"I Often Go Walking"

                                           Maria was a surprise.

    Yes, she was hoped for, expected and anticipated,  but Daddy asked to wait to find out if she was a boy or girl, so wait we did.

Shortly after October's start, the walls of a little Bellevue home reverberated with sounds of baby and visiting brother and sisters.  
The baby needed a name, and to Val's dismay, Laurene said "no" to George.  Jake may have vied for Georgia, had we asked, but he was twenty years into our future.

 Not long ago, I read Cousin Michael's journal from that time, referring to his new cousin "Kara."

 In picking the name Kara, however, we had forgotten to pray about it.  Don't forget to pray!  

So, kneeling on the blue braided rug by the rocking chair near the white brick fireplace, Daddy and I talked to Heavenly Father about our new little girl who would grow up the youngest of eight.  

She needed an identity--yes, a name.  Finishing our prayer, we both had a feeling that the name should be Mary.
 

Blessed art thou

Parents of young women in Central America (and throughout the world) have chosen similarly, likely seeking promises offered in Luke 1:28, 30, 46, 48:

"Blessed art thou among women...for thou hast found favour with God" and the answer, " Behold the handmaid of the Lord ...from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."

On his first mission, 

Val had been enamored with a little girl--Maria del Sol (Maria of the Sun.) 

Maryette Rowe

Laurene had researched another 

great-grandmother

who had crossed the plains 

as a teen 

bearing a similar name.

But, hoping to border on something less common, we added a Spanish twist!

                                      

  And Maria grew into our vanilla Maria.

 



 Her father held out for a reminder of his 5th great grandparent and still uses "Maria Elizabeth George Muffin, the first"  whenever time allows.

  

Looking at the family tree, who else carries this name?

Mary Ann Price

Pouring over pages on June 2nd, just before celebrating Grandpa Glendon Gee's birthday, I found a story with a few connections. Echoing an ancient father, also choosing a name:

Behold, my [daughter,] I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came [into the land of Utah, and Paris, Idaho;] and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good. 
Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.(Helaman 5: 6,7)

When I was small, and our family lived very far from cousins and grandparents, summertime meant a trip across 10 states to visit extended family.  I remember visiting Paris, Idaho, to be welcomed by a very old Great Grandmother.  Climbing the stairs to her porch, we sat at her kitchen table to feast on home made bread, home made raspberry jam, and applesauce from transparent apples in the west side yard.  Grandma's fingers and voice trembled, and I wondered if the food was going to drop.  

It was my dad's Grandma, and he also had memories of going to her house in the summers, like  we have memories of joining cousins in hide and seek among the corn stalks and gooseberry bushes, singing popular ballads manning the rope swing at our Grandma and Grandpa's house.  

When, our family moved west, Great Grandma lived with her daughter Pearl, just down the street, in Lander, Wyoming.  Steven remembers Great Grandma asking the children to speak into a megaphone so she could hear them.  

When I was thirteen, Great Grandma died in her 91st year.  Due to an April storm, we could not brave the mountain passes then, traveling from the east.  We missed her funeral, but spilling from each corner of her Paris house of over forty years--as we walk sand and sidewalks that she knew or simply see the lives of her children and grandchildren--we are offered reminders of a remarkable woman. 

On FamilySearch, I found memories about Mary Ann which might match another "Mary" in our family.  See if there is anything that sounds familiar:  

(From her 1943 autobiography:)  "Here in this humble home in Round Valley in the northern part of Rich County, Utah, I was born, 2 June 1884, at near twelve noon, to the best parents a girl could ever have, Isaac Thomas Price and Ann Maria Reed Price. [Another Maria--only I hear it was pronounced "Ma-rah-ya"]

The day was bright and sunny...Father was away on business... When Father returned to find I had arrived... It was very clear what her name should be...this one should be named for his Mother, Mary Ann."  

Earlier in this narrative, Grandma Mary Ann Price (Stucki)
explains that her grandmother:  "Mary Ann [Wingrove] is credited with having said she would be willing to live on bread and water if she could only come to Utah and live with the Latter-day Saints."

