Happy 119th Grandma!!!

I was born in Joseph, Sevier County, Utah on Friday, October 11, 1890, the twelfth child of thirteen in the family of John W. and Sarah Ann Wells Ross.

My grandparents on my father’s side were John Ross and Mary Sullivan. They were of Scottish descent, respectively, my father being born in Fall River, Massachusetts. My mother’s parents were Samuel Wells and Sarah Hattersley. They were both born in England. There they received the gospel and emigrated to Utah when my mother was seven years old, in 1854.

My birthplace was a two-story adobe house. My father and brothers made the adobes and helped with the building. It still stands on my father’s farm sight about one half mile from town, school and meetinghouse.

When I was born there were seven other living children in the family, four having died in infancy. Also another baby younger than myself died soon after birth. So I grew up, one of eight, five girls and three boys in our home.

I was a normal size baby with much black curly hair and dark blue eyes. (My hair always remained very black until I became gray.) My mother suffered a relapse when I was a few days old, and was very ill for several weeks. I was blessed and named by my father on December 21, 1890. He named me Mary Olive.

I grew up much as other children do on a farm, following my older brothers and sister around at their daily tasks, learning to do the things they did. I could climb all the crooked trees on the farm, and help herd the cows before I was old enough to go to school. I could also milk our old pet cow before my school days began.

When I was five years old, my oldest brother John W. and my oldest sister Netta were both married. Those were eventful days for a little girl, seeing a beautiful white cashmere wedding dress made. Then there were two big wedding dinners with tall cakes in the center of the tables and goose and dressing with all the trimmings.

That same year my father had a addition built on our house, a parlor and two bedrooms, a pantry and a large basement or cellar where the milk, butter and cheese were kept. Also in the winter our vegetables and apples were stored there.

Our home was now large enough for our comfort. All the young people of our ages were invited there for parties all through our lives.

I began school when I was six years old in the two-room school building which was then quite new. My first teacher was Stella Jaques from Provo. She was an adorable girl, and I had an idea that all angels were like her. She seemed so perfect to me. She gave me a little picture and story book of “The Babes in the Woods.” On the fly leaf she wrote, “Remember that the teachers help is the little girl who never causes trouble.” I can’t tell how many hundred times I read those inspiring words. They helped me to want to do my work well and willingly, and in all my school years I never had trouble with a teacher.

I was baptized in the Manti Temple on June 20, 1899 by F. E. Allred and confirmed by John Maiben on the same day. Before my baptism I was taught what the gospel should mean to church members by my fine parents. I have always tried to live and love the principles which I was taught.

On July 24, 1897, I went to Salt Lake on the train with my parents to see the celebration commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the coming of the first pioneers to Utah. It was a glorious experience for a little girl. I had never seen a city nor ridden on a train, street car, or a merry-go-round until that time.

Each county in the state had a queen. The Sevier queen was Clara Kirkman from Glenwood. She was a very beautiful girl. Years later when I was in my teens I went to Elsinore and worked in her home. She was Mrs. Dan Hansen. She related the story of that celebration to me. I saw the lovely dress and crown that she wore, and I lived again the wonderful experiences I had and saw through childish eyes.

To be continued. . .