Mary Jane Andrus

Mary Jane Andrus was born Nov 15, 1833 in Florence, Ohio to Milo and Abigail Jane Daley Andrus. Mary is a pioneer of Richmond. Mary served as the first president of the Richmond Ward Relief Society.

Early Life

In her early years, Mary would attend her mother at the Kirtland, Ohio Temple, and laid on a bed while she performed her temple duties. At the time, Mary's father was on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his return, he was called to be a Branch President and was told to gather in Missouri in 1836. They later moved to Nauvoo, Illinois where they were present for the martyrdom of Joseph Smith.

Trek West and Salt Lake Life

In 1847, the Andrus family moved to Winter Quarters, Iowa for a year before going west. While there, Mary's father began the practice of polygamy, which upset Mary's mother. At the same time, he was called to a mission in England. Abigail then took her children west without his help, where Mary and her siblings walked the whole time, but would occasionally drive the oxen. They were part of the Heber C. Kimball company of 1848. At times when Abigail became sick, all responsibilities rested on Mary. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1848.

While in Salt Lake, Mary worked all the winter in Emigration Canyon. During the other seasons, she washed clothing for emigrants and a store in Salt Lake City. While the Andrus family was moving into a home donated by Heber C. Kimball, Mary met William Dorris Hendricks. They were married on March 12, 1851 in a Bath House in Salt Lake City by Church President Brigham Young. Soon after, William began the practice of polygamy by marrying Alvira Lavona Smith the same year. Mary and Alvira began a long sisterhood after her marriage.

Richmond Life

In the spring of 1860, Mary and others moved to Richmond. On an unknown date, while in Richmond, she was called to be the Relief Society President of the Richmond Ward. She was detrimental to the construction of the Relief Society Hall for the Sisters of Zion to gather. She was released 10 years later, moving to Oxford, Idaho where William was called as Stake President. Sometime in the early 1890s, they moved back to Richmond.

Epilogue