MARY ALICE IVY
by Vivian Baker
Scipio, Utah, was the place where she was born. It was autumn of 1871 on Columbus Day. The coloring on those mountains was a beautiful sight to behold.
Their home was a two—roomed log house,a short distance away
on the east, and on the west her father had homes with other families. Her grandfather Ivie had been killed by the Indians about six years before her arrival. Her grandmothers, both Smith and Ivie lived there too. No doubt they were both there to welcome her arrival. Her people were pioneers for the sake of the gospel. Her father was one of the five hundred who were called at Winter Quarters to serve in the Mormon Battalion.
She had thirteen brothers and one sister; she had many half brothers and sisters. In 1870 her father paid the territory of Utah $3.70 for city lot.
She saw grasshoppers and black cricket days, and helped to fight them from their grain fields, but was always very frightened of them. Her family moved from Scipio to Sucker Town. They had some ground corn to make bread out of, and they boiled the fish with a little salt. At school she would sneak away to the creek to soak the hard bread, she was proud then, as always, not wanting her friends to know.
When she was fourteen they moved from Heber City to Camas Prairie, Idaho. That's where she met Tommy Boy. In a few months time they were married on New Year's Eve, 1888. They gave a wedding dance in the church house and danced until the wee hours.
Life is a garden, we plant and take care of it, sowing the seed and then reaping our share of it.
In the spring they moved to Dempsy, they have lived here most of the time since then. She worked in different ward organizations; she served as primary president and counselor, also in the presidency of the Relief Society.
She has brought any babies in to the world, her first ones being twins which are still alive. During the World War II several boys wrote to her to get their birth date straight for Uncle Sam. She's the mother of eight children, three of them have passed on. She has helped raise eight other children after their mothers have died.
The neighbors at Lava need not be told of the many things she did. Each week for a long time the Relief Society held their meetings in her home. They were always welcome. She's furnished flowers for the church house as well as for her friends.
Her last days of waiting seemed endless. Like a clock--tick,
tock, beating time. Why does it not hurry by. It seems eternity that she's been suffering here. Thank God, she's gone to her other loved ones who are waiting and anxious for her release here. (February 23, 1950)
Tommy Boy knelt at her bed side not being able to see her, but he cried these words to her.
You have gone and left me, darling,
I am lonely, sad and blue,
Soon I'm coming home to you.
Please clear away the pricks dear
Please clear away the thorns.
Soon I'm coming home to you.
I am nearer day by day
Please clear away the thorns dear,
Pray God to speed the day When I'm coming home to you.
Research done in Burley Library from Books sent here by the Idaho Genealogical Society.
From book “Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah” Page 967
Thomas John- (son of William John and Lettia Phillips of Wood Roach Parish, Pembrokeshire, Wales).; Born Jan. 29, 1820. Came to Utah Oct. 17, 1862, Henry W. Miller Company.
Married Margaret Thomas Jully 14, 1840 (daughter of William Thomas and Ann James), who was born Aug. 14, 1815: came to Utah with husband in 1862.
Their Children:
Phebe- b. Dec. 18, 1838, m. James Cusworth
William- b. Nov. 7, 1841, m. Sarah Ann Ashton
Charles – b. Apr. 21 1843, m. Elizabeth Williams;
Ann – b. Feb. 1, 1844, m. Edward W. Smith;
James – b. Nov. 10 1846, m. Hannah Abbott;
Levi – b. Feb. 4, 1849, m. Mary Ann Hall;
Henry – b. Feb. 15, 1851, m. Margaret Rees;
Letitia – b. Apr. 6 1853, m. William H. Gibbs;
Mary Jane – b. Nov. 18, 1855, m. Joseph S. Hawkley.
Family resided Wellsville and Malad Valley Utah.
Married Jane Green Oct. 28. 1872, Salt Lake City (dau. Of Thomas and Ann Green) who was born Nov. 8 1819, Preston, Eng.
Ward Teacher; high councilor. Settled at Wellsville 1862, moved to Malad Valley 1867, Planted first wheat on west side of Malad River; helped found town of Portage.