Person:Mary Norris (1)

BEP-P-BIC Mary Ann Norris Barton

My mother, Mary Ann Norris was born September 15, 1872 in Randolph, Rich, Utah, the daughter of Walter Norris and Rose Hannah Parker. As a small child Mother spent much of her time with her grandparents, William and Caroline Norris. She went to live with them when she was only four years of age and she was still making her home with them when she was married. Mother went there to live because her grandmother needed some one with her.

Mother was the belle of Randolph, she was popular and respected and admired by all who knew her. She had high ideals and stuck to them. She attended school for only a few months as a girl but was self-educated.

When Mother was seventeen she met Joseph Thomas Barton. A young man who had helped a rancher drive his cattle from Kaysville to Randolph. They were introduced by a mutual friend. Mother was in town with her sister Elizabeth and another girl friend when the two boys joined them. After an afternoon of fun the boys walked the girls home. Joseph took Mother and her sister home and the other fellow took the other girl.

Since Mother was living with her grandparents, they dropped Elizabeth at her home and then walked on to the grandparent’s home. Joseph asked her for a date for the dance the following Saturday. Mother told him she had a tentative date with another boy if he could get away from the ranch where he was working, but if he was not there by five o'clock Saturday she would accompany Joseph to the dance. The fellow failed to come and so Mary Ann went to the dance with Joseph. The man Joseph was working for saw them together and told him to stick to her, that she was the best catch in Randolph.

The following spring on May 3, 1890 they were married in Randolph and went to live for a short time with Mother's grandparents.

Written by Mary B. Larsen - daughter

1. ↑ GPS Coordinates.

   41.04497 / -111.92733