south of where the present Denver and Rio Grande railway depot now stands. They belonged to the sixth ward. Grandpa's occupation was that of a painter, painting for Brigham Young and such historic buildings as the old Salt Lake Theater. He was with the building of the Salt Lake Temple.

It was in this little log house with it's dirt floor and dirt roof that their first child James Thomas, was born, September 11, 1854, The baby's clothes were made out of a white linen dress that Grandma had brought from England. These she sewed by hand and such fine even stitches, too. There was one outfit for day and one for night. They were washed when taken from the baby and ironed ready for use again.

Grandpa left on a mission on the Salmon River Mission in 1856. Grandma would take the baby and go out sewing. She went to Farmington to sew for Sister Williams and the Steed family and then out south of Salt Lake to the Bennions. While in Salt Lake along with her sewing she also made hats from the scraps of silk, etc., that she had brought from England. She sold these to help keep her and her babies while Grandpa was away. Her experience in England aided greatly in helping to maintain a livelihood in the early days in Utah. When just eight years of age she had been put out to service as it was called in that country, and had made shirts by hand and then later dressmaking for a small wage. She and the baby would get a hot dinner and she was able to manage the rest. She had just as much flour, etc. on hand when Grandpa returned home as when he left to go. It was while he was away on his mission that the second child, Mary Ann was born. He was released and returned home one year later.

Two more children came, Catherine Ellen in 1859 and Daniel Henry, my father, April 17, 1861. Soon after this, in the fall of 1862 Grandpa was called to preside over the Saints in Lost Creek, Croyden, Morgan County, Utah. There were five Latter-Day Saint families there among several hundred Indians.

They soon made friends with the Indians. Years after leaving Croydon while living in Kaysville, Davis County, an old Indian known as "Little Soldier" returned a borrowed gun to his friend "Shim" Walker with just as much ammunition as he borrowed He said that he would soon die and wanted to keep his promise.

Grandma used to help the squaws hide in the straw stacks from their husbands who had been drinking. She would cover them over and there they would remain until the men wore sober. The Indians were good to their wives until they got liquor from the white people traveling through the canyon and from the men constructing the tracks for the trains through Echo and Weber canyons.

There were three more children born in Croydon, Victoria Jane in 1863, the first white child born in that little settlement, Ephriam William in 1866, and Emily in 1869. The night that Victoria was born there was a large fire on the mountain burning in the shape of a "V". The neighbors told Grandma that her baby's name should begin with a "V" and that it should be Victoria after Queen Victoria of England. Years later their friends would say how much like the queen she looked.

Their home in Croydon was a typical log house with its dirt floor and dirt roof and just a few pieces of rough furniture, She told of when in bed with her sixth child Ephriam, a rain storm came. Pans and buckets were placed in various places on the bed to keep her dry.

In June 1867 Grandpa married Alice Townsend as a second wife. As was characteristic of those loyal and true pioneer women, she accepted Aunt Alice into her life and into Grandpa's affections. Together they shared the trials and hardships and the days of sunshine. The family would gather wild currants and strawberries for jam and dry the service berries for winter use. The children would go into the fields and glean the grain which would be ground in a coffee mill for flour, Salt Lake City was a long distance away and they did not always have the way to send for flour or the money to buy it with. Whenever it was possible they would raise a good garden. Emigrants coming through would trade anything they had that the family could use for green vegetables. It was about this time that they sold eggs for one dollar a dozen and butter a dollar per pound.

Grandma seemed the 'mainstay' in the little community, taking care of the sick and needy and also caring for the unfortunate people traveling through. She continued in helping others later in the communities in which she lived.

After living in Croydon for seven years the family moved to Kaysville, Utah in 1869. There were now seven children of her own, three boys and four girls, to take care of, to feed and clothe. Aunt Alice had one.

Everyone had to do his or her share. Grandpa continued on with his painting. He and Aunt Alice taught school for sometime in the basement of the old meeting house. He was also postmaster for years in Kaysville.

Grandma had her little family at home and in her spare time she did dressmaking and made overalls, shirts and underwear for John R. Branes' store, Bishop Layton's family, and the Williams'.

She was always fond of sewing. She began when she was seven years of age and continued until after she was eighty. She made all of her seven children a log cabin scrap quilt by hand out of wool and serge scraps of material. Some she finished after she was seventy-five. For each one of the oldest grandchildren she made a cushion using the same pattern. The cushions she made after her seventieth birthday. She also took great delight in reading and was a subscriber to the Woman's Exponent for thirty-six years.

She kept in touch with her sister Ellen in England long after their mother died in 1878. In a letter that she received in 1913 an account is given of her sister's family, her six children, five girls and one boy, the boy having died at the age of three and one half years. Grandma's brother, William Collett, died Aug., 6, 1863 as an English soldier in India. Though they in England couldn't make up their minds to join the Latter-Day Saints Church, they never condemned her, the only member of the family to come to America.

Different ones of the family in Utah have visited her sister Ellen in England. When William H. Beazer, Catherine Ellen's husband, was there on his mission the family showed him the pasture and the gate where Great Grandmother Cox and her baby (Grandma) had been attacked by a bull. The mother threw the baby over the fence and then got away from him.

Grandma was an active member in the church and took a great delight in relating her experiences of crossing the plains and early pioneer life. She was a counselor of Sister Mary Hyde in the Kaysville Relief Society for Eleven years - 1871 to 1882.

