Life Sketch of Mary Elizabeth Ransom Burton written by herself

Life Sketch of Mary Elizabeth Ransom Burton
written by herself
(posted to this blog by Kathryn Burton Castleton her great granddaughter)

George and Mary Elizabeth Ransom Burton

I, Mary Elizabeth Ransom Burton, daughter of James Rowley Ransom and Agnes Elizabeth Austin, was born 26 September 1880 at Trenton, Cache, Utah the eldest of eleven children, seven girls and four boys. I was six years of age when my oldest sister, Agnes Amelia was born and having two brothers, James A and William A. and no sister, I remember how thrilled I was when they told me I had a baby sister.

Agnes Elizabeth Austin Ransom

We lived on a homestead father had taken up prior to his and mother's marriage. It was about one mile north of where the city of Trenton is now located. It was a dry farm with no water only what we drew from a well. We lived in a one-room frame house which was the birthplace of we four older children.

Trenton, Utah

In the summer of 1881, father and mother came to Idaho with other families and camped in Big Canyon, where they cut ties for the railroad company, returning to our home in Trenton in the fall.

I can remember father cutting rye with a reaper and mother following, tying it into bundles by hand. While we were small children living in Trenton, mother would never let us go far from the house unless she was with us. I think that was because of so many "tramps" as we called them. Many times she has taken us down to a little meadow northeast of our house where we picked meadow flowers and thought that was a great treat.

Cutting rye with a reaper and bundling it by hand.

Father was a good hand in the timber and in a few years he and his brother, Hyrum came to Idaho and found work at a sawmill in Soda Springs, Idaho. This being a long way to travel with ox team or horses, father decided to move closer to his work. So, in the year 1887, we moved to Cleveland, Idaho settling in Cottonwood Creek. Here, father built a one-room log house in which we lived. The winters were very severe and the only way to get out of the valley was on snowshoes. The mail came in once a week and sometimes only once a month.

We lived about five miles from the one-room school house so I didn't get so very much schooling, only what my mother taught me. I am very thankful for these teachings, they have been a great help to me throughout my life. She taught me to sew, knit, crochet, also cord batts for quilts. I have also spun a little yarn to make stockings.

spinning yarn

My brother, John A., was born while we lived on Cottonwood Creek. I have had some good times fishing and wading in that old creek. I was baptized in Cottonwood Creek at Cleveland, Idaho 4 May 1889 by Ole Hansen and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by James (Jense) Christensen 4 may 1889.

We went back to Trenton, Utah in January 1891 to spend the remainder of the winter as there was an epidemic of measles in the valley and mother, not feeling well, hoped to escape them. But she didn't escape the measles and was very ill with a high fever for some time before giving birth to twin girls, Elvira and Elvina, 28 February 1891. They, too had the measles. Mother was so ill and her eyes swollen so badly she didn't see her twin babies until they were nine or ten days old.

In April 1891, we moved from Cottonwood Creek to the divide between Cache Valley and Gentile Valley, father moving the one-room log house up there where it still stands at this writing, 26 September 1959 as part of the old home. Four more children were born to them at this home. Violet, Thomas A., Verna and Annie. There, I spent the rest of my childhood days and that old home has some very dear memories for me.

My parents were not blessed with too much earthly means but were blessed with a testimony of the Gospel. Many times I have heard my father bear his testimony, in the meetings, to the truthfulness of the Gospel and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I have also heard my mother bear her testimony in Relief Society meetings. And they taught all their children these truths, also teaching them to observe the Word of Wisdom, which I believe they all do.

In the spring of 1898 I met George Burton of Bountiful, Davis County, Utah. After six months courtship we were married 13 October 1898 in the courthouse at Salt Lake City, Utah by Elder Slone. We spent two or three weeks at George's old home in Bountiful, Utah, with his sister Mary and her family. His parents had passed away prior to this time. We then came back to the home of my parents where I spent the winter and my husband went on the desert with the sheep. He was working for Hyrum Stewart of Kaysville. His wages were thirty dollars a month. He stayed with the sheep until March 1899, then came home and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining my father on the north. We moved a little frame cabin on the land to live in, and during that summer we built a log house, twelve by twenty-five, and moved into our new home before winter began. Later, we petitioned (partitioned) it off making us two rooms.

On Christmas day, 25 December 1899, our first child, Ethel was born. What a sweet little girl she was. And what a happy event that was in our lives. It was a cold night and my husband spent most of the night chopping wood to keep baby and me warm. My dear mother stayed with us until baby was nine days old and we got along just fine.

It was hard times and my husband had to spend much of his time away from home working with the sheep to keep food and necessities in the home, that being all the work he could get. In August 1901, we went to Salt Lake City, Utah with team and buggy and on August 21, 1901, we went through the Salt Lake Temple and were sealed for time and all eternity, our daughter, Ethel, was sealed to us at this time. What a happy day that was for us. After spending a few weeks with my husband's sisters, Mary Ann and Sarah Ann and families in Bountiful, we returned home.

