Item Detail
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Curtis, Mary Openshaw
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1839-1919
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MSS 1799
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Biography
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Mary Openshaw Curtis was born March 25, 1839 in Breightmet, Lancashire, England to Ann Greenhalgh and William Openshaw. She worked in the cotton mills from the time she was eight, and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 14, 1850 at age eleven. On May 25, 1856, she and her family left for America. As a child, she made the trek across the plains. On November 22, 1857, she married George Curtis, and they had eleven children. Mary spun and wove clothing during her early married years. She was later called to be an officer in the Primary, and later in the Relief Society. She also served as an undertaker. She died April 2, 1919.
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This nine-page typescript biography is found in the first book of remembrance of Cleo Grigg Johnson Gilchrist's collection. It provides myriad details concerning the trek across the plains, using several quotes and selections from other people's diaries and journals. Despite her small size, Mary helped as much as she could. At some points, she felt she would die from the cold or hunger. She is described as having been a small girl, less than five feet tall, and around seventy-five pounds at age seventeen. She had blue eyes and dark brown hair. When older, she helped nurse many of her family members as well as friends back to health.
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