Sketches from the Lives of
Mary Forsyth Jarvis and Her Family

Mary Forsyth Jarvis was of Scotch and English descent. She was born on 28 March 1857 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. Her parents were Thomas Forsyth and Mary Browett Holmes Her family was called to the Dixie Mission in 1861.

1861 - 1868
Age 4-ll

Mary said: "We lived in Santa Clara the first year we came to Dixie, then we moved to Pine Valley, then to Bellview. Later we lived in Forsyth Canyon in the summer and in Toquerville in winters." Mary was the second in a family of ten children. The children in order of birth were:

George Joseph Browett, born 17 March 1855, in Salt Lake City, Utah;
Mary, born 28 March 1857, in Salt Lake City, Utah;
Baby (sex unknown), born about 1857, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Died as infant;
William, born 9 December 1858, in Salt Lake City, Utah;
Christina, born 9 December 1858, in Salt Lake City, Utah;
Baby (sex unknown), born about 1859, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Died as infant;
William B. H., born 8 November 1860, in Salt Lake City, Utah;
Ellenora, born 10 October 1863, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Died at age two;
Agnes Browett, born 10 October 1865, in Toquerville, Kane County, Utah;
Benjamin, born 18 November, in Toquerville, Kane County, Utah.

Mary had to do her share of the work. Her mother was very exacting of her family. There could be no idlers among them. When in the canyon, each girl in turn had to milk, and help make butter and cheese, even at a young age. Sometimes Mary thought the butter would never come.

Her father worked at the sawmill. He supplied a lot of the lumber from Forsyth Canyon for the St. George Tabernacle and Temple and some for homes. He was a conscientious bookkeeper so his records were exact. (I have handled and read his personal journal.--Z. S. J.)

The boys made big gardens to supply the needs of the family and company, as they had many visitors; and had plenty to share with their neighbors. Besides this, the men took care of the farms of wheat, rye, and barley and kept pasture fences in repair and cared for the cattle. Later the older boys owned their own wagons and teams and freighted. Mary the mother was a forceful, tireless worker.

All in all, working together they were able to measure up to their mother's idea of a full larder. The mother had the driving power and the father the ability to cheerfully follow her lead.

They took their pigs from Toquerville to Forsyth Canyon for the summer; then in the fall they took them back to Toquerville. By feeding the pigs potatoes, the pigs traveled along with little difficulty.

After the large fruit orchard began bearing, their father provided dryers, and the women prepared the fruit. This job lasted until every surplus fig, apricot, peach, pear, and plum was dried.

The homecoming of father and mother with the things they traded for was even more exciting. The trading was always good and there would be huge barrels of oatmeal, sugar and rice and plenty of salt and spices, tools for the men, bolts of cloth to make shirts, dresses, underclothing and bedding, etc. It didn't matter if all the dresses and shirts were alike.

In the midst of these busy days, two babies came: Agnes, who was born 10 October 1865, in Forsyth Canyon, then their seventh and last child, a son named Benjamin Henry, who was born on 18 November, 1868.

1868
Age 11

As Mary reached her eleventh year, she took her place in the family as an adult. She now had to do housework, sew, and knit. At this period there was a demand for kid and buckskin gloves, so Mary's mother decided to compete with the market. This was a way of making money and they needed money to build a home. Besides the curing of meats in the smoke house, they now used it for curing of hides for glove making. Leon Jarvis states, "They obtained many of their hides from the Indians." and "They understood and spoke the Piede language."

All the women sat in a circle and were given their gloves to make. They were timed by the clock and had to be through by the time set. They used three-sided buckskin needles, good strong thread, and plenty of beeswax to rub the thread through. They all became very skillful and speedy. They usually worked from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Next morning). They never stopped to eat meals at the table. The hired woman brought a tray of food to them, usually every two hours. If Grandmother was nursing a baby, she fed it by the clock. It was always brought to her.

The girls who helped in the glove making business were Minnie, Bell, Mary, Christine (Teenie), and later Aggie. They made both work and dress gloves. Some had furred gauntlets, some were embroidered and some were plain.

If the girls became drowsy, a sharp needle met their nose; the promised number of gloves had to be ready by the time set.

President Brigham Young placed large orders with Grandmother, and he always made it a point to eat at their home when going south or returning north.

They built a two-story building; the inside was lined with adobe, and the outside built with red sandstone set on a sound foundation. There was a lean-to on the west side. This house is still standing in fair condition. (1963).

They paid for this house mainly with the money received from glove making. Sometimes they had to have money to buy more building material, so Grandmother would borrow what was needed and promise to pay it back on a certain day, which she did even if she had to borrow it from someone else. Finally the glove making money did pay off the debt.

