Mary Miller was born in San Augustine County, Texas. January 28 or 29, 1829. She was the daughter of Joseph Miller and Hannah Cornogg. She spent the first 23 years of her life in Harris County, Texas, with her parents and two sisters Amanda and Emily.

Her father Joseph must have been a very provident man as records show he acquired two Spanish land grants. These grants covered several thousand acres of land. They prospered as is evident by the fact he started out to drive a large drove of cattle north toward St. Joseph to sell his cattle. This was the year of 1831. He never returned and was never heard from thereafter. Family opinion was he met with foul play by Spanish evaders who wanted his cattle and also money on his body.

Joseph must have left Hannah, his wife, very well fixed financially; as she later married twice – first to John Gosland and later to James Cooper. We have very little information of grandma's (Mary's) childhood. This may be due to the fact that during her growing up years her mother was so busy, being a widow, could not devote much time to develop her girls' interests as land and cattle operations involved all her time. We know she must have had a head for business. On one occasion I recall her telling us, of being lost part of a day and all night, but was found on the prairie by drovers who took her home unharmed. It must have been a very peaceful district where she grew up.

The neighbors were all good friends who helped one another when help was needed. Mary grew up to be a beautiful young lady about 5 foot 7 or 8 inches tall. She had the most beautiful black hair, hazel eyes and was very well built. One of their neighbors was a young rancher, by the name of Alexander Franklin Barron. He and his young wife, whose name was Dovey Ann Shinn had two little girls- Elizabeth, three years old, and JoAnn, 1 ˝ years old. They were expecting a third child, when the baby was born, both mother and child died. The young husband was left with two babies. As they were a devoted couple, he was heartbroken.

One of his near neighbors was Hannah Miller. She, with the help of her daughters, took father and babies into their hearts. It was not long before Frank Barron began paying attention to Mary, the oldest of Hannah's girls. Mary, who was now nineteen years old loved the little girls dearly, so when Frank proposed marriage she accepted and they were married in 1847-48.

Mary's first child, a boy, was born October 12, 1848. He was named William Alexander. When William was two years old, Mary's sister Amanda, who had married Jacob Croft, was killed. She was riding horseback to church, the horse became frightened and threw her off. She struck a tree stump and died instantly or soon after. Amanda had one child about two years old; he was riding with his father and was not hurt. Mary and Frank Barron took this little nephew- George Croft, and were raising him with their son, William and the two daughters of Dovey Ann Shinn. They kept George until his father Jacob married a widow whose husband, George Cropper, had died. This widow had three sons and one daughter. Little George and William loved each other so much that the Barrons kept George until the

Crofts left Texas.

Frank Barron was a well-to-do cattle rancher. He devoted most of his time to his business and always put business before social activities. He was a demon for work so Mary's early married life was rather “hum drum”. From stories (Grandma) Mary told, they always had plenty to do with, she knew how to use everything; she was a marvelous cook, knew how to cure meat, make butter and cheese. She loved to garden and did all of that as Grandpa Frank was busy with both cattle and sheep and land management. We used to tease Grandma Mary at hog killing time. We said she used all but the squeal and accused her of using that in her head cheese.

About 1848 Mormon Missionaries went to the part of Texas where the Barrons lived. It was a Barron custom to be very hospitable to new comers. The two missionaries who found their way tot he Barron home were James McGaw and Rison Wall. August 1851 Mary and Frank Barron were baptized by Elder William Moody. Grandma Mary thought so much of these missionaries that three of her boys bore their names.

Several of the Barron family were born in Texas. The Barron family wanted to go to Utah immediately after hearing the gospel but they did not go until 1853. Brigham Young advised them not to come until a larger group could go together. After waiting five years, it was advisable to go for a large number of people had joined the church.

All were well fixed financially so they prepared themselves well. A company was formed. It was the largest ever to leave for Utah. It consisted of 102 wagons, 1000 head of longhorns, fine horses, mules and 2000 head of sheep. I have heard Grandma Mary tell of loads of supplies they took along. Flour, sugar, bolts of material from linsey woolsie to cottons of all sorts. Even material for men's suits. Grandma said they carried everything they would need for 2 years. They must have been a welcome sight when they arrived in Salt Lake, as supplies were short there. They arrived Sept. 5, 1854.

