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History of Mary Ellen (Lell) Perkins Lyman


Mary Ellen (Lell) Perkins

Birth: 28 September 1882 at Bluff, San Juan, Utah, USA

Parents: Benjamin Perkins and Sarah Williams

Married: Albert Robison Lyman 26 June 1902 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Death: 13 May 1939 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA

LIFE SKETCH OF MARY ELLEN (LELL) PERKINS LYMAN

By David L. Walton

Mary Ellen Perkins (Lell) was born 28 September 1882 at Bluff, Utah, to Sarah Williams and Benjamin Perkins. Her mother was Ben’s second wife. Both parents were from Wales, and knew one another there prior to Ben’s coming to America, although Sarah was just a child at that time. Ben proposed to Sarah’s older sister, Mary Ann the day of his departure for the USA, and sent funds, first to bring Mary Ann, and later, the rest of the Williams family.

When Sarah arrived in Cedar City, preparations were underway for a colonizing mission to the San Juan, and Sarah, not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, decided to travel with her sister to help care for Ben and Mary Ann’s young children. Sarah was impressed by the lives of the pioneer company, and joined the Church shortly after their arrival in Bluff. She returned to Cedar City later that summer. A year later, Ben took Mary Ann to Cedar to visit her parents and to seek Sarah’s hand as a plural wife. While Mary Ann agreed to the “principle,” she and her family objected to his taking her sister as his second wife.

In spite of objections, the marriage took place 28 October 1881 in St. George, and in November or December, Ben, Mary Ann, and Sarah returned to Bluff. For a time, they made an attempt to live under one roof, but relationships were slow to soften. At the time, Mary Ann had five living children, with a 5-month-old baby. Eleven months later, Lell was born the sixth child in the greater family, and the mothers alternated years having a baby until 1890, first in Bluff, then Cedar City again, and finally Teasdale. Ben moved his families frequently to avoid prosecution for practicing plural marriage, but was arrested by Federal marshals in 1888 and sentenced to a 6-month term (beginning December 1888) at the territorial prison in Sugar House.

Growing up had to be difficult under the uncertain circumstances of her father’s life and many moves, but upon his release about June 1889, Ben established two distinct homes for his families, Mary Ann in Bluff, then in the new town, Monticello, and Sarah in Bluff after Leonard’s birth in Mancos, Colorado, in 1890. Sarah relied heavily upon her eldest child, Lell. She referred to her as an angel of mercy. Not only when the twins were born, but for as long as she lived, Lell was the one to whom the family turned when help was needed.Mary Ellen probably began school in Teasdale, and completed her schooling in the one-room schoolhouse at Bluff. Between 1891 until 1898 Lell and Albert Robison Lyman became well acquainted with one another, as both lived in the small close-knit community of Bluff.

In 1898 Albert R was called on a mission to England, and served under his father, who was the European mission president. They both returned to Bluff in 1901 where his father died that November. Albert completed the construction of his mother’s home in Bluff, which was across the lane from that of Lell’s mother, Sarah Perkins. Seven months later, the two were married in Salt Lake City.

Before serving his mission, Albert had begun working on a ditch to bring water from Johnson Creek to what would become Blanding, and after serving in England he continued that effort. He moved onto White Mesa in 1905 with Lell as Grayson’s (Blanding’s) first European residents. Their first two children were born in Bluff (1903 and 1905), but thirteen more joined the family in Blanding.

Lell’s obituary states: “Those were the days when water for household use had to be carried from the spring in Westwater (Canyon),” but, Lell was a pioneer in the truest, most effective sense of the word; the pioneer who has the courage and determination that overcomes obstacles and leaves its permanent mark for good. In those early days Lell rode a horse, helped with the farming and was always ready to answer every call for help made of her. No earthly record has been kept of the meals she cooked and served to later settlers. Many times she divided her own meager supply of food and clothing with others.”

Lell served in the Primary, Relief Society, and Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association in the Grayson Branch and Blanding Ward. Her daughter, Ann Reeve, stated, "Lell occupied a unique place in Sarah's family — the first of ten children. She accepted the responsibihties that would naturally have fallen to the oldest, and was always ready and willing to give, to go, to help and to be or do whatever, wherever she could to render assistance. Her creed of service to others was Christ-like, for it was always available to family, friends, neighbors or strangers. Her greatest joy in life was to give, which she did unstintingly for the welfare of others. She was superior in managing and organizing her home, making do with what was at hand and being happy about it until there was opportunity to make changes. She taught her children to work, to enjoy it and to be thankful for work that they might prove themselves worthy of life."

Sources:
1. O'Brien, Alberta Lyman. The Story of Sarah Williams Perkins. Revised 1993. Download at Internet Archive
2. Lyman, Albert R. Fort on the Firing Line, (reprinted 2012, BYU Print Services)
3. Walton, Elaine Perkins. “Rememberings,” privately published. 1992.




Photos

Right-click [Mac Control-click] to open full-size image:

Young Perkins family








Lell is in center behind the wagon

Lell front left








Beatrice, Lell, and Sade Perkins

Albert R and Lell










Albert Robison and Mary Ellen Perkins Lyman