As Mary's father grew older he turned the heavy farm work over to the boys who were then at home. He liked to be among people and sell things. Sometimes he would be away for a long time, and during one of these absences, the girls packed mortar and adobes to build the walls of the house. He was a skillful carpenter and was able to finish the home in fine shape.

They had time for pleasure too. Mary's parents enjoyed having their house full of company. The young folks were allowed to go to parties and dances. Mary, who had a good ear for music, and some training, played with the town orchestra for the dances for years. Her son Brig had this same musical gift.

Mary, with her brothers and sisters, attended Toquerville school, then went to St. George to Dr. Shipman's classes in the stake academy. While at school, Mary lived with her sister Minnie (Mrs. Charles W. Seegmiller). It was here in St. George she met Brigham Jarvis, Sr.

The girls wore white bib aprons to school. Someone untied Mary's apron strings, and right behind her, Brigham Jarvis picked up her apron. He said, "Some girl has lost her front." She soon became his girl.

1877
Age 19

Mary Forsyth married Brigham Jarvis, Sr., on the opening day of the St. George Temple, 11 January 1877. They were the first single couple married by Brigham Young. Quoting Mabel Jarvis, "Their marriage was one of importance in that day. The band from Cedar City came almost to Leeds to meet them and escorted them back to Toquerville where the entire community, young and old, participated in the wedding celebration held during the afternoon and evening."

Mary Forsyth Jarvis' Family
1878-1890
Age 21 -43

Brigham and Mary made their home in St. George. They were the parents of twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. Two sons, Brigham, Jr. and Leon and three daughters, Mabel, Asineth and Ethel grew to adulthood. Their posterity included 23 grandchildren and three great grandchildren at the time of her death.

Mary F. Jarvis

The first daughter, Mary F. Jarvis, was born 8 January 1878, and died the same day.

Christina Jarvis

On 18 December 1878, her second baby, Christina, was born and died. Mary was feeling quite distressed, and was en route to her sister Merimne (Minnie) Seegmiller's home, (her husband was away working at the reef- Silver Reef) when a large dog jumped at her, frightening her so much that her baby was born. Mary caught the baby in her skirt and sat down on a stump and screamed. Aunt Minnie heard her and came running to her rescue, and helped her into the house where they found that the baby was dead.

Brigham Jarvis, Jr.

Some thought she could never have another baby, but the Lord blessed her and on 1 August 1880, she gave birth to a son, her third child, Brigham Jarvis, Jr. She said he brought comfort and peace to her and honored his mother's teachings.

He was a hale and hardy babe and his birth was received with rejoicing by all the family members. Grandmother Forsyth bought and filled an intriguing small trunk full of lovely baby clothes for her first grandchild. This trunk was treasured in his mother's home and she gave it to us (Zora Smith Jarvis) sometime after our marriage. We, too, have sentimental regard for it in our home.

Brig inherited some of his mother's choice talents, e.g., playing any or all musical instruments by ear, also understanding the relationship of all mechanical parts one to another, etc. There was beauty and precision in his work¹.

Erastus Leon Jarvis

Erastus Leon was born on 14 November 1882, the fourth and second child to live. He wrote the following about their family life: We always had prayers kneeling by our chairs with our backs toward the table. Then we sat up and asked a blessing on the food before we ate. I remember the fine Sunday dinners of meat, pie, cake, plum puddings, etc. We usually had one or more guests, frequently among them was President Erastus Snow who always sat next to me."

Leon learned the power of the Priesthood in his home. One time when his Father had a very serious accident, with a six-horse wood outfit and got his leg crushed when the load turned over, he was preserved very miraculously and missed having his leg amputated through the faith and administration by President Wilford Woodruff and Elder McMurrin. (E. L. Jarvis).

He again learned the power of the Priesthood from his mother who told him of a childhood incident. "You always wanted to go with your Father, and he loved to have you with him. One day he was turning the wagon around over the garden rows. You ran toward him, and he stopped and put you on the running gears, but you fell off and the hind wagon wheel ran over your head. Your father picked you up unconscious. He blessed you to live. Your mouth, ears, eyes, and nose were bleeding, but you finally got well." (E. L. Jarvis).

Leon writes: "I am truly grateful for my dear sweet mother. She was loving and devoted to her husband and to her children and did her best to care for them, being very competent in preparing nourishing, savory food and in making and mending their clothing. Her sweet lullabies I shall never forget."

We, Genevieve and Leon, were indeed grateful for her help and guidance, especially at the birth of our children.

