Mary Dunn Ensign was born November 2, 1833 in Belleville, Van Buren, Wayne County, Michigan the daughter of Simeon Adams Dunn & Adeline Rawson.. The family lived in a fine farm home with an orchard containing all kinds of fruits, and with barns to house their animals. After joining the Church, they moved to Nauvoo, where Simeon A. Dunn purchased land upon which to build his home, from the Prophet Joseph Smith. The house he built was in a good state of preservation in August 1941, when his grandson, Adams Wesley Ensign and his wife visited that city. The house, which was then occupied by an elderly couple, showed them the deed of conveyance to Simeon A. Dunn, signed by Joseph and Emma Smith and also a deed of conveyance from Simeon A. Dunn to them. The house has since been restored with donations from the Dunn descendants and is owned by Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. The home is now used as a residence for couple missionaries and upon request a personal tour can be arranged by contacting the current resident missionaries. A great-grandson, Leslie Smith Dunn, Jr. and his wife, Marion of Brigham City, Utah, placed a registration book in the home to be signed (name and address) only by descendent's of Simeon Adams Dunn.
When Mary was but eight years of age her mother died. Their home was near that of the Prophet, on Hyde and Parley Street. The children of the two families often played together. In relating some of her early recollections of life in Nauvoo, she said: “I saw him on parade on the 4th of July, riding his black horse, Joe Duncan. I have also seen him on the ball grounds many times, and none could excel him in the game. On one occasion my father was very sick and sent for the Prophet to come. He asked father if he had ever had the measles. Father said “No”. The Prophet then said, “You will have them”, and before he took his hands off his head, father was broken out thick as could be. Another time the baby was very sick with black canker. Mother took him to the Prophet, who went with us to a stream of water. Joseph took the baby laid it across his hand, face down, and immersed it in the water and the baby recovered”.
She remembered the farewell speech of the Prophet before he left for Carthage and the morning the news of the martyrdom was brought to the Saints. She was with her parents at the meeting when the mantle of the Prophet Joseph fell upon Brigham Young and remembered her father saying as they returned home, “They need not hunt any further, Brigham Young is the man to lead us”.
At the age of fourteen years, Mary drove a team across the plains. She was married to Martin Luther Ensign, January 8, 1852. He said the first time he saw her she was wearing a turkey red calico dress, made with a tight waist, edged with narrow black lace at the neck and sleeves and a full skirt. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
She became the mother of nine children. She was a good cook and enjoyed entertaining her relatives and friends. They had a happy and comfortable home life. Her husband was active in church and community affairs. They celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary January 8, 1902 and nine years later, May 18, 1911, at the age of eighty years, Martin L. Ensign passed away. Mary spent the remaining years of her life with her children and died November 8, 1920, at the age of eighty-seven years. She was buried at the side of her husband in the Brigham City Cemetery.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MARY DUNN ENSIGN (linked to family photos)
(Taken from the handwritten copy “Testimony of Mary D. Ensign by John Ensign Hill, grandson of Mary Dunn Ensign & the Biography of Mary Dunn Ensign)
The following is written in her own words:
“I very well remember the first time I saw the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was in July 1841. We had just arrived in Nauvoo when we met him just below the Temple hill was Joseph Smith He stopped and shook hands with all even the baby, and had words of comfort and encouragement for us all. I thought what a good man he must be to notice us little children. After that I saw him often as we located not far from his home. We settled on what was called Hyde and Parley St., not far from the home of the Prophet that then was called The Mission House.
On one occasion my father, Simeon A. Dunn was sick and the Prophet came to our house to administer to him. He commenced to joke to him about our house. He said, “I didn’t know as I would have had faith to administer to you if you hadn’t built your house two stories high. It can be seen from all over town.” Ours was the first two-story house in Nauvoo. I can well remember seeing him on parade with his trumpet. It was one fourth of July and there were ladies in the parade with him. They fought a sham battle. I thought he was the finest looking man I ever saw, riding his black horse and dressed in his military suit. He certainly looked grand.
