Mary Angell Ensign 1842-1936 by Ivie J Ensign (dau)

Mary Angell, daughter of Solomon and Eunice Clark Young Angell, was b Nov 22, 1842 in Muskingum Co, Ohio, in a settlement now called Zanesville. She was a lineal descendent of Thomas Angell, who came to America in 1631 on the same boat with Roger Williams. They settled in Plymouth; but because they differed from the Puritans on some religious matters, they were banished from the colony. They founded Rhode Island and named the first settlement Providence, became they felt that they had been directed by divine power.

She was the youngest of 8 children: Sarah Elizabeth, who married Jefferson Wright before their arrival in this valley. Alma Truman, John Osborn,Albert, George, William Henry, Emma-(these last 3 died in early childhood)- & our Pioneer, Mary.

I now quote from the biography which she, herself, began in her later years. She never made known to us that she had such a production in mind; and I found it recently among some papers which had been filed in my brother's office. She recorded the date and place of her birth and names of her parents. Now I quote from her notes:

"I cannot remember very many things about my early childhood; but I have a faint remembrance of travelling in a new country with our family and I think it was after my father joined the Church." (She was correct in her surmise. He was baptized in 1834. Apparently, they were travelling from Muskingum County, Ohio.)

"He passed through Nauvoo and wintered in a place called Winter Quarters in 1847-48. From there we started across the plains in Brigham Young's Company, and we arrived in Salt Lake Valley on September 20, 1848. My elder sister, Sarah, had married Mr. Jefferson Wright before we came to Winter Quarters; but they both came west with our family."

Mother (Mary) did not recall too many incidents of the trek across the plains. (She was but five-and-a-half years old.) She told me, however, that she walked part of the way, trudging along by the wagon a few miles each day.

She had a white scar on one foot, and I asked her about it. She explained that much of their travelling was done in warm weather; so she did not always wear shoes and stockings. Meals were prepared over an open fire; and one evening, while her mother and sister were getting the family's supper, there was a pail of boiling water over the flame. In some manner, the hot water was tipped over and it ran over her bare foot. Pioneer medication was applied, the burn healed; but the scar was left as a reminder of the incident.

Upon the arrival of the family in the valley, the Angell family made preparations to establish themselves here permanently. Mother writes, "My father drew a lot on Third South and Third East where he built his home."

Mother often described how Grandfather put his wagon box on the ground and built his house around it; but I am unable to describe that process to you. I know, however, that the house had larger rooms than the other homes in the neighborhood, and that many gatherings, such as dances, meetings, parties, etc. were held there.

Mother did the things that the other people did; along with the settlers in the valley, she assisted in what she called "The Cricket War." Although the major engagement with the crickets was over when she arrived here, there were recurrences for several seasons; and she, armed with stout branches, struck many of the intruders down.

She spoke with pride of attending the rites in connection with the laying of the corner-stone of the Temple. She was ten years old at this time; and she was deeply and permanently impressed with this event. When that great edifice was completed, she was happy to have the privilege of going through the building; she stood out on the grounds on April 6, 1893, during the dedicatory service. She was especially impressed by the rendition of the "Hosannah Anthem."

Mother notes that the first school she attended was on conducted by Sister Wells. Sometimes she told us, without much comment, about the move south and the coming of Johnston's army in 1857- in fact, she was at the celebration at Brighton on July 24, when word reached Brigham Young that the army was on its way. The Angell family, however, did not leave Salt Lake City in the move south.

As a young girl, Mary Angell assisted a neighbor, Mrs. Martha Shelmerdine, in braiding straw from which they both made hats for Brigham Young. She was an excellent seamstress always and she was skilled in the art of hand embroidery. She did all her sewing by hand, too, until she was able to procure a machine. For her embroidery, she drew her own patterns and worked them with ordinary sewing thread.

On December 29, 1858, she was married, at the age of sixteen, to Samuel Lozene Ensign, a neighbor who had courted her for some time. Her older brother, Osborn, and the girl of his choice had decided on the same date for their marriage. The two couples planned to be united in a double ceremony in the Endowment House, a reception to follow that evening at the Angell home. This was just the time, you may recall; when Johnston's army had been ordered to Utah by President James Buchanan. Brigham Young came to the Angell home and requested that the two couples be married at the family home in a quiet ceremony to avoid any possibility of trouble with the army personnel. Consequently, they were married in a double ceremony. Bishop Elijah Sheets, father of the first Bishop of the Thirty-first Ward, officiated.

After the army had been called back to the East because of the outbreak of the Civil War, the two couples were sealed in the Endownment House in December, 1861. Father and Mother built their home on the west half of Grandfather Ensign's lot, one-half block west of the Angell homestead.

Mother's outline mentions two items of national import. She seldom dwelt at any length on the sorrows and hardships of the past; but on occasion she recalled events of the Civil War, such as the rising cost of living, the treatment of runaway slaves, and such things. Occasionally she spoke most tenderly of the treacherous assassination of President Lincoln, whom she always considered as one of the greatest men in our history.

Grandfather and Grandmother Angell were among those called to the Cotton Mission and the colonization of Dixie in 1861. With Mother's help, once more they sacrificed home and comfort, packed up what possessions they could take with them, and left Salt Lake Valley to establish themselves in a new region. Many times I have heard my mother tell of their departure. "I stood on the walk in front of the old home," she would say," and watched my father and mother as they drove away. With tears streaming down my cheeks I waved goodbye to them as long as I could see them. I never saw my mother again."

In 1885, the Ensign family moved from the Eighth Ward to a new home located at 737 East Second South. At this time, Mary Angell Ensign had become the mother of eight sons and four daughters. Two of these daughters had died several years before the family changed residence. Some years later they moved to the new home in the Eleventh Ward; another daughter was born. I am that daughter.

