Brief Sketch of Mary Elizabeth Ricks by a granddaughter, Mary Smith Porter

Joel and Eleanor Martin Ricks were living in Olive, Madison County, Illinois when their eighth child, a daughter, was born on January 19, 1843. They named her Mary Elizabeth. Her second sister, Clarinda, was especially fond of her blue-eyed, fair-haired little sister and loved to attend her many needs in early childhood.

When Mary was two and one-half years old, the Ricks family moved to Nauvoo. In 1846, they with many others crossed the State of Iowa and settled in Council Bluffs, preparatory to crossing the plains. Mary's father had two wagons and provisions ready to join the Brigham Young Company on their journey to Utah. A few days before they were to depart, President Young came to father Ricks and asked if he would give his outfit to Brother Heber C. Kimball who had recently returned from a mission. He gladly turned his whole outfit over to Brother Kimball and set about immediately to prepare another outfit so he would be ready to join the first company west the next spring. Brother Kimball returned to Iowa that Fall to take charge of the first company leaving in 1848, which the Ricks family joined. The company consisted of 2417 souls and 792 wagons.

Mary was five years old when they started west. She remembered many incidents and places of interest on that trip. She told of the great herds of buffalo; of the Indians and her great fear of them when they rode into the pioneer camps. One day they stampeded the cattle. Her oldest brother, Thomas E. Ricks, a boy of sixteen went out to find them when the Indians, in ambush, shot him seven times and left him for dead. Men of the company found him and carried him across the Platte River on a litter above their heads. Brother Kimball anointed him with oil and promised him that he should recover. A bed was made in the light wagon and the company moved on without even a day's delay. Mary often told of the fulfillment of that promise as her brother lived to be an old man and was the founder of Rexburg, Idaho.

Their company arrived in Salt Lake City in September 1848 and located in Mill Creek Canyon, now known as Mueler Park Canyon, southeast of Bountiful where father Ricks helped erect and operate a sawmill for Heber C. Kimball. The next spring (1849), the Ricks family moved to Centerville, twelve miles north of Salt Lake City, locating on a stream now known as Ricks Creek.

While residing in North Centerville with her parents, Mary endured the hardships and privation of the early pioneers. She often related the story of the coming of the crickets, how they mowed down every green blade of grass and every spear of grain in their path. Starvation and want stared at them in this isolated desert land. The saints fell upon their knees and offered up fervent prayers to their Heavenly Father to preserve them from this awful plague. The sun was then darkened by birds from which they feared added destruction had come. But, to their joy, the seagulls alighted by thousands and devoured the crickets. Deliverance had come! A portion of their crops were saved in God's miraculous way.

Mary, her mother and her three older sisters gathered wool, washed and carded it and wove it into yards of linsey cloth used in making clothing and bedding for the whole family. They also spun yarn. Mary learned to knit when very young, an art she worked at all her life. She knit stockings, not only for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but many pairs of socks for the soldiers of World War I. She received one note of gratitude from a nurse of that war, for a pair of those wool socks, which repaid her highly for her many hours of service. There was not a baby born in Centerville in years who did not receive two or more pairs of her beautiful white saxony wool stockings.

Mary attended school in a one-room building south of the Parrish home. Rhoda Chase Stoddard was her first teacher. She learned to read and spell. She seldom, if ever, found her equal in spelling. She loved to read and kept herself well informed on world events. She read many good books.

William R. Smith was an outstanding citizen in both religious and civil affairs. He was bishop of the Centerville Ward. He greatly admired Mary Ricks, so he went to her home and asked Father Ricks if he could have Mary for his wife. Her father had a deep regard for William, knowing him to be a good, honorable man, and readily gave his consent. Mary admired him, too. On April 23, 1857 they drove twelve miles to the Endowment House and were married. When they returned that afternoon, they were met at William's gate by Joseph F. Smith and two other leading brethren. William got down from the wagon, called his hired man to come and take Mary on to her father's home. It was three days before he came to move her to his home where his other wives were living. These women got along remarkably well. Mary loved Emeline, the first wife, and always spoke of her in the highest terms.

In the spring of 1858 Johnston's Army invaded Utah. All the women and children were gathered into wagons with provisions, bedding and a little furniture and sent south to Utah County for safety. Most of the men remained at home to protect their meager belongings. Mary went in the wagon with Emeline and her three small children. They stopped at Spanish Fork where they remained most of the summer. After peace was negotiated with the army, the women and children thankfully returned to their homes.