We became well acquainted with the Prophets family and witnessed many trying scenes relative to the martyrdom of the Prophet. I remember well when he was kidnapped by the Missourians. How dreadful every one felt. In three hours time, there were five hundred (500) men ready to go to his rescue. Father was one of the numbers. How glad everyone was when he arrived home five days later. Then our sorrow was turned to joy. How earnestly we had prayed for him day and night, until he returned and our prayers had been answered.
I saw him on parade one 4th of July riding his black horse named John Duncan. I thought I had never seen a more beautiful sight. I have also witnessed him on the ball grounds and none could excel him in the games. He was a man of great faith. On one occasion my father was very sick and sent for the Prophet. He shook hands with father and asked, “Have you ever had the Measles”? My father replied “No”. The Prophet then said, “You will have them”. Before he took his hands off my father he was broken out with them. At another time baby was very sick with Black Canker. Mother took him to the Prophet who went to a stream of water, and taking the baby, laid it across his hands, face downward and immersed it. The baby recovered and is now living.
There were a number of Apostates associated with the people at that time. Among them was Mark Bennett, William Smith Foster and others. William Smith had been cut off the church for adultery and 18 years later he became an apostle of the Josephite church.
I remember the persecution also. Brother Joseph stood those until he felt that he could stand no more, so he concluded to go west and find a place for his people. I remember when the people found he was gone there were certain ones among them who raised hue and cry that the shepherd should desert his flock. It seemed as though they could give him no rest so he returned and faced his enemies who took his life, together with that of his brother, at Carthage Jail. When he made his farewell speech we could hear him from our house. Governor Ford promised protection to him and the saints, providing he would surrender but we call know how that pledge was kept.
At that time my father was on a mission to the Eastern States. Mother and I were going over to Bro. Chases, who was with father, to see if they had any news of father. It was after sundown and just before we got there we heard someone coming on horseback, shouting. We stopped to learn what he wanted. It was Stephen Markham. He had just arrived from Carthage where they had driven him out. He told us what he expected would happen as he had heard shooting in that direction. That night the gloom cast over that community cannot be described. Cows mooed, dogs barked and the whole atmosphere was impregnated with calamity. The next morning news was received of the massacre of our Prophet and Patriarch. This caused the people to think that the mob would come and massacre the whole body of saints. I well remember when the bodies of the Prophet and Patriarch were brought home and placed in the mission house. Thousands came to view the remains.
The cry was soon made! “Who will lead the church”. Sidney Rigdon was one candidate. I was at the meeting when he stood in his carriage and talked to the people for nearly three hours. He thought it his place to lead them. The saints did not know what to do. It seemed as though everything was at a standstill. Meetings were held in a large grove at that time. One afternoon there was an immense congregation in attendance. The Meeting opened as usual and Brigham Young stepped to the stand. It seemed as though the Prophet was before us, and had been resurrected. People craned their necks to get a better view of him; he so resembled the Prophet in look and speech. Surely the mantle of Joseph had fallen on Brigham. I remember so well what father said on the way home after the meeting, “We need not hunt any farther, Brigham Young is the man.” And so it turned out to be. Sydney Rigdon went the way of all those who raised their voices against this people.
Some facts about polygamy:
There is a great deal said about polygamy just now. I want to tell what I know about it. I went to school where the prophets children were in attendance, and passed their home, going and coming, and like other children, used to call for their adopted daughter Julia who was the same age as their son Joseph, Jr. (He is the present leader of the Josephite (re-organized church). One day in particular we were in the dining room. There were three young ladies at work setting the table. As fast as they would get it set, young Joseph would gather the knives and forks and spoons and disarrange them. They were all having a jolly time. When we left and were on our way to school, Julia remarked to my sister, “It is said those young women are hired girls, but they are not, they are my fathers wives”. That was the first time I had ever heard about such a thing as a man having more than one wife. Their names were as follow, Elisa Partige, two of Amassa Lyman’s daughters, Eliza R. Snow, Lucy Walkers and others. It is reasonable to believe that if Julia knew about her father having a number of wives that Joseph would certainly know.