                                            

 [MARY ANN WINGROVE, born 30th November 1832, in the Parish of Lanchester, County of Durham, baptized in Hendon Bay by Charles Pollard the 1st September 1849, confirmed the 9th September byCharles Pollard in the Arcade.
       Immigrated to America August 1851]

[Here is a picture of Maria's baptism--no rocks to climb over, here. There may come a few, later, possibly even today when she celebrates with her friends, Maria also made a sacrifice in finding a college--in choosing to seek out like-minded others with which to congregate, work and grow.]

                                          

(This is the only photograph  available of Mary Ann Wingrove)

"This blessing she never realized as [Mary Ann Wingrove] was killed instantly when she attempted to alight from the wagon to get a drink of water for her son Isaac, who was driving the oxen on the dusty trail."

 In Familysearch, B. Mangus adds "Family stories state the accident occurred as [Mary Ann Wingrove] was climbing out of her wagon to retrieve water for her 8 year old son, Isaac. Her skirts caught on the brake rod, she became entangled and the wagon ran over her. Isaac was sitting in the wagon that crushed her. Family stories also state Mary Ann was buried in a shallow grave, wrapped in a quilt she made with her own hands."

 My Grandma Pearl's mother Mary Ann Price writes her feelings about her name:  "The relatives and neighbors drawled the words when speaking my name which gave me the feeling, "I wish my name was something else", although I had no preference. When I entered high school I insisted on being called Mary. Now in my later years I have learned to love my name. I am proud of the fact that I was named for my grandmother who made the supreme sacrifice that I am recipient of such a wonderful life and countless blessings."

Grandma Stucki talks about important meetings and people in her life:  

"When I was ten years old, I was given a Patriarchal blessing... It has been a guide to me through my entire life... We used to go to Sunday School and all ward functions regularly. 

 Is there anyone you know who likes to find ginger snap cookies
at Grandma's house (or Aunt Ellen's for that matter?)

After Sunday School, we often used to go to visit Aunt Ellen... Mother's aunt, and I remember she used to give us gingersnaps and candy."

When she was four, her grandparents moved close by.
"After that time, we almost always went to Grandmother's for dinner...[and] we visited Grandmother on weekdays when we went to Laketown to the store to trade."

                                           

                                                          

Laketown, Utah,  a more modern view, with Bear Lake in background 

"When I was a little girl, I loved to be out with nature. In the spring, the hills and ravines close to our house were covered with beautiful flowers. We often went "Picking flowers”. We watched for the bright yellow buttercups that grew between the snow-drop bushes. When we got home with our aprons full 

                 

                            

white daisies,  

yellow Buttercups,  

pink Sweet Williams, 

 red Paintbrush

,  

Bluebells,

 pink Crows feet, orange Cowslips that grew near the receding snowdrifts and the purple Larkspur in the grove, we were delighted to make large bouquets and put them in vases. Then we would select the largest of all the Buttercups and put it under our little brother's chin to see if he liked butter. If it formed a shiny yellow reflection, we would say, "Oh, yes, you like butter". Another great thrill was to gather "Hill Lilies", beautiful and white with a perfume all their own. They grew near the ant beds, and opened early in the morning. 

       This reminded me of little girls in our Eastgate yard 

                                                           making dresses with columbine.

           

                                                        and finding other fields of flowers 

"Because of my good health and because my brothers were so much younger than I, my father initiated me as chore girl. My work was mostly helping him with the farm chores and running errands on the pony. Father had a large herd of milk cows, and from the time I was ten until I was seventeen, I did this kind of work, as well as helping with housework after the chores were done. In the mornings, I took the cows out to pasture and in the evening went to gather them in. Sometimes the neighbor girls...went with me. At times, the cows were hard to find. I very often prayed and had my prayers answered, and my testimony grew as a result. Father put a bell on one of the most gentle cows. We called her "Bluie". She was really blue in color, and I loved her because she was so kind and gentle."

Cows do not come our way as often, but our Maria can find a way to make friends with animals.

