By Mrs. Vera J. Welker 

Mary Evans Jones was born at Malad, Idaho, on January 3, 1872. She was born in the house that still stands on 1st. West and half block north of Bannock Street, the house which is now owned by her son Edward. 

She was the fifth child born to Edward J. and Ann Thomas Evans and started life as a real pioneer child, knowing all its hardships but experiencing the joy of watching Malad grow into a thriving city. Her father owned a farm on what is known as Devil Creek and like all early settlers he soon owned a small herd of horses and cattle. Mary, more often called Mayme by her friends and family, learned to milk cows, wash long rows of milk pans and aid in making cheese at a very early age. Her father made cheese making rather a specialty and Mary never forgot the art, making her own supply of cheese as lata as 1916. 

When she was about the age of ten she started school. The little log schoolhouse was known as the No. 2 schoolhouse and was just East of what is now the Jones Auto building. The teacher was a Mrs. Blanchard. Later a couple  

terms were held at Myer’s Hall. Mr. R. H. Davis was the school teacher. By then the Presbyterian Church was finished and school was held there. The teachers were two sisters, Mrs. Judge Stomrod and Miss Sally Van Wormer. This amount of schooling brought her to what was known as the sixth reader, and would cover our system to about the seventh or  eighth grade. 

The family spent their summers on the ranch, moving to town for the winter and as a girl her recreation consisted of riding, occasional picnics and dances, most of which were held at Myer’s Hall. It was a big event in her life when the first pine board floor was laid in their home and her father bought one of the first organs in the valley. Many of the first dances in Malad were held in their home. 

She was a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints although she did not take an active part in their activities. 

She was married to Evan W. Jones on May 29, 1895 at her fathers home in Malad. The ceremony was performed by William H. Leigh and witnessed by Edward E. Evans and Mary E. Jones. They moved to St. John to make their home, living first in a little log house on the corner across the street from the Owen’s Jones home. Here their first daughter, Mary, was born. They lived next in the little log house southeast of the school house which is still standing. Here their second child, Ann Ella was born. They then purchased land from John James and built a two room log house, later building four more rooms and it was here that the rest of their family was born and reared. These children were: Edward, Sarah, Evan, Mabel, Alice, Vera, Wilda and Thelma. 

Although like everyone who raised a large family in those days her life was one of hard work and sacrifice, it was a full and happy one. She was always vitally interested in the progress of the community especially the educational system and though her home life was much too busy to take an active part in civic affairs she was always ready and willing to do her part when called upon. 

On April 17, 1932 she joined the Daughters of Pioneers as charter member and the activities of this club became the most enjoyable part of her social life during her later years. She held the office of Vice-President until April 13, 1933. 

After a month’s illness she died at the Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah, on March 25, 1939. Funeral services were conducted at the Stake Tabernacle in Malad on March 29th. Her death was mourned not only by her family but by many neighbors and friends as well. Her 67 years had been well spent and before she died she had realized her life’s ambition- to rear and educate her ten children and see them established as good citizens that she could well be proud of.