Ann Parry, daughter of Thomas and Ann Roberts Parry, was born 27 April 1835 at St. George, Denbighshire, North Wales, where she spent her girlhood days. She was one of a large family. She had brown eyes and hair and a beautiful complexion. She was not quite average in height.

She joined the Church of Jesus Christ in her native land, leaving Liverpool in April in 1856 for Utah, the home of the Saints. She sailed in the steamer, Carling, to New York, then by train to Iowa City. They crossed the Plains, a distance of 1300 miles with the third company of Hand-Cart Emigrants, Edward Bunker, Captain.

She walked all the way across the Plains, waded the rivers and helped to pull a Handcart. She came with her brother Edward Parry and his wife Ellen Roberts Parry.

She was married to Edward Lloyd Parry on 19th February 1857 in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah. They were first cousins.

She and her husband and his wife, Elizabeth, were at the celebration on the 24th July 1857, in Big Cottonwood Canyon when the news came that an army was on their way to Utah to invade their homes. We cannot realize how they must have felt at this information. In the fall, 10th November 1857, her husband was called to go to Echo Canyon to prepare to meet Johnston's Army. He was placed as Captain of ten and remained there three weeks, then returned home. In the spring of 1858 he went out again for three weeks, and after remaining home three weeks, they were counseled to go south as the troops were coming in. They got ready to burn their property if the word was given. They went as far south as Springville in the beginning of May 1858 where they lived in their wagon and a willow shed. Her first child, Elizabeth Ann, was born on the 4th March 1858, and was only two months old at that time. They returned to Salt Lake City about the 4th July 1858. Her second child, Edward Thomas, was born 10th October 1859.

In April 1862 her husband was called to go to St. George, Utah, to settle there. She left her little daughter, Elizabeth Ann, with her husband's first wife, Elizabeth, who had no children. She with her husband and small son, Edward Thomas, and foster son, George Brooks, left Salt Lake City with one yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows for St. George traveling all the way alone and meeting Indians every little while.

They endeavored to reach a settlement each night, but one night they were unable to do so. When Brother Parry unyoked the oxen and cows, they became very restless. George said, "Father, they smell Indians." They tied the cattle to each wheel of the wagon. Her husband cleaned and loaded his gun. They all got in the wagon and tied down the cover. Her husband sat with his gun in his hand or between his knees all night. The cattle pulled at their chains and little dog barked and ran back and forth. Twice he thought he would make a hole in the cover and look out, but a voice said, "Don't, Edward." He thought it was Ann speaking to him. When daylight came he asked her, but she said that she did not speak as she was too frightened to do so. They yoked up their cattle as soon as they could and started off again. They met quite a number of Indians.

In telling of their experiences of the night before, they were told that if they had looked out of the cover, the Indians would have known just where to have sent their arrows.

They arrived at St. George the 5th June 1862 and her third child ,Mary Ellen, was born the 18th June 1862, being the first white girl born in St. George. They were living in a wagon box and willow shed at the time. Six other children were born to them at St. George: John Lloyd, 6 Oct 1864; Artemesia, 25 Dec 1866; Minnie, 12 Mar 1869; Harriet, 1 Nov 1870, Bernard, 8 Jul 1873; Emma, 7 Febr 1876. On 15th February, Artimesha died and on 3rd March Minnie, died.

In April 1877 her husband was called to go to Manti by President Brigham Young to take charge of all the stonework of the Manti Temple. He arrived on the 24th April 1877, taking with him his wife, Elizabeth, who had gone from Salt Lake City to St. George, and oldest daughter, Elizabeth Ann.

In the fall he sent two young men with teams and wagons to St. George to bring Ann and the rest of the family to Manti. They left a comfortable home and two city lots well cultivated with fruits and flowers, in St. George.

On the 11th August 1880 her husband's first wife died. This was a great sorrow to Ann for they had loved each other dearly and had always lived together except the one and a half years before Elizabeth went to join them in St. George. They were more like mother and daughter than anything else. The children all called her "Mother" and their own mother "Ma."

Two boys were born to them at Manti: Hugh Evans, named for the first wife's father, he was born 5 May 1881; and George, 27 Jul 1883.

Ann died on the 6th August 1886, after a short illness, taking sick on 3rd August 1886. Four of her children were married at this time and five were at home ranging in age from fifteen years to three years. The two little boys died in November 1889.

(The original sketch was written by the Misses Harriet and Emma Parry on 6th December 1937. It was edited and shortened by the Sunflower Lady.)