 

"After they moved to Laketown from Round Valley, and Grandmother became ill and needed help, Lizzie and I used to go there and wash for them, clean their house, pick fruit and do other chores. We loved them and they loved us. They taught us good manners, English customs, and told us of their experiences in England and of crossing the plains."

Thank to our Maria, for weed-wacking, mowing, cleaning, and loving grandparents on all sides of the board.   And it is possible that she has learned the true art of tea parties from a tea party queen.    

           

Our Maria has ever loved and learned from beloved Grandparents.

Grandmother Mary Ann resonated to being around her dad:

"Very often Father joined in our games and play which made our childhood days very happy and secure. One night when playing hide and seek, Father hid me in an empty, newly scrubbed lower shelf of the cupboard. What peals of laughter followed when after a long search I was discovered."

                                     

"My Father.... had kindly blue eyes, clear complexion and straight brown hair. I loved him very dearly. He was my ideal of a father. He was always kind and good to me. He insisted on strict obedience to his wishes, but regardless of my many mistakes and imperfections, he had a loving way that let me know that he loved me and cherished me. I felt welcome to go to him for advice and counsel. His heart was filled with love for all his children and he was very anxious that they live correctly and serve the Lord. In his mind there was no substitute for truth and honesty. He lived honestly and expected the same of his children and in fact, he expected it of all humanity. He was good to the poor, fed the hungry and visited the sick and needy. He was the Bishop of the Round Valley Ward for almost twenty years. I do not remember a time when Father ever turned a needy person from his home without trying to supply his needs."

                                                          

"As a young child I had few playmates, or companions, other than my two sisters."

  

Maria also has a thing about Sisters.  And if one was in trouble, she would be there, to help take care of a child. 

                                                     

"After the crops were all in and the fall work completed it was decided that Lizzie and I could go to Paris, Idaho and attend the Bear Lake Stake Academy. A new building was then in the process of being built on the hill west of Paris."

Fielding Academy

Sleight's Cabin
You will recognize this cabin, on Main Street.  If you looked back toward the hills (see picture above, the school loomed at the top of the hill.)

She journeyed with her next older sister, Lizzie to Paris (on north end of Bear Lake from Laketown on the south end) and boarded with a family near to the school. Attending this academy, she met Joseph Smith Stucki.  They married and had nine children (of their own and another when her eldest sister died) five whom lived to adulthood.   

   

                                  

                 

MY TESTIMONY by Mary Ann Price Stucki I wish to bear my testimony today so that my family and all may know that I have one. I know that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. I know that if we live right and keep God’s commandments He will bless us—we will be led into righteousness as if by the hand. We never need be afraid but that we will receive all we deserve. By observing the law of tithing the windows of heaven have been opened unto me. By living the principles of the gospel great avenues of happiness have come to me and my family. By teaching and living correct principles my children and I have become partakers of satisfaction, joy, and happiness. 

                                              

One of my favorite letters to her posterity in 1971:

"The Savior’s plan 

was to win the world with love..."

"It is my greatest desire that our family be united..."

And this:  

"By keeping the word of wisdom I have lived long and enjoyed strength far beyond my expectations. By the administration of the Elders, holding the Melchizedek Priesthood I have been raised from serious illness many times. Our Father in Heaven tells us, "Ask and Ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you." This has surely been true in my case. 

Don’t be discouraged, live the best you can, try to improve and pray always, and eventually the answer will come. Live and help to make your prayers come true. I know this to be true. I have experienced this, and I know it is true. God will reward us if we live worthy and serve Him faithfully. This is my testimony to all my dear children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and all my descendants. So we must live righteously if we are to gain the blessings of the Lord. May God’s Spirit be ever with each one, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

(Added Later)... A mother couldn’t have better children with better wives and husbands; I love them as my own. May God Bless you."

                                          

To our Maria...From another mother to another daughter...enjoy these lovely words...ever grateful for children who choose good things, and walk in truth. (3 John 1:4)

To Mary Ann, To Maria:
I often go walking in meadows of clover,

And I gather armfuls of blossoms of blue.

I gather the blossoms the whole meadow over;

[and gladly the] flowers remind me of you!