Mary Ann Lewis
by Mark G. Hodge, Oct 2014
Mary Ann Lewis was born October 29, 1855, at her parents’ residence at 20 Houses in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales. i She was the
oldest child of David Lewis, an iron miner, and Elizabeth Evans. David, son of Benjamin Lewis, was born about January 1832, in St. Clears, Carmarthenshire,
Wales. Elizabeth, daughter of Theophilus Evans and Elizabeth Evans, was born about 1835, also in Dowlais, Wales. David and Elizabeth were married July 10,
1854, in the parish church in Vaynor, Breconshire, Wales. They were residing at Cefn Ucha Street in Cefn-Coed-y-cymer, Breconshire, bordering
Glamorganshire, Wales at the time of their marriage. ii
David and Elizabeth had at least two children: Mary Ann; and Joseph, who was born in 1858, in Dowlais. David and Elizabeth were converts to the LDS Church
in Wales. It appears from Merthyr Tydfil LDS Church records that David Lewis was baptized on March 23, 1857, by David Thomas and was confirmed by Evan
Thomas, and Elizabeth was baptized on November 16, 1857, by Rees Griffiths and was confirmed by Thomas Davies. Elizabeth’s mother, Elizabeth Evans, and
younger brother, Evan Evans, also joined the LDS Church. They were both baptized on March 7, 1857, by Edward Thomas. Elizabeth was confirmed by Thomas
Davies and Evan was confirmed by Evan Thomas. Their membership records were transferred to the Aberdare Branch on December 16, 1860. iii The David and
Elizabeth Lewis family, with children Mary Ann and Joseph, is listed on the 1861 Census of Wales at 82 Wind Street in the Aberdare sub-district of Merthyr
Tydfil, with Elizabeth’s mother and brother living with them. iv
Elizabeth, Mary Ann, and Joseph sailed to America aboard the General McClellan, which left Liverpool, England on May 21, 1864, and arrived in New
York on June 23, 1864. The family was in the company that was under the leadership of Elder George G. Bywater. Elizabeth gave birth to a son, William,
while at sea. The company proceeded to Wyoming, Nebraska, where they crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley with the William S. Warren Company,
arriving on October 4, 1864. Sadly, William passed away somewhere along the way to Salt Lake City, as he is not listed on the arrival roster.
David Lewis sailed for America aboard the Belle Wood, which left Liverpool, England, arriving in New York on May 31, 1865. He was in the company
under the leadership of Elder William S. Phillips. David's occupation was listed as a collier (coal miner). It is not know exactly when he arrived in the
Salt Lake Valley. At this point, nothing further is known about Elizabeth in Utah. David, Mary Ann, and Joseph eventually settled in Fairfield, Utah
County, Utah.
David Lewis is listed in the Fairfield, Cedar Valley Ward, LDS Church records of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association. Given his age, he was
probably a young mens’ advisor in the organization. Joseph Lewis is also on the attendance rolls of the Y.M.M.I.A. for January - March 1886. v
Joseph Lewis married Abbie Marie Lawrence on July 1, 1889, in Provo, Utah County. They had two children, Lester and Tillie Lewis. Joseph and Abbie were
later divorced about 1893. Joseph was living in Idaho by 1910, where he died on November 16, 1938, in Archer, Madison County.
David Lewis died August 1, 1881, in Fairfield, Utah County and was buried in the Fairfield cemetery next to Edwin Butler, a step-brother of Lyman Hodge.
Mary Ann Lewis married Lyman Hodge about 1871 in Utah County. This may have been in Fairfield, or possibly Lehi. They had two sons: Jacob, born October
1872, and James Custer, born August 1, 1876, in Lehi.
After Lyman’s untimely death in Idaho about 1879, Mary Ann married the widower Thomas Williams McFate about 1880. He was born September 3, 1833, in
Mahoning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania to James McFate and Elizabeth Williams.
He was previously married to Sarah Frances Doherity (Dorrity) on March 10, 1853, in Spanish Fork, Utah County, Utah. She was born November 7, 1838, in
Wickley, Tennessee to Dennis Dorrity and Deanna Louise Jolley. Sarah died July 16, 1877 or 1878, possibly in Grass Valley, Nevada County, California.
Thomas and Sarah had ten children, all born in Grass Valley. They are: Thomas, Jr.; Charles; Mary; Albert; Lulu; James; Laura; John; Elizabeth; and Louis.
The six oldest children (Thomas, Charles, Mary, Albert, Lulu, and James) were not in the household when Mary Ann became the step-mother of the McFate
children in 1880.
Thomas Williams McFate, Jr. was born January 16, 1855. He had married Lane M. Larkey (or Mellarkey) on August 16, 1876, in Grass Valley. He later died on
February 11, 1931, in Los Angeles, California.
Charles Smiley McFate was born February 19, 1856, and had died as an infant.
Mary Evaline McFate was born May 13, 1857, and had married Alexander Fawcett about 1875 in San Francisco, California. She later died on October 27, 1936.