I remember of one incident Grandma told us about on the way. Roads were not good and at one place the wagons were loaded so heavy that after unloading the wagons all had to push. Grandma pushed so hard that her right arm was dislodged from its socket. The pain was terrible but in the supplies was a bag of sewn rags wound in large balls. Grandpa had some medical knowledge and had her hold the ball under her arm while he jerked the arm into its socket. When the large company arrived in Salt Lake with so much livestock in September, Brigham Young advised them to go west of Salt Lake to a place called Herriman Fort. Grandpa and Grandma put up shop, as the people there were suffering from hunger and lack of clothing.

Grandma tended the store, Grandpa went about the business of getting ready for winter. Grandpa Barron was made the first Bishop at Fort Herriman. They shared their abundance with their neighbors including the hungry Indians. No one paid one cent for food etc. Every day they came with pans, bags, or what-ever they had to carry supplies in. Grandma measured out her supplies according to the size of the family, so much flour, so much sugar or molasses or cornmeal. There seemed to be plenty of milk, when the Barrons arrived, I remember Grandma telling of a great number of calves, so many cows were fresh by spring and summer.

Winter 1854 proved to be one of the coldest on record. They lost a large number of their cattle. Many of them froze stiff and all bunched together with their backs to the storm. Many had suffocated. They butchered as many as they could and of course it kept well while frozen solid. In a way it was a blessing in disguise; as they could use meat to eat as long as winter lasted. Grandma said all hands were called to help when warm weather came and they made large quantities of jerky. Jerky never spoils if it is kept dry. Jerkey was used in many ways. Pounding it into a pulp it made fine meals. Children went around chewing it as it needed no cooking. Boys and men looking after the cattle took it in knapsacks and rode days with no other food.

During that hard winter I imagine Grandmother and even Grandfather often wondered why they ever left their Texas home, but sacrifices bring forth blessings and they had their Prophet Brigham Young to guide and lead them and enjoy association of the Saints. The members of the train from Texas were soon scattered all over Utah-the Crofts and Croppers were sent to Fillmore. The Thompsons and McIntires stayed in Salt Lake and added more riches to their already fat store. The Barrons stayed in Fort Herriman eleven years.

Grandpa went to Salt Lake for Conference and when he returned he brought a sixteen year old girl home and introduced her as his wife. Also, at the same time, unannounced he had been called to go colonize the “Muddy Mission.” It was all a shock to Grandma Mary as she knew polygamy was approved but was not consulted by her husband about taking a second wife. Grandma also had a surprise for Grandpa as she was pregnant with her 8th child, Jacob Joseph, having given birth to Hannah in 1857 soon after their arrival in Fort Herriman and Owen in 1861 sometime after.

They did not go at once to the Muddy, and it was a surprise to Grandma before her baby boy Jacob was born (17 Oct. 1862), to find out the new wife was to have a baby also, which she did in due time. It also was a boy and she named him Heber. Strange to relate, things went pretty well until they started the move south. By this time Grandma was pregnant; winter was near at hand and the move had to be made. They traveled as far as Fillmore before winter really set in.

They were glad to greet old friends, the Crofts and Croppers, and Jacob Croft tried to get them to stay in Fillmore for the winter, so Grandma could have her baby there. Grandpa said no, we must push of if we are to get through Wild Cat Canyon before heavy snow will cause us to suffer the fate of the Donner Party. So on they went. Between Parowan and Beaver is the Wild Cat Canyon. They made it to Parowan, heavy snow predicted and they still had the Old Black Ridge to go over, before they could expect any warm weather. The night they got to Parowan Grandma gave birth to a baby girl (1865). They named her Margaret. She was born in the wagon with only my fourteen year old mother (Amanda Synthelia) to care for her. They did not stop but resumed their journey next morning. I would remember my mother telling how she would put a pan of coals in the wagon to warm it up enough to care for mother and baby. The second wife remained in her wagon and slept. She was only sixteen years old and pregnant again. Her son Heber was almost the same age as Grandma's Jacob.

