Mary Barbara Bolanz Adams was born February 1833 in Bowden, Weiler County of Millheim, Germany to Johanna George Bolanz and Anna Maria Weis. At age ten her mother passed away and Mary, being the only daughter, took care of the house for her father and five brothers. She was placed in a fine hotel in Switzerland to learn the “domestic science” and there fell in love with one “Mr. Radz.” They were married and together had one daughter. However not long after her husband died and Mary was left to support their infant daughter. At this point in her life Mary became acquainted with Mormon missionaries and after diligent study she decided to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her family disapproved and withdrew all support so Mary decided to make the long journey to Utah. Once arrived in Payson, Utah Mary worked in the home of Bishop Fairbanks and there met William Adams. She married William 16 January 1864 becoming his second wife; soon after she moved to Paragonah [Paragoonah], Utah. Mary had four sons live to maturity and with their help they ran a dairy and sold cheese and butter. Later the whole family moved to Bluff, Utah and then Monticello years later. Mary was known as a kind and charitable woman, with a strong testimony of her religion. In later years after the passing of her husband on 31 September 1901 she lived with her youngest son in Monticello. Then on 24 December 1918 she was struck by a bull and passed away.
This manuscript is a collection of several folders containing manuscripts of Thomas Adams and family. In the third folder information can be found on Mary Barbara Bolanz Adams. The manuscript is forty-four typewritten pages. The first page is a family group sheet containing pictures and important dates for William and his first wife and Mary with her children and their spouses. Following this there are brief histories of various family members, including a three-page history of Mary’s husband, William, and then a three-page history of Mary Leech Adams, William’s first wife. Following this there is a two page history of Mary herself written by her youngest son Franklin J. Adams. The history covers the major events in Mary’s life including marriages, baptism, migration to America, the settlement of Paragonah, Utah, and work on the dairy farm. Following Mary’s biography other brief histories of family members are given including the children of both William’s marriages.