We left Nauvoo in 1846 and settled in Winter Quarters in the spring of 1847. President Brigham Young called a colony to settle about fifteen miles away, on the Missouri River to raise grain for the coming immigrants. In 1848 we started across the plains in President Brigham Young’s company. I started without shoes, and drove a yoke of oxen. (She was not yet fifteen years old). I had no shoes until September. How I suffered with my feet, especially when we went through the cactus! We settled in Salt Lake City, in the Eighth Ward.
About the first of January President Brigham Young called the people together and told them to take out their seed grain and weigh what was left to see how much there would be per day for each person. From then on we lived on three-quarters of a pound of corn meal a day for five persons, until greens came, also thistle roots etc., and then we would give Father our corn cake, as he had to work hard.
In the year 1852 I married Martin Luther Ensign. In 1853 we moved to Brigham City and went through the hardships of pioneer life. In 1856 my husband went to fill a mission in Great Britain. He traveled across the plains with the Handcart Company. I was left with three children. My stepmother died and left five. We were compelled to move south on account of Johnston’s Army. I then had those eight children to care for and I drove a team and went as far as Payson. Our teams consisted of oxen and cows.
I have gone through some very trying times. I have had nine children, six of who are living at this date, January 23, 1914 and are all strong, active workers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My husband died May 18, 1911.
Some facts about polygamy:
There is a great deal said about polygamy just now. I want to tell what I know about it. I went to school where the prophets children were in attendance, and passed their home, going and coming, and like other children, used to call for their adopted daughter Julia who was the same age as their son Joseph, Jr. (He is the present leader of the Josephite (re-organized church). One day in particular we were in the dining room. There were three young ladies at work setting the table. As fast as they would get it set, young Joseph would gather the knives and forks and spoons and disarrange them. They were all having a jolly time. When we left and were on our way to school, Julia remarked to my sister, “It is said those young women are hired girls, but they are not, they are my fathers wives”. That was the first time I had ever heard about such a thing as a man having more than one wife. Their names were as follow, Elisa Partige, two of Amassa Lyman’s daughters, Eliza R. Snow, Lucy Walkers and others. It is reasonable to believe that if Julia knew about her father having a number of wives that Joseph would certainly know.
I also heard my father talking to mother, concerning polygamy and he himself tried to get a certain young woman for a wife. Between that time and the exodus from Nauvoo there were many who had plural wives that I knew of. I was familiar with the fact that polygamy was being practiced and taught by the prophet Joseph, but due to the intense feeling against him he did not teach it publicly.
I desire to bear my testimony to the divinty of the prophet Joseph. I knew him to be a prophet then and my testimony has grown stronger with years and today, I am firm in the knowledge that this work is of God. And my wish is that I may ever prove true to the covenants I have made, is the prayer of your humble servant.
Mary D. Ensign
* * * * * * * * * * * *************** *
STATEMENT OF IVY BLOOD HILL
March 22, 1974
Armin asked about a statement I made that I had shaken hands with one of Joseph Smith’s wives. My statement is as follows:
My sister may, Mary H. B. Linford, took me and some of her boys to meet Sister Lucy Kimball, an elderly woman who was living at 281 West, Center Street, Logan, Utah. I am not sure of the date. Sister Kimball was sitting in a rocking chair on the north side of the room facing the entrance. She took each of us by the hand and said, “When you are grown up and you hear people say that Joseph Smith had only one wife, you tell them you know that is not true, for you have shaken hands with one of his plural wives.”
