Susan Mariana Bunker, born October 7, 1849, was the fourth child and third daughter of Chang and Adelaide Yates Bunker. From a young age, however, she went by Mary A. Bunker. She grew up in Mt. Airy, North Carolina during the Civil War. After the war, the Southern economy collapsed. In August, 1866, Mary’s father and uncle, Chang and Eng, who had once toured the world as the famous “Siamese Twins”, knew they would have to “go on the road” again in order to recoup their losses from the war. They knew that in order to make the most money for their families, they must go to Europe.

They decided to take their eldest daughters with them--Eng’s daughter, Katherine -aged 24- and Chang’s daughter, Nancy-aged 21- (called “Nannie). The twins and their daughters set sail for Europe in December of 1868. They were gone for almost two years, during which time Nannie caught tuberculosis from her cousin. After their tour of Europe, they sailed back in the summer of 1870. They arrived back with their families, and they would survive financially.

In January, 1874, Mary’s father and uncle passed away, followed a month later by Nannie, from the tuberculosis. In the 10 years since the end of the Civil War, Mary’s older sister, Josephine, had passed away, her older brother, Christopher had left home to find work, her father and sister, Nannie, had died, and two sisters, Victoria and Louisa, had married and left home. Mary was the only one of the older siblings left to help her mother with the responsibilities of the farm and help with the younger children. But she didn’t mind. She had a calm, helpful nature and her daughter, Chattie, would later write of her, “I never met a more unselfish person. She got everybody off in good shape for anything that came up, and with such good will and joy.”

At some point, Mary and Squire G. Jones met. Because of the war, there were many more available young ladies than young men. Squire was younger than Mary--too young to have fought in the war. But Chattie did say of their courtship that Squire was mischievous, would joke and tease Mary a bit and make her laugh. Squire most likely made it a point to be helpful, as well, and slowly but surely won her over. They were married shortly after Thanksgiving, on November 28, 1877. They both had a lot to be thankful for!

They settled in Woodlawn, Carroll County, Virginia, where Squire and Mary bought a farm. Over the years, Mary and Squire had eight children: Oscar, Franklin, Hattie, Henry, Cleveland, Edgar, John and Chattie.

By the time Chattie was born, her eldest brother, Oscar had turned eighteen. Mary & Squire’s children heard stories of life “out west”, and one at a time the eldest three boys left home and headed to Idaho and Nevada. It became harder for Squire to maintain the farm. Plus, the disease of alcoholism, which had touched his family before him, afflicted Squire also, and ultimately Squire and Mariana separated. The rest of the boys, except John, went out west, as did their father, Squire.

Hattie married Samuel Buck and went to Alaska (where Sam had been stationed in the Army, then was discharged) to run the telephone & telegraph office. Chattie was invited to Alaska in 1916 to help out Sam & Hattie with the office and their two young children. Chattie met her husband, Albert Carruthers, there, married him in 1919, and moved to Texas.

Hattie and Sam moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, and in 1921, Mary moved to Sandpoint, where she lived out her last year with her eldest daughter, Hattie, son-in-law, Sam, and their family. Mary passed away March 2, 1922. Squire G. Jones survived her, as well as all of her children except John, who was killed in W W I. Mary was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Sandpoint.

A great lady had gone to Heaven, and to her extended family waiting on the other side.