As the boys and girls grew they thought it advisable to buy a farm. This they did when they purchased one at Syracuse, Davis County, Utah in 1880. They moved soon after but would go into Kaysville for some time to all activities until the Sunday School was organized April 11, 1886 a branch of the South Hooper and Kaysville wards.

Grandma was selected president of the Relief Society when it was first organized in Syracuse, March 1, 1889, which position she held for seventeen years. Her officers were Christine Cook and Matilda King as counselors, Elizabeth Cook as secretary, Emily Walker assistant secretary, and Janet Cook Allen as treasurer. They were set apart by Edwin Parker, Bishop of South Hooper Ward and William H. Beazer, presiding Elder of a part of the Kaysville Ward. Twenty-six members joined during the first year. It was during her presidency of the society that the Syracuse Ward meeting house was built and furnished. This required much time and effort for the Relief Society. They made rag carpet for the aisles, stand, and where the choir sat. On November 22, 1888, the Society presented her with a rocking chair, showing their appreciation to her for her efforts.

Politically the family was democrat. Grandma was a widow for twenty years after having spent a happy married life of forty-three years. Aunt Alice died March 3, 1884. It was then Grandma's duty to take care of her seven motherless children. The oldest was fourteen and the youngest, twin boys were two years old. With the help of her girls, she raised these until they went to homes of their own. She spent her later years with her children. Most of the time, however, she lived with her youngest daughter, Emily Rampton, at whose home she died. As she visited among her children she would sew for the numerous grandchildren. She would cut out, sew, and fit little dresses, underwear, shirts, etc, until she was seventy-five years old, at least. One thing in her visiting around, she adapted herself to the conditions as she found them. She would never interfere or be concerned in their family affairs. She was always made welcome wherever she went.

As stated above, she left all her family in England when she came to America and never saw them again. This was partially made up to her by having her children so near during her later life. Her seven children lived within a radius of eight miles from the old home in Syracuse.

It was during these years when her hair was snowy white that I remember her. She always had a stick of candy in her pocket whenever she came to see us. We always looked forward with joy when we knew Grandma was coming.

Her health was good up until the last. She died at the age of eighty-eight years, October 2, 1916 at Syracuse, Utah and was buried in the Kaysville Cemetery beside her husband. At the time of her death she had fifty-eight grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren besides her own seven boys and girls. At the present time, summer of 1934, her boys and girls are alive all but one, the oldest boy, James Thomas who died in August 18, 1925.

Much could be written to eulogize her life, the lives of our pioneers, and the honorable efforts they made to carry on and live the religion that cost them so much. I will close this history with these few lines:

I feel this day to praise thee
Oh Grandmother kind and true,

You left your home and mother

For a Gospel, yet so new.

You crossed the deep blue ocean

With a dauntless heart, and brave

Looking only into the future,

And your life among the saints.

The barren and dusty prairie,

It's unworn path you trod,

Over hills, and rocks, and rivers,

Each one you surmounted, and on.

Your life in those days in Utah

Were not always filled with cheer;

But you met each one so nobly
With never a thought of fear.

Now the family you left behind you
All honor and revere
Your name, and your cherished memory

With a silent smile and tear.

Oh may we e'er prove faithful,

To the task you passed on to us;
Continue along with our labors

And a life of honor end trust.

Notes taken from Relief Society minutes of Syracuse Ward's Organization that tell faith promoting incidents in the life of Mary Ann Walker:

Nov. 10, 1896: "I feel thankful that we have heard the gospel, and were honest enough to accept it. We should bear up the authorities of the church. We should
be charitable to each other. I believe we always mean well but are not always understood. We should be careful in bringing up our children and be good and kind to our husbands for a good wife can make it very happy or a poor one can make it very miserable." She said it was a good idea if we read anything that was uplifting to pass it on. Had read President Woodruffs sermon where he said for us to pray for the Spirit of God to be with us at all times to dictate and warn us, "I have seen instances many times with myself and others that if it had not have been for the power of God, we would have been destroyed. I believe the temptations that are placed in the way of our children are for the best. For God says He will have a tried people, and if our children grow up without any temptation they will not know how much they can endure."

January 5, 1897: Felt we should arise and bear our testimony. Told of her conversion when she first heard the gospel, and that she had seen signs follow the believers. Said she went around once a week distributing tracts for four years. Testified that the Lord had blessed her ever since she joined the Church and felt to continue on with the good work, and felt like praising him continually.

May 15, 1897: We would have many testimonies of this work if we would obey the counsel of those who are placed over us. Said she was intending to come to Zion with a certain family, but the President of the branch but learned afterwards that the family did not come all the way to Utah but remained in St. Louis and apostatized. She obeyed counsel and remained in England until she had means enough to bring her all the way and always felt thankful that she did.

February 12, 1901: We came upon this earth to prepare ourselves that we might go into the presence of God. While we are in the line of our duty, the Lord will take care of us come what will. Told how their lives had been preserved when she was crossing the sea. One day when they were holding a meeting, a fierce storm arose, the top sail came down with a crash, the vessel was tipped on its side, and it appeared as though they were going to the bottom of the sea. But they put their trust in God and he preserved them in a miraculous manner. Many of the Latter-Day Saint Emigrants had been promised by the servants of God that they should come to Zion and they had faith in those promises. If they had not have been holding a meeting and been on deck many might have been lost. Spoke of the necessity of doing our duty today that we might be prepared for tomorrow. In all of her testimonies her advice was to teach and set an example before our children so that they would have faith in God.