Mary Worthington (Mormon Pioneer)

An account of Herself 82 years old on

7 February 1932

The wife of James David Coon, Mary Worthington, daughter of James Samuel and Eliza Clark Worthington, born at Macclesfield, Cheshire, England on 7 February 1850.

In March 1857 Mother and I left for America. Mother joined the Church of Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ and it was because of this that Mother and I left England. My Father and all of Mother's Family turned against her. The scriptures state that “there will be one of a family and two of a city flee to Zion.” The Steamship that we sailed on was “The Washington.” We were lost at sea and were on the Ocean seven weeks. We landed in Boston in May of 1857, and stayed there for three weeks.

My Mother married a man named Edward Horrocks, His wife had died and left him with five daughters. Mr. Horrocks prepared to come to Utah; He Procured two wagons and two yolk of oxen. There were nine in the Family. We started on the long journey to Utah over the plains. When we arrived at the Platt River, the men were told not to stop there, or their oxen would sink into the quicksand. All the people who were large enough to walk did so because it was necessary to lighten the load. We would hold on to the backs of the wagons and wade through the River, the water was deep. I remember that I had started to laugh and let go and went under the water; this frightened my Mother. They were able to help me out and everyone was happy.

At night the mend would take all of the wagons and place them in a circle to make a corral for the oxen. One morning the oxen and cattle became frightened at something and stampeded; They ran over one of our wagons and broke a wheel off, killing one man and a girl. For lack of any other material the men took the wagon box and made coffins for the man and the girl. Thus we were left with only one wagon and nowhere to pack in our provisions. Finally one of the men in our party said we could place our goods in his wagon. My Stepfather then let him take a yolk of our oxen; we all had to walk after this unfortunate accident. We walked day after day in the hot sun, we had very little water, sometimes drinking out of the puddles by the roadside. I had walked so far that it finally made me ill; I lay down beside the road and when I felt better I would hurry to catch up. One night when they camped I was missing, I had been unable to keep up, being so tired I had laid down and fell asleep and failed to waken. I was very ill for three months after this with an illness called mountain fever, caused by the long walk, bad water and all. It was really hard on a little seven year old girl.

We arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah in September 1857. Before winter we moved to Ogden. We did not have much to eat; Bran mush and squash for fruit. I well remember one winter, my Mother thought she should make something different so she made what we call Apple Dumpling, except she used onions instead of apples. It tasted really good.

We lived in Ogden Valley for a good many years. After I was 12 years old I earned my own clothing, working for people. I did housework, milked cows, made butter and cheese; My wages were $1.50 per week. Shoes cost $5.00 per pair; I worked all one summer for one pair shoes, two woolen dresses and yearn enough to knit two pairs of stockings for winter.

When I was sixteen years old I was married to James David Coon. On 10 March, 1866; We lived in Ogden Valley for Eight Years; we then moved to Salt Lake City and later to the mountains West of Salt Lake City, to what was known as “Coonville.” I helped to Pioneer this place. We did not have a Bishop, but Brother Hurst was The Presiding Elder. We helped to build the first Meeting House; I was a teacher in the Relief Society for thirty years and in the Primary for a good many years.

Left to right: Mary Worthington, Mamie Coon, LeNora Thomas, Arthur Glenn Foster

I did all of my sewing by hand, for my Husband, myself and eight children by candlelight. I made everything we wore because we could not buy a piece of clothing ready made. It was after I had my eighth child that I was able to buy my first sewing machine. I would sew until two or three o'clock in the morning.

I did all of my washing by hand or on the wash board until after my tenth child came. The first washers were turned by hand.

On Feb. 7^th 1921, my Husband died of Asthma and pneumonia. He is buried in the Pleasant Green Cemetery, high upon the hills above the town.

I still live in the old home that we built together. I am the Mother of sixteen children. Six Daughters and ten Sons. There are eleven children still living; one Son, Alonzo, is still at home with me. I am able to do my own work, except the washing; my Daughter-in-law, Walter's wife, Ruby Kancock Coon does this most of the time.

I was eighty two years old 7 February 1932. I have fifty-three grandchildren, forty Great Grandchildren; my health is fairly good. Still being able to read, write and am slightly hard of hearing.