On September 14, 1858, Mary gave birth to triplets, two boys and a girl. The two boys were dead due to an injury she received while milking a cow about two months earlier. Although premature by two manths, the little girl lived. She was carried on a pillow and fed from the tip of a spoon. She weighed less than three pounds. They named her Mary Eleanor. She was a joy and comfort to her mother.

Mary's son Willard was born November 4, 1861. Two years later Franklin was born. William was called on a mission to England in April 1865. Before leaving he moved Mary and Millie into an adobe home on what we remember as the Rampton lot. He left his property in the hands of a brother-in-law so his three wives could be provided for. This man misappropriated the funds, leaving these two women in straitened circomstances. Tom and Mollie Wall proved to be real friends to Millie and Mary. The saw to their needs and cared for them.

On November 4, 1865, a few months after William's departure for England, a little daughter, Josephine, was born to Mary. She was a beautiful, lovable child who brightened their home for two years. She died just before her father returned. This was Mary's first great sorrow. Kind friends and relatives came to comfort and cheer her.

Thomas Whitaker met and married a beautiful young widow, Elizabeth Mills Oakden, and they came to Centerville about the time Mary was married. These two women became fast friends at once. A beautiful friendship that lasted over seventy-two years bloomed, in which they not only shared their substance, but their joys and sorrows as well. One of her first girlhood friends was Susan Miles Evans, who married and had a large family. They were in real poverty and Mary shared with her and helped her over some bitter experiences. She had the happy faculty of making friends and keeping them. Sister Whitaker subscribed for the New York Ledger and invited a number of friends to enjoy it with her. Each time it came, one of the number would prepare a dinner, after which "Grandmother" Brown read it and the ladies would sew. Sister Whitaker had the first sewing machine in town. It was run by hand. The ladies would baste their articles of clothing and Sister Whitaker would do the machine work for them. Aunt Millie Smith, "Grandmother' Brown, Elizabeth Whitaker, Susana Seamon, Mary and others gathered for over twenty years for work and entertainment.

A school teacher came from the East and boarded at the Smith's. She had a beautiful black silk dress which the ladies all admired. Elizabeth and Mary started working and saving to get enough money to purchase material for each a dress. They dried fruit and sold it to the Z.C.M.I., did knitting and crocheting for others and in time purchased the silk. The trimming they wanted was $7.00 a yard. By working another season, they were able to get that and also new bonnets.* Just as the dresses were finished, they had occasion to wear them to Brigham Young's funeral. As they entered the tabernacle, the ushers, thinking they were eastern ladies, lead them down to the best seats in the house.

On January 16, 1869, James Carlos was born. Mahalah, or Minnie, as she was called came next; then William R., who they called Willie. He was only twenty-two months old when he died. Clara was born while Mary lived in the old Waddoupe home. When she was nine month old, the family moved into their new adobe home on the main road. Four years later, Mabel was born. Mary took a real pride and joy in her family.

Her thrid great trial came when her eldest son, Willard, at the age of twenty-six, died after a brief illness at his home in Chesterfield, Idaho, leaving his young wife, Birdie Adams Smith, and their nine-month-old daughter, Etta. Seven years later, her beloved husband passed away at the home of his wife Millie after months of illness due to cancer of the stomach. Mary and Millie bestowed upon him every loving care. William was Mary's ideal. She was ever loyal to his memory and loved to tell of his accomplishments.

Two years after the passing of her husband, her son, James Carlos, better known as Jim, died after a few days illness. He and his young bride, Malinda Porter Smith, were living on the sand ridge in Layton. Utah. The part that made his passing seem more tragic was that their son was born a month after Jim's death. Linda was a daughter to Mary, always kind and understanding. Being a nurse, she cared for her in all her illnesses even until the last.

Many joys came to Mary form a long life of loving service, She was honest and true in all her dealings. She never hurt anyone intentionally, was never jealous, but rejoiced in the success and happiness of others. She was a good cook and homemaker. She was systematic and quick in doing her work. She loved to visit with young and old and to entertain her friends and relatives.

Her passing came May 2, 1929, in her little brick home in Centerville, Utah. Her living children, Mary, Ellen, Linda, Minnie, Clara, Mabel and Frank were there at the time of her death to assist in caring for her.

One young friend, in paying tribute to her, said, "It was her eternal smile and cheery greeting that brought joy to young and old. Her happy disposition made everyone her friend and kept them friends. Her life of industry was an example to all who know her."

With her death, the world lost a noble mother, a loyal friend and staunch Latter-day Saint. To her family she was, and ever will be: "A perfect woman, nobly planned - To warn, to comfort and command."