The names and birthdates of mother's children are:
1. Orpha Adella Ensign, b 4Feb1860; d 7Sep1942-lived 82 yrs, no spouse
2. Julia Angell Ensign, b 21Dec1861; d 24Apr1871-lived 9 1/2 yrs
3. Samuel Lozene Ensign,Jr, b 9May1863; d 3May1936-lived 73 yrs, Mary Ann Gibson-spouse
4. George Albert Ensign, b 22Jul1865; d 29Feb1912-lived 47 yrs, Mary Catherine Lloyd Wodruff-spouse
5. Amy Eunice Ensign, b 8Jun1867; d 29Sep1882-lived 15 yrs; no spouse
6. Alfred Horace Ensign, b 19Sep1868/1869; d 18Sep1948-lived 79 or 80 yrs, Edith Lucille Hyde-spouse
7.Mary Elizabeth Ensign, b 8Aug1871; d 6Apr1940-lived abt 69 yrs, no spouse
8. Frank Victor Ensign, b 5May1873; d 15Apr1962-lived 87 yrs, Gracie Fidella Free-spouse
9. Louis Osborne Ensign, b 16Mar1875; d 3Mar1946-lived nearly 71 yrs, Florence May Papworth-spouse
10. John Wolley Ensign, b 15Apr1877; d 21Sep1965--lived abt 78 yrs, Florence L Huges-spouse
11. Herman Ross Ensign, b 21Jan1881; d 15Jan1900-lived almost 19 yrs, no spouse
12. Stanley Ensign, b 14Nov1882; d 19May1947- lived abt 65 yrs-Anna Mork-spouse
13. Ivie Jean Ensign, b 29Nov1889; d Aug198--lived almost 92 yrs, no spouse

Whenever Mother was inclined to talk of her earlier experiences, she spoke most often of her contact with the Indians who came in great numbers to the city. I shall relate two of her favorite stories.

When her first child, my sister Adelle, was two or three months old, Mother was sitting in a rocking chair in her dining room with her babe in her arms. Father was riding one of the YX trips back to the Missouri River and would be gone many days. Mother became aware of a shadow which fell across the room. She looked up to see an Indian chief of enormous stature standing in the open doorway, completely filling it. Naturally she was startled, but she knew she must show no fear. She asked him what he wanted, and he replied, "Hard-a-bread." She invited him in, laid the baby in her cradle, and went to the kitchen to get food for the husky brave.

When she returned, he was playing with the baby and enjoying himself tremendously. She offered him bread and a little sugar which he accepted. He thanked her profusely, put the little one down, and stepped to the doorway; but he did not leave. Wondering what was detaining the Chief, Mother looked out into the yard to see a large group of Indians who were attempting to enter the house. The visiting chieftain, having learned that Mother and the infant were alone in the house, was acting as their guardian. He stood there for several hours, sending his fellow tribesmen away; and he left only when he knew that Grandfather and my Uncle Horace, (who lived next door), had come home to protect his benefactress and her child. On several later occasions, this same Indian brave returned and was given food. He took pains to learn whether Father was away; and if he found that Mother was alone with her baby, he remained on the premises and never permitted any other Indian to come near.

Many years later, when I was about 10 yrs old, I came home from school; but I could not find my mother.I knew she was somewhere on the premises, for the back door was open. When she did not answer my calls to her, I went to the parlor to practice my piano lesson. Suddenly, I felt the presence of someone else. I knew I was being watched; and I looked up expecting to see my mom. Instead I saw an Indian mother with her papoose on her back; and she was watching me intently. Was I scared? You can be dead sure I was; but I could not escape from the room without passing the squaw. I did a bit more practicing and a lot of thinking. I decided to make a dash for the door at the far end of the room. I arose and started on my way, but my visitor put out her hand and stopped me. "Baby play," she commanded. That was fine with me. That baby could have the whole piano and everything that went with it. I adjusted the stool and waited for the papoose to take over.

But the red mother shook her head and said "No; no; YOU baby play."

I obliged and NEVER -before or since- was that piano played as it was then. It attracted even my mother, who rushed in to see what was going on. Instantly, the squaw made the familiar demand, "Hard bread, sugar."

Mother put a loaf of bread and a cup of sugar in a bag for the woman, and then the Indian asked for mother's calico dress which was hanging on the line. (She could have worn it about as easily as Mother could have worn one of mine.) When the request was refused, the squaw began to argue; but she had met her superior in argumentation, and she finally left.

In 1906, the family left the 2nd South home and took up a new abode at 1026 South Ninth East in the Thirty-first Ward, which was still in its infancy. For many years, Mother worked in the Relief Society and met with the Pioneer Daughters whenever she could.

She passed to her reward quite suddenly on Oct 15,1936. Of her 13 children, she was survived by 8 of them, & by 31 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren. Bishop June B. Sharp officiated at her final rites which were held in the 31st Ward chapel on the following Sunday, Oct 18.

Deseret News Oct 17,1936:"Passing of a Pioneer Mother"

"When a respected citizen passes the scriptural span of three score and ten and lives another score and three years, the fact is worthy of note. When 88 years of that life have been spent in one community, devoted to its interests, spiritual, social, domestic, and industrial, the event deserves special attention.

"Mary Angell Ensign, a niece of Truman O. Angell, temple architect, and of Mary Ann Young, came from Ohio to Utah at the age of six, married Samuel L. Ensign, raised a large family, took an active part in religious affairs and passed away at her home in Salt Lake City at the age of 93, beloved by many friends and respected by all who knew her.

"In a long life of usefulness and sunshine, of trying by precept and prayer to make humanity look up instead of down, to go forward with hope and cheerfulness and make the best of available blessings, there is something inspiring and encouraging to all who come within the radius of such an influence."