Ethel Jarvis

In due course of time their fifth child, Ethel, a daughter, was born on 19 July 1884. Ethel added greatly to the family's happiness. When old enough to work, she tried in every way to add both comfort and beauty to her mother's life. Ethel was very intellectual, so her parents enjoyed the fruits of her gifted mind. When she married Stephen John Bennett and left the home, some of her poems show her longing and love for her loved ones.

Ethel wrote some beautiful pageants, and while she was president of the Primary of the Granite Stake, Salt Lake City, she wrote and directed a very appealing, fantastic, yet joyful Fairyland Fantasy, especially interpreting child life and dreams. It was played a number of times to crowded houses in the Old Salt Lake Theatre before the building was torn down.

Ethel died 22 June 1922. Stephen John Bennett died 28 May 1951.

Thomas Forsyth Jarvis

The sixth child born to them was a son, Thomas Forsyth Jarvis, named after his grandfather. He was born 12 Nov 1886 and died 30 Mar 1898. Leon writes the following stories about his younger brother Thomas: "The first incident I remember well was when Thomas was about two years old. He was wearing a pair of little red boots. I took him out for a walk to the east of our house. I left him seated on some clean grass and when I got back a few minutes later, our old white turkey gobbler was waltzing on his chest and picking at his red boots. Red boots were too much competition for the old white Tom.

"I shall never forget my training, nor how particular Mother was when instructing me to watch over my brothers and sisters. She said, 'When you take your baby brother out, you must never leave him alone. Just think if old Tom had picked out his beautiful eyes.' That is how she taught us children."

When Thomas was past twelve, he was ordained a deacon. Leon relates the facts about Thomas' untimely death by being bitten in the ear by a spider. Quoting Leon, "This was one of my mother's most trying experiences, and the shock almost caused her death. Mother said he was her most obedient child. It was indeed a terrible, exacting ordeal and one that weakened her heart, but she increased her activity in the Church.

"Mother was always aware of the particular need of each one of her children. I have marveled how mothers seem to intuitively sense individual children's needs, and know how to protect their weaknesses and build them into men and women fit to return to their Heavenly Father unashamed. My mother certainly had this gift highly developed and used it." (E. L. Jarvis).

Mabel Jarvis

Mabel, the seventh child, was born on 19 August 1888. She was a strong child and helped in the home and with outside chores. She felt at ease with all the farm animals. Though in later life she was afflicted with arthritis, she stoically carried on and accomplished many outstanding achievements that are monuments to her memory.

When Ethel married, Mabel took over where she left off in both financial and educational support of the family. She made friends easily, and many sought her out and came from far and near to visit with her; her memory of happenings and people of Dixie was outstanding. She loved the Dixie pioneers and wrote much about them.

She was a prolific letter writer and her correspondents extended from coast to coast. Mabel was the best known of the family circle. She had ability in both Church and community affairs. Like Ethel, she honored her mother in some of her best poetry. `

Mabel wrote and directed many skits and pageants on both a small and large scale. She wrote jointly with Juanita L. Brooks and Grace A. Woodbury in 1925, Dixie's first Historical Pageant. Then in 1947, she wrote the main script for the beautiful Centennial Pageant, "The Spirit of Dixie," which was presented three times on the southeast side of the Temple to thousands of people.

The 1925 pageant script included her lovely poem entitled: The Legend of the Dixie Sego Lilies." It was based on a true story, which took place between David H. Cannon and his wife Wilhelmina.

Legend of the Dixie Sego Lilies So sun-baked, barren, bleak, and full of tears, This wasteland seemed; so hopeless stretched the years; One pioneer woman, weeping, said that "Not one evidence of Art, nor verdant spot' Nor smallest sign of Beauty could she see. And when her husband begged to disagree, She bade him bring one gift of loveliness-- A pretty flower to pin upon her dress, And she would praise this valley with her song, Cease weeping, and be glad, the whole day long. Day after day, as from the fields returning With shouldered shovel, he was searching, yearning, For some small offering that would bring peace Into his home; and bitter tears might cease. At length his faithful searching was rewarded-- No lovelier floral gift has earth afforded Than those sweet Sego Lilies, which he brought Whose brown eyes in their lavender chalice sought The eyes of her who said no art was found In all those many miles around. She clasped them to her heart and blessed the hand Of him, with whom she came to Dixie Land.        --Mabel Jarvis - 25 May 1926

Asineth Jarvis

Asineth Jarvis, eighth child of Brigham and Mary Forsyth Jarvis, was born at St. George, Washington County, Utah, 6 November 1890. She is the mother of eight children, three sons and five daughters. Talking with me recently, she said, "My major interest in life has been by husband, my children, and my grandchildren." She has certainly been faithful, devoted, and full of love for all of them.

