Her Story

Mary Alice Warr Jones, daughter of David and Phillis Lye Warr was born 14 October 1885 in Granger Utah.

She said " I spent my early childhood in Granger in a 3 room house on a farm. I did many chores that were required of children. I used to help my brothers feed 12 lambs with a bottle and nipple until they were big enough to drink out of a bucket and then the boys made a trough out of wood, we then poured the milk in it for the lambs. We had many cows, which my father and brothers milked. My mother made butter from the cream and sold to homes. It was my job and also my sisters to churn the butter (in a barrel churn) three times a week.

I was baptized 8 June 1891 in a water ditch across the road from our old meeting house by Richard Harkness and confirmed by John C. Mackey, second counselor in the bishopric the following Sunday.

I went to school in Granger, the 49th District from which I graduated from the eighth grade in 1901 when I was 15 years old.

While living in Granger I attended Primary, Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting. usually walked one mile there and one mile home. I have walked to Sunday School by 10:00 in the morning and Sacrament meeting at 2:00 p.m., walking both ways. We also had Mutual on Tuesday night. Five of us girls walked together. They also had Mutual once a month on Sunday night. We walked there 3 times on Sunday. I was a teacher in Primary, Organist in Mutual and Sunday School for several years up to the time I got married.

Our old Granger Ward House was the first one built in Granger. It was destroyed on the 7th of March 1905 by an explosion caused by the lighting system. Many were hurt. We were at Mutual on Tuesday night March 7, 1905- the explosion caused the organ to fall on a young girl, Nillie Mackay, that was standing by it singing “There is Sunshine in my Soul “ . The lights kept going up and down almost out. I was sitting about 12 feet from here (the organ). I began to wonder how the organist and she would be able to carry on and all at once bang it went. It tossed the organ up and it came down on her (Nellie Mackay) and killed her. She was 22 years old. I and my sister Kate were there. I got two black eyes and some of the plaster that fell from the ceiling hit her on the arm. Some were hurt but lot too badly. They had a stove in the center of the house and the stove pipe was knocked down and the top of the stove, just the hot coals in the bowl of the stove, was all the light we had. The Mutual girls were sitting close up to the front where there was a pulpit and a stand for the officers.

The officers of the Men’s Mutual helped us girls out of the building. We went back to look at it the next day. The benches looked like a woodpile. The House was a total wreck. It was pulled down.

We built a new House in a year, the next spring it was finished. It was a much better building as we had downstairs rooms for out dances and we held Sunday School there. Upstairs we had a Chapel for Sacrament Meeting and some classroom added. I used to play the organ in Sunday School about 4 years, up until I got married. I worked in Primary a short time, also Religion class while in Granger. I sang in the choir there. Brother Poulton was the leader.

I lived home, did housework and picked black currants and sold them, 12 quarts for a dollar. I also went to East Millcreek and picked raspberries and strawberries. I did housework in the summertime for a lady who became a very dear friend to me.

When I was 17 I went to Salt Lake City and learned dressmaking at the old Walder Store where the Darling Store is now. I had my 18th birthday while working there, 14 October. I lived over on State Street and about 40 South with my brother Edward and his wife Eliza. They had one baby. Edward was a street conductor at that time. The next fall I went to Keith O’Brians dressmaking. We had to sew in a downstairs shop. We had to sew about all day until 7:00 at night.

I had to quit sewing and come home. That is the first time I had to wear glasses. It helped my eyes so I did much sewing at home. I made all my clothes also my sisters and my mother some dresses.. I would go out to Granger to Sunday School to play the organ by 10:00 a.m.

I married Willard J. Jones February 22, 1911 in the Salt Lake Temple. We have seven (7) children. 3 boys and 4 girls. All happily married. We have 28 grandchildren and 2 great-granddaughters.

We cooked chicken dinners and sold them to help build our present ward house. We were very happy to have our Relief Society room. First one to be had in Hunter. I have held about all the church positions that I could hold. I was organist in Granger Ward Sunday School for several years. Class leader in Hunter Ward Mutual after my marriage and came over here to live. And served in most positions of the church.

I am 78 years old. . I am still class teacher for visiting teachers. I go to Relief Society and on work and business day, I quilt.

My husband and I have traveled together with others. We went to Florida, toured the Southern States, Key West also. Went to Hawaii . Went to N.Y. on the train We have been to Denver Colorado, and to California several times. Also went to Europe.

On our Golden Wedding, married 50 years, we had some 300 relatives and friends come to wish us well. We also celebrated my husbands 80th Birthday October 19, 1963-at our home. Open house to all friends.

We have 7 lovely sons and daughters all happily married... We are very proud of all our Grandchildren.

We have had a very good life together. We go places and visit our children.... ""