Mary Ann Pulsipher Terry
Posted by: brwhiz
N 37° 34.407 W 113° 42.246
12S E 261195 N 4161927
This marker is one of four plaques on the large stone monument in the center of the Enterprise Heritage Park on the east edge of Enterprise, Utah. They honor an early Enterprise LDS patriarch and his three wives.
Waymark Code: WME89G
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 04/17/2012
Views: 3
Mary Ann Pulsipher Terry
20 Nov 1833 - 18 Sept 1913
Mary Ann Pulsipher was a pioneer. She was born to Zerah and Mary Brown Pulsipher. Being born in the East (Scott, Courtland County, New York), she was old enough to realize the hardships incurred when the family became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). She endured the bitter persecution of Kirtland and Nauvoo and crossed the plains by foor in 1848. She married Thomas Sirls Terry at the age of 16 on 25 Dec 1849. She struggled to help Thomas as they farmed in little Cottonwood Creek, (Fort Union). She bore 12 children, 9 daughters and 3 sons. When Thomas received a call to the Dixie Cotton Mission, she went with him. Traveling in the dead of winter, they arrived in St. Geroge on New Years Day in 1863. The next year they settled at Shoal Creek (Hebron).
She supported Thomas while he served as a missionary, bishop's counselor, bishop, and patriarch. When Hebron was abandoned, she went with Thomas to establish a home in the new town of Enterprise.
Mary accepted the practice of plural marriage. Thomas married her younger sister Eliza Jane in 1855 and, 23 years later in 1878, married Hannah Louisa Leavitt. This practice brought persecution to the Terrys. In order to avoid imprisonment Thomas scattered his families in Hebron, and the Beaver Dam Wash in Utah, and in Panaca, Nevada, then moved among the three households.
Mary Ann was known as hard working, kind, and sweet of disposition. She never wasted time and was very particular about how her home was kept. She was famous for the cheeses that she made and which Thomas Sirls sold around the country. She was very generous and always fed those who came to her door. She loved all of Thomas Sirls' children.
She died on 18 September 1913, at the age of 80, in Enterprise and was buried there.
Thomas Sirls Terry says of her: "There was the girl I was to marry, a pair of brown eyes in a beautiful face with rose-carmine cheeks and lips of deep cherry red. Long black curls fell in clusters around her head."
CHILDREN
Mary Ann 1850-1943 - - - Leonora 1863-1929
Adellia Estella 1853-1930 - - - Thomas Sirls Jr. 1866-1941
Celestia 1854-1893 - - - Minerva Susan 1868-1922
Sara Alydia 1857-1950 - - - Elizabeth 1870-1907
Wilhemina 1859-1890 - - - Luther Murkins 1873-1949
Almira 1861-1936 - - - Joseph Alma 1876-1973