MARY ANN GRIFFITHS – BIOGRAPHY
Mary Ann Griffiths was born 24 May, 1860 in Pengarnddu,
Glamorganshire, South Wales to John Griffiths
and Eleanor Lloyd. Her father joined the
church when he was fourteen years old.
He was turned from his home by his parents who felt he had disgraced
them. His parents were Westlings [Wesleyans]
and very religious, always observing the Sabbath Day. John married Eleanor Lloyd in 1853, and it
was not until they had three children and buried one that they were able to
sail to America.
Due to meager finances, Eleanor with her
two children left first, with the promise that John would follow in a year.
John's mother went to the boat with Eleanor and the two
children. At that time she tried to
persuade her to stay. When she failed
she told her if she wanted to go to Brigham Young she could, but John would not
follow. Eleanor with her two children,
Mary Ann who had her fourth birthday on the water, and six-month old John,
sailed the latter part of April, 1864.
They were on the water six weeks.
They traveled by train to Missouri
where they joined Geramy [Jeremy] and Bywaters Company and crossed the
plains. Eleanor carried her six-month
old son all the way across the plains and Mary Ann was carried by a family
friend, Margaret Williams.
During the trip they were compelled to wade the Platte River
several times. In some places it was a
mile wide.
After arriving in Salt
Lake they were soon directed to Beaver County
and Greenville
where the mother worked for a bare existence.
While in Greenville
they lived in a dugout and one day when they came home a heavy rain had flooded
the dugout and things were floating on the water.
It was just a year later her father came to Utah traveling with a Gentile train who were on their way
to California. He drove a team to pay for his way across the
plains. They settled for a short time in
Greenville then
moved to Adamsville.
Mary Ann had a scanty schooling, but could read and
write. She learned to spin, knit and
helped take care of her brothers, and sisters. She was short of stature, had dark piercing
eyes, brown hair and a great sense of humor—always full of wit and teasing.
She married John G. Jones, 10 April, 1877, in the St.
George Temple. They had to travel by
team taking three days to reach St. George.
The temple was dedicated at this time and they were among the first
group going through the Temple
after its dedication. It was a thrill
for them to see Brigham Young at this time.
Soon after their marriage she went with her husband to
Manti, where he worked on the Manti
Temple and she helped to
cook for the workers from the Beaver Area, giving one months work there.
They homesteaded some land in Adamsville and spent most
of their life farming and sheep raising.
They underwent many of the discomforts and hardships of Pioneer life.
She was the mother of eleven children and lost two grown
children during a typhoid epidemic. At
that time the only daughter left, Nellie, was also stricken, but her life was
spared. The doctor left some medicine to
be given to her at midnight, telling the father it would make dying easier, but
the mother overhearing the conversation threw the medicine into the
fireplace. She summoned her husband with
her father and a number of other Priesthood holders to kneel in family prayer. They administered to her and she immediately
took a turn for the better.
During World War One, she had three sons serving their
country. At this time she was taken very
ill. The doctor informed her she should
undergo surgery. Her doctor happened to
be President of Beaver Stake, so she told him she did not want the operation
performed while her sons were away. She
told him, that he knew what she wanted of him.
He administered to her and she had a speedy recovery, and never did have
the operation. She often laughed as she
said it cost her $10.00 to be administered to.
Following the birth of her son Josiah (Sy), complications
set in, and her life was despaired of.
At this time her father and mother were at the Manti Temple
doing work for the dead. Her father felt
very impressed to leave for home. Upon
arrival found Mary Ann very ill.
Pneumonia had developed and they had put a bask on her to keep her
warm. It had buttons all down the
front. Her breath had become so short
that when she saw her father she said, "One more button and I'm
gone." Once again a prayer circle
was held and an administration performed with immediate signs of improving.
She lost the only daughter she had raised to
womanhood. Before her daughter’s death,
Mary Ann prayed very fervently for her recovery. One day in desperation, she went out in the
back to a granary. There she knelt in
supplication asking for her daughter’s life, telling the Lord to take one of
her sons instead of this daughter. She
walked back to the house, and there her sons were sitting. She looked at each and thought which one
could I give. Realizing her selfishness,
went back to the granary and asked the Lord for forgiveness telling Him,
"Thy will be done, not mine."
She knew no luxuries, but had a very simple and happy
home. She was devoted to the Church
serving many years as Relief Society Visiting Teacher, a counselor, and also
worked in the Y.W.M.I.A.
She lived to celebrate her Golden Wedding Anniversary,
April 1927 with her family and many friends.
She died 22 May, 1935.
Written by Edris A. Jones,
daughter-in-law
(From files of DUP Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah)