She married Heber Charles Cottam on 17 March 1910, in the St. George Temple.

Like her talented mother, she too is a skillful needlewoman. Her artistic ability is revealed in her growing of flowers, in her designing, marking and quilting of beautiful quilts, and again in her crocheting, tatting and netting of exquisite, first place, tate-Fair-winning doilies. She wrote the following article about her mother's work in the silk industry.

Mother's Part in the Silk Industry

It was around 1898 that Mother became interested in the raising of silk worms, first on a small scale, then later on a larger scale. Why not, for there were nine white mulberry trees lining the ditch bank in front of our home, worm feed going to waste. Later Dad planted a row of these trees inside the lot to increase the supply of food.

The first few worms, a thousand perhaps, were raised successfully in the one-room house on the comer that Dad and Mother first lived in. It was lined with deep shelves to accommodate several thousand worms. These shelves were lined with old newspapers as it was necessary to change them often, just as the papers in a bird cage are changed. The tiny worms, slightly larger than a speck, were sprinkled on the paper so as not to be crowded. Now for the feed. The fresh young leaves from the ends of the branches of mulberry trees were gathered and shredded real fine and sprinkled over the worms. It was amazing how fast this feed was eaten, but like other babies, feed and sleep is what they thrived on.

At this stage they had to be fed every two hours, night and day. As they grew, feeding time changed to three, then four hours. Fresh leaves had to be gathered for each feeding. Of course, we children had to help with the gathering of leaves and feeding the worms, but Mother supervised, making sure it was done right. The leaves had to be free from all moisture as the silk worms were susceptible to chills; if the leaves were dusty the dust was wiped off or washed off and the leaves thoroughly dried.

As the worms grew, the leaves could be cut coarser and larger leaves could be used. Finally, small twigs or branches were used. As soon as the fresh leaves were put in, the worms would crawl on them, making it easier to transfer them to fresh papers much quicker, too.

It was necessary to spread them out more, too, as they grew larger. What started out as one paper full finished up shelves full.

This feeding and changing went on for nine weeks (I believe that is correct). Then the worms refused to eat and began to hunt for a place to spin their cocoons. The worms were now about two and one-half inches long and of a milk-white color. Baby sister Vilate used to like to let them crawl on her dress or in her hair. They never seemed like creepy, crawly worms to her.

A funny thing about silk worms, they don't like noise. They quit eating and remain absolutely still if loud talking is going on. If they are spinning, they often break their thread or just stop spinning.

When they were ready to spin, fresh branches of leaves were placed in the trays and then the worms spun their cocoons among them. This took about two weeks. Then the cocoons were gathered and treated to kill the chrysalis so it would not change into a moth and eat its way out, spoiling the silk.

The cocoons were weighed and ready for sale or to reel into thread for the loom. Mother had her own reel and bobbins and oil lamp or stove (it is very small) and enjoyed making the thread. The cocoons were placed in hot water on the lamp, and as they softened a soft firm brush was used to find the thread. The size of the thread was determined by the number of cocoons used. The reel was threaded, and as one hand guided the thread, the other twined the handle to wind the thread on the bobbins.

I can see Mother now as she sat at her work, fully enjoying it. She made several picture throws with bobbins of silk. They were very pretty when the ends were tied and fringed. They were popular too and used to hang over the corner of a picture frame. Today we would call them "dust catchers". They were, too, but they were pretty ones. Much of the silk Mother raised was woven by Brother Armond Hoff of Washington, Washington County, Utah.

The silk industry didn't last many years because it took too many cocoons to make a pound or because not enough people were interested. The cocoons sold at twenty-five cents per pound. Had a company been formed and proper housing been available, the silk industry might still be going on. Mulberry trees are still plentiful. Mother really enjoyed this project and always was interested in learning all she could about it. (Asineth Jarvis Cottam).

William J. Jarvis

William J. Jarvis, ninth child of Brigham and Mary Forsyth Jarvis, was born 20 October 1893, at St. George, Washington County, Utah, and died 2 December 1894. He was fourteen months old.

Ellen Jarvis

Ellen Jarvis, the tenth child of Brigham and Mary, was born 25 July 1895, and died the same day.

Josephine Jarvis

Josephine Jarvis, the eleventh child of Brigham and Mary was born 24 July 1896 at St. George, Washington County, Utah, and she died 13 February 1897, age six months.

