Maria Thomas Bywater was born in Glamorganshire, So. Wales, February 4, 1840, the 12th child in the family of 14. Her father was a cobbler by trade, honest and industrious. When they first heard the Gospel message it struck a chord which responded to the call and for the knowledge of these gorgeous truths and a desire to be among God’s chosen people, they left their native land, a comfortable home and all that was near and dear and set sail for America. The journey was very long, spending 9 weeks on a little sailing vessel on the ocean, left to the mercy of the wind and waves, being drifted here and there, meeting with many trials and sorrows having to bury some of their loved ones in the ocean, then walking almost the entire distance across the plains, excepting occasionally several of the children were allowed to ride on an ol ox for a short distance. Their first camping place was at Mount Rose. The snakes were so thick, they could hardly walk, yet none were even bitten by them. They camped at this place a month. In the company of Joseph Young, they lived for a short time by the request of Brigham Young. They came to what was then Box Elder and located in the fort. They were among the earliest settlers and therefore suffered the hardships and privations of those early days, also the terrible famine of “55” caused by grasshoppers, Their main food being segos, which grew in abundance, some as large as potatoes. They were fortunate in having a very little wheat which they ground in a coffee mill. This was mixed with water and cooked. By kind providence a mighty flock of seagulls came and devoured the grasshoppers. Oh what a happy day it was for this noble band of pioneers, how they rejoiced and praised God that deliverance had come and they had been spared from such a fate as starvation. Enough wheat was saved for planting the following season.
Their first home was a dugout with a dirt-roof and floor, they lived in this until grandfather built a little house of willows which was quite a palace to them. They were distinguished as the “to-willow family’. Mother’s girlhood days were spent in helping in the home and tending the flowers which seemed part of her life. One of the most eventful things in her early girlhood days was the visit to Queen Victoria and the many good things given them from her Majesty the Queen.
After arriving in Utah conditions were such that it was necessary for her to help in securing the necessities of life, this she willing did by working for others receiving what little pay they could offer to give.
In 1866 her parents, brothers and sisters moved to Malad, Idaho. Mother remained in Brigham City and has watched it’s growth and development from it’s earliest date and lived to see a barren desert blossom as a rose. Her romance commenced one morning as she threw out a pan of dish water. It was accordingly thrown on a handsome young man that was passing by. He naturally stopped to investigate it’s cause and she for the first time gazed on a face of her future husband. Their acquaintance ripened into love and they were married July 28, 1857. To them were born 10 children, 4 boys and 6 girls, 2 boys died in infancy. Her first baby was born in Salt Lake City, she becoming a mother before 18 years of age. A mother of 9 at 35 years of age. She walked many times from Brigham to Salt Lake and back carrying her baby in her arms, purchasing a few articles needed that could not be bought elsewhere, making the return trip in a
week. Father in connection with George Reeder and Metcalf were among the first men to make adobe. Adobe was made and from which he built a little house in the 3rd Ward where they lived until 1872 when they moved to the 2nd Ward.
As far as we can learn, mother was the first woman in Brigham to have a cook stove which was secured by trading a 30 acre farm located west of the O.S.I. Depot which today is very valuable land. She also was the proud owner of the 2nd sewing machine obtaining it by renting her home for a year to John W. Taylor. For many years mother was sufferer of rheumatism until 4 years ago she fell and fractured her hip bone, this bringing terrible suffering, also a blessing, from that time on she never suffered rheumatic pain. At the time of this accident was the first time she had had a doctor wait upon her. Her faith in God was such she felt no need for medical aid. On January 6, 1921, mother passed on to the rest she so richly deserved after an illness of 3 months with dropsy. The last 3 weeks she suffered great, it being impossible to lie down, she was forced to sit up in a chair constantly through all her suffering, She was patient and cheered her girls who waited upon her and often expressed the gratitude she felt for the blessings she enjoyed. She loved needle work of which she did up until her illness. She also loved flowers. She was truly one of those who stock the trails and helped lay the foundation of this present civilization. Besides her children who are living, she has 54 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and a host of friends that mourn her loss…..