Mary Jane Chivers Henderson
Mary Jane Chivers was the oldest child of James Chivers and Mary Ann Niblet. She was born March 19, 1843, in Sully, South Wales. Her family immigrated to Salt Lake City, Utah, sailing from England April 21,1862 on the ship "William Tapscott." They could afford only the lowest priced passage, which was Steerage Class. They arrived in Salt Lake City with the Captain Horton D. Heights Ox Team on October 19,1862.
On September 2, 1864, at the age of 21, she was married to Samuel Henderson Jr. who was 44 years of age. They were married in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the 4th and last wife of Samuel Jr. She and her family came with Samuel to Star Valley, in Wyoming, because hers was the youngest family and needed the care of both parents. Mary Jane had ten children: James H., William Sanford, Wilson, Merrettee, Leslie, Thomas Wallace, Mary Ann, Guy, Fannie and Lee. She was 45 years of age when her young-est son, Lee, was born. Samuel was then 68 years old.
Mary Jane's was a hard life. Five of her children died at an early age. Three of them died of diphtheria in the month of December 1879. They were the oldest three in the family: William Sanford, Wilson and Leslie. They all died within one week, and were buried in the snow until spring.
When her 6th child, Wallace, went on his mission to New Zealand, she milked cows for the first year of his mission to finance it. Then Guy took the cows and they divided the in-come from them. An excerpt from one of her letters to Wallace reads as follows: "My step mother died last month. They phoned for me to go to the funeral, but I did not have decent clothes to wear so I did not go." After the death of her father she was discussing the financial settlement in a letter to Wallace. In 4 or 5 years she was to receive $500. She said, "I wish I could get it now, then I would get me some good clothes and try to take life easier."
Following are items of interest taken from various letters she had written to Wallace: Her sons Guy and Lee worked on the farm, and when their work was done, they hired out to help other farmers. Guy received $1.75 a day, and Lee was paid $1.00 a day. While they worked away, Mary Jane was left to herd the cows. Wood sold for $2.50 a cord, cash; grain was 70 cents per 100 pounds; hay sold for $5.00 a ton. A choice mare sometimes sold for $100. A permit for summer grazing of cattle over 6 months old was 10 cents a head, and 20 cents a head for horses.
Mary Jane always wrote words of encouragement to her missionary son: "Wallace, you have always been a good boy and a good manager, and I have confidence in you that you will make a good missionary. I am always praying for you and I believe the Lord will answer my prayers." "Well, Wallace, I hope everything will work all right with you, as I know it will if you will depend on the Lord and be humble and prayerful. Seek unto the Lord for wisdom to lead and guide you and I hope by the time you are ready to come home that Lee will be called, or if I had the means I would like if he would be called now."
Samuel Jr. died at age 84 before Wallace returned from his mission, and Mary Jane died 1.5 years after Samuel's death.
The following is the life story of Mary Jane Chivers Henderson, as told by her daughter, Mary Henderson Hill Hale in July 1971:
"My mother was a very religious woman. There has been lots said about my father, but he had three good women to help him. Mother helped him dig the ditches from the creek to get water to the grain. I never heard my mother say a swear word in her life. She was a very honest woman and helped father, so they never went in debt in their lives.
“Mother was a hard worker. She wove carpets and wove cloth, spun yarn, knit mittens, mended stockings, made butter, cheese, etc. Her first five children she sewed for by hand as she didn't have a machine. One lady made the comment: "I never knew a woman that could do as many things as Mary Jane." She was a good gardener and always had flowers—even in her windows. There was always a beautiful flower garden outside.
“When we had her funeral in Clifton, Idaho, Millie Henderson went to get some flowers from a lady that raised flowers for funerals. Millie got two bunches of Bleeding Heart. When she went to pay for them, the lady asked, "Whose funeral are they for?" When Millie said, "Mary Jane Henderson," the lady wouldn't take any pay, saying she had gotten the start from Mary Jane.
“I heard my mother say once, ‘A polygamist's life is a hard life.’
“When a Sunday School was organized in Dry Creek, mother was put in as Secretary, and later on she was counselor in the Relief Society and a teacher of the adult class in Sunday School.
“Mother was a good housekeeper and cook. Our meals were right at the same time every day: 7 am, noon, and 6 pm.
“She took care of father in his old age and was extra good to him. I think my mother loved my father a lot. Mother was a good woman to help anyone in need. She loved to cook and fix nice cakes for Christmas. Both Mother and Father were good managers. They were very saving and careful.
“We, the descendants of this fine woman give thanks to God for her life, her example, and for all of her goodness!”