Albert Edwin McFate, who was born November 19, 1859, was almost 20 years old when he died on October 20, 1879, in Summit County, California. He was married
at the time, although the name of his wife is unknown.
Lulu Frances McFate was born July 8, 1862, and also died as an infant.
James Oscar McFate was born March 12, 1864, and no death date is known for him. He may have also died as a child.
Mary Ann was now raising her own two children and four step-children (Laura, John, Elizabeth, and Louis).
Laura Rowena McFate was born July 22, 1867. She married Wilford Richard Tolman on October 20, 1885, in Knolin, Tooele County, Utah. She died September 14,
1948, in Lovell, Big Horn County, Wyoming, and is buried in Otto, Big Horn County.
John Horace McFate was born December 5, 1869, and married Mamie Mary Kelly on November 27, 1895, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. He died June
12, 1914, in Salt Lake City.
Elizabeth Dianna McFate was born June 14, 1872. She married William Button on July 4, 1892, in Juab County, Utah. She died September 30, 1900.
Louis Dennis McFate was born May 29, 1875, and died at the young age of thirteen on August 10, 1889.
Thomas and Mary Ann had five children: Calvin, Frances, Lafayette, Margarete, and Nora.
Calvin McFate was born January 29, 1881, in Utah. He and his older half-brother, Jacob Hodge, were both tragically killed in a mining accident in Iron King
Mine, Eureka, Juab County, Utah on February 20, 1909.
Frances McFate was born September 20, 1883, in Utah and died at a young age about 1897.
Lafayette McFate was born December 2, 1890, in Utah. He married Renee Louise Burchenough on August 16, 1911, in Utah County. He died on October 3, 1950, in
Portland, Oregon.
The McFate family moved to Idaho about 1893 where Leola Margarete McFate was born August 14, 1893, in Bellevue, Blaine County, Idaho or Downey, Bannock
County, Idaho. She married Edwin Berto Coates on December 22, 1909, in St. George, Washington County, Utah. Her second marriage was to James Guy Benson on
March 16, 1959, in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada. She died March 20, 1971, in Pittsburg, Contra Costa County, California.
Nora Mary McFate was born September 15, 1896, in Bellvue, Blaine County, Idaho. She married Joseph Edward Allen on June 19, 1913, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Her second marriage was to Alfred Thompson.
The McFate family returned to Utah about 1899. They were living in Eureka, Juab County by the time of the 1900 Census.
James Custer Hodge married Ida Pearl Taylor on February 14, 1901, in Eureka.
Thomas died March 31, 1906, in Eureka. His obituary read, “Thomas W. McFate, aged 76 years, died at his home in Eureka from asthma and general debility
last Saturday morning. He had been in a very critical condition for several weeks and the members of the family realized that he could not recover. The
deceased was a native of Pennsylvania and, together with his family, has resided in this city for the past sixteen years. A wife, Mary Ann Lewis [Hodge]
McFate, and eight children, four boys and four girls, survive him.
“Funeral services were conducted at St. Patrick's Church Tuesday afternoon by Rev. Father O'Donohue. A large number of relatives and friends accompanied
the remains to the Eureka Cemetery where they were laid at rest.” (The Eureka Reporter, April 6, 1906.)
Mary Ann moved to Burley, Cassia County, Idaho about 1911, with her son James Hodge and her daughter Nora McFate. Nora later moved to California.
Mary Ann died December 13, 1916, in Burley and was buried December 15 in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley.
Her obituary appeared as follows: "Word has just been received here announcing the death at Burley, Idaho of Mrs. Mary [An]n McFate aged 72 years and a
former resident of Eureka. Mrs. McFate has been making her home with one of her children at Burley. Her death took place on December 13th and the funeral
and burial was held on the 15th. The deceased leaves four children, Mrs. Nora Allen, Mrs. Maude Coats, Lafayette McFate and James Hodge."
(The Eureka Reporter, Eureka, Utah, December 29, 1916.)
i
Birth Certificate of Mary Ann Lewis, no. 252, registered in Merthyr Tydfil District on December 3, 1855.
ii
Marriage certificate of David Lewis and Elizabeth Evans, no. 173, registered in Merthyr Tydfil District.
iii
FHL Film # 104,169, LDS Church Records of Merthyr Tydfil, pp. 38, 39, 43.
Elizabeth Evans is listed as a widow. Her husband, Theophilus Evans, was listed as deceased on the marriage certificate of their daughter Elizabeth in
1854. Elizabeth Evans is again listed as a widow living with her daughter in Aberdare in 1861. The fact that these three sources all cite Elizabeth Evans
as a widow, and with the same family members, helps to establish these three references as pertaining to the same person.
iv
1861 Census of Wales, 82 Wind Street, Census of Fforchaman, Aberdare Sub-District, Merthyr Tydfil, E.D. 17, Piece 4066, Folio 048, Schedule 054.
v
Fairfield, Cedar Valley Ward, Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association, Minute Book A, 1877-1887
, pp. 13, 50, 52, 54, 63, 66, 68, 70, 84, 86, 96, 99, 107, 119, 197.