They were taken for twins so Grandma assumed full responsibility for raising both boys together with the help of my fourteen year old mother. My mother did the cooking besides, until they reached their destination which turned out to be Panaca, Nevada. Panaca, Nevada had belonged to Utah Territory until the year before. It was December 20, 1865 when they stopped at Panaca which proved to be a haven of rest. The climate was wonderful, the soil perfect for truck garden and Grandma was a wonderful gardener. My mother, Amanda Synthelia, was old enough to take over home responsibilities leaving Grandma free to till the soil. About this time Phoebe Ann, the second wife, gave birth to her second son, Homer.

I don't know how those pioneer women managed to share their husbands, but they seemed to some some way for now Grandma was pregnant with her tenth child- a boy they called Moses. Soon after the Barrons arrived in Panaca some mining men discovered a rich vein of silver ore about thirty miles from Panaca. The mining camp was named Pioche. There was a big demand for all sorts of foods. The Barrons could supply this need, including vegetables, butter, cheese and eggs. Grandma worked from crack of dawn until midnight to fill her orders. Grandpa was soon made the first Bishop of Panaca.

Grandma was made President of the Relief Society. The Lord blessed the family with health. Grandpa added sheep to his already established cattle business. The boys were now old enough to help with both cattle and sheep and spent days and years doing that. Being deprived of an education Grandpa added church sheep to his own and felt it was part of his calling by Brigham Young. The Barrons seemed happy in Panaca and their hospitality extended to Indians, miners, travelers. This made more cooking for Grandma. Her health was slow to return after her tenth child. Amanda, the sixteen year old daughter, now made the cheese, butter and with the help of younger children do vegetables for miners. Grandma devoted more time to sewing and church work. All sewing was by hand, even men's clothes.

Phoebe Ann was now pregnant with her third child. It was a girl named Hulda and proved to be her last one. Grandma was also pregnant again. This was another girl named Myra and proved to her her last child. Before the eleventh child was born to Grandma, Brigham Young called Grandpa on a mission to the Southern States. This mission was of great interest to him as that was his home and he had been away for forty years. He wanted to preach the gospel to his family who had never heard it.

He found his old home but his mother did not recognize him until he showed her a scar on his arm from a childhood accident. She fainted but did not want his message about his new church. Upon Grandpa's return from his mission he had lived in Panaca twelve years and now Brigham Young called him to take his two families and go to Utah's Dixie to a small hamlet called Washington. Grandpa wrote to Brigham Young that he would not go unless he could take his two sons-in-law, Virgil Kelly and John Lufkin. His request was granted so in 1877 once more they pulled stakes and were on their way.

This journey was not a long one compared to the one from Texas to Salt Lake or from Fort Herriman to Panaca. It was only about 100 miles but a call from Brigham Young was not to be ignored for their stock and sheep were all pooled with the church stock. This proved the worst move Grandpa ever made for when the chips were all counted the Barrons, Kelley's and Lufkins had nothing. The church got all animals. Washington was a pleasant place to live- semi tropical climate. But the old Virgin River was either in flood or mostly stone dry.

There were only a few springs to furnish water for truck gardens. The water had to be boiled and those who did not boil water contracted malaria fever. Much illness followed and few escaped kidney and bladder trouble called Brights Disease. Grandpa Barron fell victim to the disease.

He was not able to work but had accumulated enough money to buy a house for his second wife. Virgil Kelly bought a large rock house and in the house lived Virgil's family, Grandma and her five unmarried sons and five youngest daughters. They all managed by keeping the ranch and three fourths of the grown people worked all day at the ranch. Phoebe Ann kept Grandpa and became a mid-wife. After the church took all the cattle and sheep, it was hard, but Virgil and the brothers were good cattle men and managed to work for wages.

