Mary Ann Bryce

Mary Ann Park was born January 27, 1837 in Warwick, Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of David Park and Ann Brooks.

Mary Ann moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and worked for George A. and Bethsheba Smith (parents of George Albert Smith, 8th Church President) helping with the cooking and household duties. It was here that she met Ebenezer Bryce. He moved to Salt Lake City after she did and worked and lived on the Smith's farm. On April 16, 1854, their employer united them in holy matrimony in a ceremony performed in his home. The bride wore a beautiful dress she had made. It was made of white crossbar and featured a tight-fitting bodice and full skirt. A wedding gift of two silver spoons from the Smiths was not lightly regarded by the couple, for they were a rarity and not on the market in Utah at the time.

Mary Ann suffered from poor health her entire life. It was due to her health that the family moved south to the area later to bear their name, Bryce Canyon.

Ebenezer and Mary Ann were the parents of twelve children, four of them girls. Al their children lived to marry and rear children with the exception of Dave who died at the age of 29 after contracting smallpox.