Vilate Jarvis

Vilate Jarvis, the twelfth and last child of Brigham and Mary Forsyth Jarvis, was born 16 June 1898, and lived until 25 October 1901. Vilate was a bright, beautiful child and was the center of love and affection as long as she lived, three and one-half years.

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The effect of the loss of these babies left the imprint of silent suffering in Mary's heart all the days of her life, yet she trusted her Heavenly Father and knew he had not forgotten her. She turned her efforts to succor the needy and to comfort the sick and sorrowing. She sat up many nights with the sick and dying and prepared many children's and women's bodies for burial. The touch of her hand was soothing, and her tender voice inspired faith. She was present with all of her children when their babies were born. We all wanted her and felt safe in her hands. I feel we all gratefully acknowledge her motherly kindness to us. She treated us all alike, and we loved her dearly.

Then she began to make temple clothes and burial robes and aprons. I was struck with the beauty of the fine pleated linen robe and cut-out apron she made for my husband Brigham Jarvis, Jr., at the time of our marriage in the Salt Lake Temple. Afterwards she told me she had gathered fig leaves from her own trees and arranged them so they would fit together, making a complete apron. Then she traced around the leaves to get her pattern. Then she cut out one dark green silk leaf and one white linen leaf from each of the nine patterns. She lined the silk with the white linen material and buttonholed around the edges and veined the leaves with green thread. She worked by the clock and it took her 45 minutes to make a leaf. Her hemstitching looked like machine work it was so even.

The Relief Society sisters had a controversy over how to make the aprons, so at one conference her husband took one of her aprons to President Joseph F. Smith to obtain his advice concerning this matter. President Smith said her apron was 100% right. The aprons should show leaves covering the entire apron, whether cut-out leaves or not.

Church Activities

Mary Forsyth Jarvis early in her life was filled with the spirit of Church activity. Brigham Young organized his daughters into the "Young Ladies' Retrenchment Society." When this Society was brought to St. George, Mary was the first secretary in the old St. George First Ward. In 1906 she served as couselor to Annabella M. Morris in St. George East Ward Relief Society, and in 1908, when the Relief Society was reorganized, she was again selected as counselor to President Henrietta A. Morris. She held this position twelve years. Later she was a member on the Relief Society Stake Board, serving with President Emily C. Brooks for ten years and with President Josephine J. Miles for seven years—a total of seventeen years. She also served as a Relief Society visiting teacher many years.

She served with her husband on the Stake Old Folks Committee for thirty-five years. She could converse with the Indians and was "Ticabo" with them. She was lovingly known to young and old as "Aunt Mary." (Z. S. J.)

Mary had a lingering sickness for a number of years before she died. During this time she became quite helpless. She was uncomplaining, patient, and appreciative of all that her daughters and granddaughters Iris and Jean did for her.

She died November 27, 1939, in St. George, Utah, age 82 years.

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Mary Forsyth Jarvis, Dixie Pioneer,
Dies Here Sunday, November 27,1938 Church Activities
(Funeral Services from the Washington
County News, St. George, Utah.)

Funeral services were held in the South Ward Chapel at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday with Bishop Harold S. Snow presiding. There were many floral offerings. Seth Harper played an organ solo combining religious themes, and Mrs. Keith Macfarlane sang, "After Awhile."

The South Ward Quartet, with Mrs. Annie Whipple, Mrs. Melba Baker, William A. Whitehead and, Lenzi Sullivan, sang "Behold, 'Tis Eventide" and "Oh, My Father", with Ada Cannon at the organ.

The speakers were a brother-in-law, George E. Miles, and Patriarch George W. Worthen, both of whom bore testimony to the life of Mary F. Jarvis, her usefulness and her religious activities, and of her great patience in suffering. They also told of her parental background and that of her husband, emphasizing the excellent records made by them.

Bishop Harold S. Snow made concluding remarks telling of his long association as neighbor of the deceased.

Prayers were by Bishop Arthur Cottam and President W. O. Bentley. Pallbearers were her grandsons, B. Hilton Jarvis, Allen M. Jarvis, Lester Cottam, and Gene Parsons, and two nephews, Arthur Cottam and Ronald Cottam.

Burial was in the St. George Cemetery with Milton E. Moody dedicating the grave.

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The preceeding is from "Sketches from the Lives of Mary Forsyth Jarvis and Her Family " in Ellen Raye Cottam Brown's book "Biographies and Autobiographies of Heber Charles and Asineth Jarvis Cottam and Their Ancestors". Used with permission.
History of Brigham Young Jarvis, as found in Ellen Raye Cottam Brown's book, beginning on page 133.