Mary Rollins Carter

Under the Media Tab is a photograph of a painting of her home, with a caption that states: This photograph is of a painting located in the Minersville Public Library in Minersville, Utah. It was painted by Fred Watts in 1980 and donated to the library by Fred and Vie Carter Watts. It was the home of William Jenkins Carter and Mary E. Rollins Lightner. It is located at about 300 West and 300 South in Minersville, Beaver, Utah. There is also a second photograph under the Media Tab of the actual home taken in 1980.

The following short biography was found in a compilation of papers about Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner at the Minersville, Utah Library:

"I, Mary Rollins Lightner Carter Rollins was born April 9th, 1851, on Willow River, Wisconsin. Lived in Marine, Chicago, Hastings, Minnesota and in Hanibal, Missouri. Crossed the plains by ox team in 1863 and walked barefoot nearly all the way. The captain of our company was named Patterson. Arrived in Minersville, Utah Sept. 1863. Went barefoot every summer until I was 18 years of age. Gleaned wheat barefooted. Helped to kill the chintz bugs off five acres of wheat for uncle Henry Rollins, saving the crop. When 19 years old I married William Jenkins Carter. By him I have 10 children, one boy having died when 6 months old. Nearly 4 years after my husband died, I married my cousin George W. Rollins.

From website: http://community.ancestry.com/ViewUserContent.aspx?uid=014ce199-000...

MARY ROLLINS LIGHTNER CARTER ROLLINS, 1850-1928, Compiled by her granddaughter, Lillian Carter McKnight.

Grandmother Carter or Rollins as she was alternately called by her many grandchildren, was born April 9, 1851, on her mother's birthday. She was the daughter of Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner and Adam Lightner.

Grandmother was given part of her mother's (Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner's) maiden name. So grandma's maiden name was Mary Rollins Lightner. She was born in Willow River, Wisconsin. We know very little of her early childhood, but we know the family had many difficult times.

Mary was the seventh of ten children, three of these died in childhood and infancy. Two of her brothers were poisoned, another died of a fever (probably pneumonia). Her father was away at the time so her mother and a neighbor had to prepare the body and bury it.

The prophet Joseph Smith had told her mother that if she and her husband left Nauvoo they would have many serious problems and it surely proved true. They were robbed several times and their homes were burned and struck by lightning. They were threatened by mobs. So many times they had little or nothing to eat. There were times (three) when her mother was so ill, she was given no hope to live, and at least twice her father almost died. Since so much of their living was earned by her mother's sewing, painting and teaching, it must have been a very difficult childhood.

There is no mention made of schooling, but she had beautiful penmanship, was an excellent speller, and an avid reader. She was a wonderful seamstress and an unusually good cook. If only someone could have written her story as she could have told it!

Since her mother was well educated, she was probably taught by her mother. Her family was not allowed to use vulgar language nor profanity. This carried into our family, as my father had the same rules. Grandma always insisted that her granddaughters be "lady-like," speak softly and never cross our legs except at the ankles.

When she was five years old her parents moved to Marine, Minnesota, where they operated a hotel. Later they moved to Hannibal, Missouri. When the Civil War broke out, they moved back to Minnesota.

Grandmother's family was unable to move west when the Saints were driven out of Nauvoo. They lacked the money, but in May of 1863, some of her family, who had come to Utah earlier, sent for them. Her half cousin, Edward Bingham, was coming for them with an ox team and wagon. They left Minnesota and traveled down the Mississippi River to St. Louis then up the Missouri to Omaha, Nebraska where Edward met them.

Grandma once said she could remember some caskets and holding Relief Society with Rachel Marshall and Hannah Croft (Grandpa Dave's sister) as her counselors. In 1900 she was elected secretary and a member of the town board of trustees, as it was called then and worked in that capacity for twenty-five years. She helped plan and build the first Relief Society Building. It cost $1,100.04, a lot of money in those days.

Grandma was a beautiful woman (to me at any rate), slender with snowy white hair. She was truly a lady and expected all of her grand daughters to be the same. She raised beautiful flowers and made the best ice cream in the world. All of her daughters were excellent cooks and housekeepers. Aunt Nellie was also a fine artist like Grandma Lightner. Aunt Hazel made beautiful quilts. They could all sew. When they were young they were known as the "beautiful Carter girls."

Grandpa Carter died in 1895 and four years later she married her cousin, George Woodville Rollins. That is why we said her name was "Mary Rollins Lightner Carter Rollins."

She was always active in the church. Before her death she did endowment work for 347 women. She died at her home December 26, 1929. It was my first year teaching and since I had had vocal training, they asked me to sing at her funeral. I sang, "Face to Face." I have wonderful memories of her and am happy to have been her grand daughter.

Parents:

Adam Lightner (1810 - 1885)

Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner (1818 - 1913)

Spouse:

William Jenkins Carter (1833 - 1895)

Children:

Adam Earl Carter (1878 - 1942)

Lester Lavell Carter (1883 - 1945)

Guy William Carter (1887 - 1961)

Siblings:

Elizabeth Lightener Turley (1849 - 1927)

Mary Rollins Lightner Carter (1851 - 1928)

Charles Washington Lightner (1857 - 1932)

Created by: Sandra Gwilliam

Record added: Feb 19, 2010

Find A Grave Memorial# 48333840