Mary Emmerett Gerber Bawden (1870–1889): A Gentle Spirit and a Life of Quiet Courage

Mary Emmerett Gerber Bawden was born on July 31, 1870, in the old Gerber home in Granger, Utah — then part of the North Jordan Ward. She was the beloved daughter of John T. Gerber and Mary (Anna Mary Rupp) Gerber, early settlers whose family roots ran deep in faith and pioneer sacrifice.

From childhood, Mary was known among her siblings and neighbors for her sweet, gentle disposition. Her sisters remembered her as endlessly patient — never cross, never angry — and always ready to help others with kindness and a cheerful heart. Even as a girl, Mary performed her household tasks with care and obedience, helping her mother raise a large family. She loved to sew and do fine fancywork, often making clothes for her younger brothers and sisters. She was skilled in the art of crafting delicate wax flowers and fruit arrangements, a treasured parlor decoration of her day.

Mary’s formal schooling was brief, held in the old rock schoolhouse near what is now the Webster property in Taylorsville. Despite limited education, her faith and devotion shone brightly. She was blessed as an infant by Joseph Harker on September 1, 1870, and baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 1, 1879. She grew up attending Sunday School and ward meetings faithfully, and while still a young woman, she was called to serve as a Sunday School teacher and a counselor in the Mutual Improvement Association. She also participated in early community dramatics in the Granger Ward, lending her talents to the life of her small community.

On July 9, 1886, at just 16 years old, Mary married John Howard Bawden as a plural wife — at a time when the practice was coming under harsh scrutiny from the federal government. When it became known she was living in polygamy, Mary was forced into hiding to protect herself and her child from arrest and prosecution. In exile, she moved from place to place, staying first in Ephraim with her husband’s uncle, William Bawden. There, her only child, William Orson Bawden, was born — named after his great-uncle.

The years that followed were a time of constant fear and sacrifice. Federal marshals and detectives relentlessly sought out families who practiced plural marriage. Mary had to be hidden even in her bed and was moved under the cover of night to avoid capture. She lived in Ephraim, Mayfield, South Cottonwood, and Coalville — constantly moving to evade the authorities. Her husband John was also hunted, and the family endured years of hardship apart, seeing each other only in secret.

Despite these trials, Mary remained faithful and gentle-hearted to the end. On August 28, 1889 — just over three years after her marriage — Mary passed away suddenly of typhoid pneumonia while still in exile in Coalville. She was not yet 19 years old. Her passing was a profound loss to her young husband, her infant son, and her extended family, who treasured her memory as a quiet example of courage, devotion, and love.

Mary Emmerett Gerber Bawden’s brief life tells a story of faith, sacrifice, and resilience in a difficult time. Though she died far too young, her gentle spirit and quiet courage live on in the hearts of her descendants and in the history of the community she helped build.

Mary’s Polygamy Exile Timeline

July 9, 1886 — Married John Howard Bawden as a plural wife at age 16.
Spring 1887 — When it became known she was in a plural marriage, Mary fled Granger to Ephraim, Utah, to live with Uncle William Bawden and his family.
March 1887 — Birth of her son, William Orson Bawden, in Ephraim.
Spring 1887 — While still recovering with her baby, word came that federal detectives were searching for her; she was hidden in her bed across the street in Ephraim to evade capture.
Summer 1887 — Moved briefly to Mayfield, Utah (a short distance from Ephraim) for further safety.
Late Summer 1887 — Returned again to Ephraim after detectives were still hunting for her.
Spring 1888 — Traveled with Uncle William Bawden and her baby boy by wagon loaded with wool to South Cottonwood, to see her husband John and her family for the first time in about a year.
Summer 1888 — Stayed a few months with Aunt Sarah Ann Wooten in South Cottonwood until federal agents caught up with her trail again.
Late 1888 — Uncle Thomas Bawden secretly took Mary and her baby at night by wagon to Coalville, Utah, for hiding.
August 28, 1889 — Mary died suddenly in Coalville, still living in exile at only 19 years old.

Love, Loss, and Legacy: The Life of Mary Gerber Bawden