Sidney Kay Smith Creer's
Great Great Aunt
Arranged by her niece, Pearl Davis Broomhead
Mary Ann Minerva Davis, the daughter of Elisha Hildebrand Davis and Mary Ann Mitchell Davis was born October 31, 1848, in Mt. Pisgah, Iowa. At the age of four years she crossed the plains with her parents, arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, in October 1852. She came to Lehi in 1858 (when ten years old) having previously lived in West Jordan, Bountiful, and Ogden where her father was engaged as a miller in each of these places.
Mary Ann was the eldest of eight children. She was less fortunate than her brothers and sisters by having lost her hearing and speech through sickness when a small child. She was unable to attend school during her life except for a short period of time when she attended a deaf and dumb school in Salt Lake City where she learned to read and write to a small degree. Her communication with others has been through her hands, and she has been very adept in making others understand her. The deprivation of her hearing and speech did not lessen her mentality, but all through her life she was blessed with quickness of forethought and a love and desire for beauty. No idleness entered her life. She was always active and busy.
As a young girl she was very fond of sports and pleasures, which she could share with her brothers and sisters. For ten years her home was at the Grist Mill located on the millpond south and east of Lehi where her father was engaged as a miller. During this time Mary Ann learned to row a boat and was an expert at fishing, a pastime of which she was very fond. Her nature was to give entertainment and pleasure to others. Many times their home has been filled with friends and neighbors while Mary Ann would entertain them with lantern slides and show pictures on the wall, etc. using one of her mother’s sheets while she was behind it with it a lighted candle exhibiting all kinds of dolls, animals, etc. performing stunts. She was also very fond of and hard to beat at playing checkers.
She learned while young to be useful in making different kinds of handwork. She had the art of making wool flowers, hair flowers, and ornaments; as watch chains mounted with gold etc. Many will remember the classes she used to teach of this work of art. Some of the finest of her work was a lion made of fine wool, perfect in form, standing on a pedestal; also a mother hen and baby chicks all life size made from natural feathers and down. She, with her mother, used to braid straw and make and sell straw hats; she was also a good seamstress and was always busy making lace, rugs, quilts, etc. Even in the last years of her life she could be seen making dainty rugs or quilt blocks just to be useful and busy.
Mary Ann was taught the Gospel by her parents, and was able too understand and love it. She was able to comprehend the meaning of a life hereafter and expects to meet her loved ones there. She sets a wonderful example of faith for others to follow. From the time of her childhood, she was constant attendant of Sacrament Meeting; her familiar figure could be seen in the accustomed place. Though not able to hear a word, she felt the spirit of the Lord. She had faith in prayer and was able to impart that sustaining faith to others and to show them the necessity of kneeling in supplication to the Lord. She has been through the House of the Lord, having done work for herself as well as acting proxy for others. She has been to the Logan, Manti, and Salt Lake Temples. She had her own endowments in the Manti Temple.
We must now speak of her as “Aunt Ba,” by which name she was lovingly known through her mature years. Aunt Ba loved to attend Relief Society meetings and could always be seen at their quiltings, sewings, etc. giving a helping hand. She was also a teacher in the handwork department in Primary. She had a smile for her friends and a very charming manner in which she greeted them. She showed great affection for the children of her brothers and sisters.
Never having any children of her own, the beautiful instinct of motherhood, which she possessed, was bestowed upon her Niece, Edith. No one could love a daughter more than Aunt Ba loved Edith; and no daughter could be more deserving of that love, for Edith has been a real daughter to her. Much credit and praise is due Edith and Vess and their family for the love, care and protection, which they have given her the past thirty years.
Aunt Ba has been confined to her bed the last three years, due to illness incident to old age. Had she lived until October 31st, she would have been 91 years of age.
She passed from this life on Saturday, September 2, 1939, preceded in death by her father, mother and all of her brothers, and sisters.
God grant that her rest may be sweet.
Lehi, Utah
September 8, 1939
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