On 12 October 1901, our oldest son, George R. was born. What a nice little family we had now. We were blessed with a girl and a boy. In the following years eleven more children came to bless our humble home, each one being loved as much as the first one and just as sweet. In order of birth their names are Mary, James R. William R, Ver, Orella, Rulon R., Mildred, Elvina, Willis R., Lincoln R., and Delma, making us the parents of thirteen children. William R., Orella and Delma passed away early in life and are buried in the cemetery at Cleveland, Idaho.

Delma Burton grave marker in Cleveland cemetery

I was chosen secretary in the Relief Society of the Wilson Ward on 1 June 1916, and was set apart by my father, James R. Ransom. Mary E. Lundgren being the president. I was chosen as senior teacher in the YLMIA 15 October 1916 and on 12 November 1916 I was chosen as first counselor in the YLMIA of the Wilson Ward. My sister, Elvina, being the president. After Mary E. Lundgren moved from the ward, I was chosen president of the Wilson Ward Relief Society. My mother, Agnes Elizabeth Austin Ransom and Annie Ames were counselors and I held this position until they annexed the ward back to the Cleveland Ward.

My son, George, left to serve in the Eastern States Mission 25 June 1924, returning home in August 1926 having filled an honorable mission. On 13 March 1927 I was chosen President of the Cleveland Ward Relief Society and was set apart 30 April 1927 by Henry Larsen, which position I held for five years then was released because of poor health. From my home to the Cleveland Ward meeting house and back was a distance of about ten miles. Many times I have saddled my horse and made the trip to attend Relief Society meetings. I also served as a visiting teacher in the Cleveland Ward Relief Society.

On the 22 January 1940, my son, Willis, entered the Mission Home in Salt Lake City, Utah , prior to his departure for the Central States Mission, where he labored in the service of the Lord for two years, fulfilling an honorable mission, returning home 21 February 1942. After he returned home from his mission he was called into the service of his country for four years. I think it was in August 1942 when he entered the service.

On 4 March 1944, my husband was killed accidentally with a horse while on the desert with Foss and Mecham sheep company. His funeral was held at Cleveland, Idaho 9 March 1944. He, too is buried in the cemetery at Cleveland, Idaho. Willis was still in the service of his country when his father was killed. Those were very sad and anxious years for me, to think of them brings back to me many sad and heartbreaking memories.

Grave of Mary and George Burton Cleveland, Idaho Cemetery

Only through prayer and the comforting spirit of my Heavenly Father was I able to stand the trying ordeal. On 21 September 1944, another little grandson, Lincoln Edward (Eddie) was born. He was a great joy and comfort to me as I spent many lonely hours playing with and caring for him. His parents were living in part of my home.

In the fall of 1946 my daughter, Mildred and I moved from our home on the divide to Cleveland, Idaho and lived in a little house just across the road from my son, Rulon. We lived there for about five years. While living there my daughter, Mildred was called to serve a mission in the Canadian Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In February after Mildred returned from her mission, we went to Bremmerton, Washington and spent five months there with my daughter Ethel and her family, returning home in June.

James R. Burton, Lincoln Burton, Willis Burton, Rulon Burton, George Burton, Vera Burton McKay, Ethel B. Kroph, Elvira B. Beakstead, Mildred Burton; 

In November, 1951, my daughter and I moved to Preston, Idaho, settling in the Second Ward where we lived three years. While living there, I served as a Relief Society visiting teacher. On 24 January, 1955 we bought this little house in the Preston First Ward and moved into it on 26 January. I was called to serve as a visiting teacher in Relief Society soon after I moved here and have served in this capacity ever since.

I have been blessed wonderfully by the Lord during my lifetime and my prayers have been answered many, many times. I have heard the whisperings of the spirit to me on many occasions also I have been healed from my afflictions by the Elders through the power of the Priesthood. I was given my Patriarchal Blessing by W.W. Sterret 13 June 1908.

I have ten living children, thirty-nine grandchildren and fifty-five great grandchildren, a posterity of one hundred and four at this writing.

Ralph Burton, George R. Burton, George LeR Burton, Willis Burton,
Maud Smith Burton, Mildred Burton, Mary E. R. Burton, Virginia Burton and children

On the 18 October 1959, I attended the Oneida Stake Conference when my son, Willis was called and set apart as second counselor in the Oneida Stake Presidency by Elder Mark E Peterson of the Council of the Twelve. What a thrill it was, tears of joy filled my eyes. 

I love my little home where my daughter, Mildred and I live a happy and contented life and love the work I do in the Ward.

Mary Elizabeth Ransom Burton

24 June 1960

(Mary Elizabeth Ransom Burton passed away at Preston, Idaho on 31 October 1964)