Biography
Mary Ann Anderson McBride was born 25 March 1814 in Stafford, Genesee County, New York, United States to Alanson Anderson (1772-1857) and Priscilla Pierce (1771-1850) and died 16 August 1896 Fillmore, Millard County, Utah, United States of unspecified causes. She married Reuben McBride (1803-1891) 22 September 1830 in Villanova, Chautauqua County, New York, United States.
Daughter of Alanson and Priscilla Pierce Anderson, Mary Ann Anderson was born March 25, 1808 at Stafford, Genesee, New York. She was of Scottish descent and of the Puritan type of womanhood. A devout saint and a firm believer in the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, with whom she was very well acquainted. On September 23, 1830 at Villenovia, Chautauqua Co., N.Y. she became the wife of Reuben McBride, Elder Gill officiating. Her faith in the Gospel impelled her to leave her kindred against the earnest protestations and cast her lot with the unpopular Latter Day Saints.
At Villenovia, N.Y. Feb. 22, 1833 a baby girl came to gladden their household. They called her Helen. Scarce more than a year had elapsed when little Harriet answered to the family roll call. Shortly after this they moved to Kirtland Ohio. Here she was left with the family much of the time, as grandfather was considered by the church Authorities as a minute man and did a great deal of missionary work. Reuben participated in Zion's Camp (1834).
While at Kirtland, the following children were born to them: Reuben, Louisa, Roy, Emma, Newton, and Laura. In the year of 1850 Grandfather left his family and came to Utah in company with President Brigham Young in whose family he made his home the following year. Grandfather returned to Kirtland a year later and brought his family to Utah, in 1852, spending the winter in Farmington and Springville. Some time later, after moving to Fillmore their baby Alice came, making a family of six girls and three sons all of whom grew to man and womanhood, married and raised large families who honor and revere their noble ancestors.
Grandma McBride was a woman of culture and skill. She was Poetic, contributing many poems to the public. For many years she contributed to the "Woman's Exponent," the first Relief Society magazine published in Utah, each issue of which she prized very highly, keeping them filed for future reference. She was full of benevolence and kindness to the poor, contributing much of her time and talent without solicitation or compensation. God blessed her with a talent to bring and save souls. By her kind hand, many souls were brought into the world under various critical conditions. God being her guide, she achieved great success. For several years she was counselor in the Millard Stake Relief Society and later President of the Fillmore Ward Relief Society. She was very skillful in needlecraft. As a child I remember seeing some of her excellent work, which was sent to the State Fair.
Besides rearing her family of nine children she raised the youngest son of her daughter Laura who died at the age of 26 years, leaving six small children. Although the family did not suffer for food as some of the early pioneers did, yet they indulged in all the labor incidental to pioneer life, spinning yarn, weaving the cloth from which she made clothing for her family.
I well remember a beautiful bed spread which she wove of navy blue and white fine yarn. The design was a real piece of art. She would put her spinning wheel up stairs where she thought it would be safe, but on the contrary, the grand children would find their way to Grandmothers spinning wheel and try their talent at making yarn from rolls.
Grandmother's loom was an ideal hiding place for the children to seclude themselves while deeply engaged in study. Grandmother used to make a variety of dyes with which she would color pieces for quilts and rags for carpets. She also made soap from hard wood ashes. Grandfather made her what they called a leach which was composed of slats of wood, then filled with hard wood ashes and a trough for a drain. About once a day she would pour a bucket of water over the ashes. When sufficient liquid had accumulated she would add a certain amount of grease and make soap which served for washing, scrubbing, etc.
In early pioneer days the people were advised by the church authorities to take Indian children to rear and educate. Accordingly grandfather and grandmother McBride obeyed this council and took an Indian boy, whom they called Jefferson. He was granted all of the privileges those early days afforded, attending the best schools and affiliating in church affairs. As he became more enlightened, he began to despair of his color and race. Never the less he remained with them until he was nearing manhood, when one day he became so discouraged he went away and was never heard of again.
Grandma was always true to her faith. Not only did she desire to care for the living, but also for the dead. She and Grandfather did much work at the St. George and Manti Temples. After the death of grandfather, grandmother remained in their own home for some time.
When her health began to fail, she went to live with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Alice Callister, where she remained until her death, August 18, 1896 at Fillmore, Millard County, Utah.
Source : An article found in the files at the Territorial Statehouse State Park in Fillmore, 11 Jul 1990, edited--SDR
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Helen Venera McBride (1833-1916) | |||
| Harriet Eliza McBride (1834-1910) | |||
| Reuben Augustus McBride (1836-1907) | 11 September 1836 Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, United States | 29 January 1907 Fillmore, Millard County, Utah, United States | Harriet Columbia Williams (1838-1917) Sarah Hannah Williams (1852-1936) |
| Mary Louisa McBride (1838-1930) | |||
| Hyrum Roy McBride (1843-1918) | |||
| Emma Jerutia McBride (1845-1884) | |||
| John Newton McBride (1845-1884) | |||
| James McBride (1848-1851) | |||
| Laura Abigail McBride (1848-1876) | |||
| Alice Melissa McBride (1853-1920) | |||
| Anna McBride (1857-1865) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Harvey Anderson (1792-1796) | |||
| Electa Anderson (1794-1813) | |||
| Jerusha Anderson (1792-1832) | |||
| Mabel Anderson (1800-1877) | |||
| Venera Anderson (1802-1872) | |||
| Baby Pierce Anderson (1805-1805) | |||
| Ralph Anderson (1805-1884) | |||
| Mahala Anderson (1807-1889) | |||
| Priscilla Pierce Anderson (1810-1840) | |||
| Mary Ann Anderson (1814-1896) | 25 March 1814 Stafford, Genesee County, New York, United States | 16 August 1896 Fillmore, Millard County, Utah, United States | Reuben McBride (1803-1891) |
Residences
See Also
- Mary Anderson
- Anderson Family
- Anderson in Genesee County, New York
- Anderson in Millard County, Utah
- McBride in Millard County, Utah