By 1882 it was evident Grandpa was very ill. He continued to live with Phoebe Ann but when visited by Virgil and Amanda he begged to be taken to their home. Before necessary arrangements could be made he died, April 3, 1885. He was buried in Washington, Utah. After Grandpa's death, Jacob Croft (her sister's former husband) went to Dixie to see Grandma.

He persuaded her to take her three unmarried sons and two daughters, with what few cows and horses they had, and move to West Millard County. Jacob was sure the artesian water could cure their kidney trouble, which it did, along with a lot of their Texas friends. It was also good cattle country. May 25, 1888 Virgil and Amanda Kelly moved to Millard County and what a happy reunion! Myra, the youngest daughter, married but died in childbirth. The baby lived and Grandma raised it with help from Margaret who had a baby boy the same age. God called the baby home at eighteen months.

Virgil Kelly was contracting near Panaca, Nevada. He returned home in the fall and found Grandma all alone as her boys had to find employment elsewhere. Virgil build a room on his home for Grandma and she was always on hand to help with babies, cure meat, garden and etc. While riding in a buggy, the top fell down and broke Grandma's arm. Uncle Thomas Cropper set it and in no time it was healed.

Grandma lived with us for five years. At Fort Herriman, Panaca and Dixie, Grandma learned to deal with Indians. Grandma had learned to talk Indian in Utah. Virgil Kelly also talked Indian language, and had a narrow escape with his life. It was Grandma who came to his rescue one time. Usually the Indians loved Virgil but there were times he had to be firm with them. They called him My-Sam-O-gabits. This day they had brought their horses and wanted water in the man-made-water holds.

There was such a shortage of water he had to deny their request. He told them they could drive two miles farther on to pond water. They went a short distance but came back, pulled a fence picket out of a fence and struck Virgil over the kidneys, which felled him. Grandma knew the Indians were superstitious so she pulled her long black hair down over her face and played crazy. The Indians jumped on their horses and rode away yelling “bad spirits”. Another time the “medicine man” failed so the chief asked help from Grandma. Virgil and Mother all played lead parts. We were eating supper when the old Chief came. He talked to Dad in Indian. Dad told Grandma to give Chief biscuits and pig meat. He then told mother to go fix a bed in the grainary in English but Grandma understood what Chief said in Indian.

Grandma went and put on felt boots and rubber and what else was needed. At 4:30 a.m. We had a little papoose born to a sixteen year old squaw. She had been in labor for seventy-two hours. In twelve hours we went to see how things were coming and the young squaw and “pike-wayed.” That means “going places” in Indian. We saw her months later and she named her baby “Mary” after Grandmother.

Grandma still owned her small home she bought when she came north from Dixie. Her two unmarried sons Moses and Owen had returned to work in Millard County to develop the big Ibex Mine and business was booming. Grandma's son, Jacob, was now married and brought his wife to live with Grandma. They had a large family very fast so in 1903 Jacob moved to Inkom, Idaho. Grandma wanted to go to Idaho with them, but they were not situated to buy or build a house. Virgil again pursuaded her to come back to her room that was built on his house.

1903 proved to be the coldest winter in Millard County. Thirty-one degrees below zero. We made Grandma comfortable in her small room and bought her a new outfit of grey cashmere cloth with hat and cape to match for an old folks party in the Deseret Church House. She even danced with my father, Virgil. One morning at 7:30 a.m. Mother went to Grandma's room with a hot cup of coffee. Grandma was not well. We could see she was very ill and called the doctor. He pronounced it “pnemonia.” Virgil was at Fillmore, Utah working so we got word to him and telegraphed the Idaho relatives to come. All day Grandma had not know any of us but when Virgil stepped in she said, “Oh, dear Virg.” These were her last words.

Mary Miller Barron died October 16, 1904. She was laid away in the Deseret Cemetery. We were happy to know she had had good care in her short illness. She had never known anything but hard pioneer work with unselfish sacrifice for others. I'm sure her reward in heaven will soften the blows she received here. One Grand Pioneer Woman!