A letter from Jas. B. Linford, dated March 4, 1974 states: “In a diary Mother kept for me before I first came to Berkeley I found the following entry:
“November 12, 1906. I took all five of my boys and visited Sister Lucy Kimball because she is the only wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith who is still alive. She told them many things about the Prophet and that after he was killed she married Heber C. Kimball. Now she is Brother Kimball’s only wife who is alive.”
Priscilla Rowland tells me that Mrs. Leo Kimball, now over 80, lives in the old Kimball Home.
In a little pamphlet, Brigham Young and His Wives, published by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, there are photos and 1 life sketch of five of his wives who were formerly married to Joseph Smith. Heber C. Kimball married Percindia Huntington, and this woman’s name was Lucy. Could be Lucy Walker named by Grandma Ensign, so Kimball married two of Joseph Smith’s wives. Read Joseph Smith, An American Prophet, by John Henry Evans, pages 266 to 275 for more details on the subject. It is very interesting. He says Joseph Smith had 27 wives beside Emma.
COMMENTS BY EUNICE ENSIGN NELSON:
(Taken from the “John Ensign Hill” book.
“We do not know the story of love and romance which brought Martin Luther Ensign and Mary Dunn together. She came with a pioneer company in 1848, and January 8, 1852, they were married. Their first home was in Centerville, Davis County, Utah and here their first child, Adeline, was born. Several more moves were made before the family home was finally established in the northeast section of Brigham City, where the old house still stands. (1935) The original one room was added to, at intervals, until a commodious two-story frame building finally evolved. The home was always a source of wonder to us, as grandchildren. The attic was a veritable fairyland, filled with magazines, pictures, mottoes, etc. and the cellar always seemed full of smoked hams, delicious apples and Grandmother’s appetizing pickles and fruit. If it were summer time, there were fresh fruits and vegetables of all kinds and Grandmother was an A-1 cook. Her chicken pies will always be a shinning light in my memory as a child. She had big feather beds and linsey-woolsey sheets or blankets, and to have windows open in the winter was not known. Before we began a meal the dishwater was put on the stove to heat, and after the last one was through eating it wasn’t many minutes until the dishes were washed and put away. The rule never varied. No dirty dishes ever sat around in Grandmother’s kitchen. Her dishes were interesting: a set with gold bands and brown leaves as a border. Another interesting thing to me was to watch her chop vegetables in a wooden bowl with a two bladed chopping knife. She could sit squatting on her feet while she prepared the vegetables for a meal or picked strawberries for dinner.
This splendid pioneer couple lived to see many of the blessings, which we enjoy today, unfold before them: electricity, water in the house, telephones and automobiles. They celebrated their golden wedding on January 8, 1902 in the Ward House at Brigham City. Many of their numerous posterity and friends did honor to their integrity and faith in gathering to Utah and making it a haven for us.
Grandfather died May 18, 1911 and Grandmother followed him, November 8, 1920.”
Children of Martin Luther and Mary Dunn Ensign:
1. Mary Adeline Ensign, b. 10 Nov 1852, m. David John Roberts, d. 2 Aug 1892.
2. Georgiana Ensign, b. 6 Apr. 1854, m. William John Hill, d. 5 Oct. 1932.
3. Emma Lovinia Ensign, b. 22 Aug 1856, m. Severin N. Lee, d. 14 June 1929.
4. Harriet Camilla Ensign, b. 24 Apr 1859, m. Isaac Smith, d. 15 Mar. 1930.
5. Martin Luther Ensign Jr., b. 15 Jan 1862, m. Martha Wright, d. 11 May 1932.
6. John Ensign, b.8 May 1864 and d. 8 Aug 1866.
7. Horace Ensign., b. & d. 29 Mar. 1866.
8. Effie Celestia Ensign, b. 1871, m. Lewis Alford Merrill (Bishop), d. 1965.
9. Adam Wesley Ensign, b.1 Jan 1875, m. Charlotte Winnifred Boden, d. 1 Jul 1954
No comments:
Post a Comment