Mary Jane Harding (abt. 1856 - abt. 1937)

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Biography

Mary was born about 1856. She passed away about 1937.

• Fact: Residence (1861) Wandsworth, London, Surrey, England
• Fact: Immigration (1878)
• Fact: Residence (1880) San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
• Fact: Residence (1900) Precinct 42 Salt Lake City Ward 4, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
• Fact: Residence (1910) Salt Lake City Ward 4, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
• Fact: Burial (31 Jan 1937) Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
• Fact: Residence (1937) Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Mary Jane Harding, daughter of William and Sarah Ann Harding, was born in Wandsworth, England, August 17, 1857. Being the oldest of a large family, Jane (as her parents called her) had very little education. Her parents not being rich,she was kept home very young to take care of the smaller ones while her mother went out nursing. Her father was just a laboring man working on the sewer who received not enough to support his family. So all her school days amounted to was two years. At the age of 12 years, she was compelled to help support the family and worked at the paper mills from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. This she did until she was 16 years old. Her parents being very good Latter-day Saints had a great desire to come to Utah, so tried to save out of their small income to send Jane, thinking if she was there she could help to get them with her. So at this age (16) they sent her with some returning missionaries. When she arrived in Utah an Elder by the name of Brother Ballem gave her a home until she could find employment. While there she took sick and was unable to work for 3 months. When she was better she found employment at the "White House" in Ogden as a waitress. Here she met a gentleman by the name of William A. Shannon whom she married at the age of 17 years. He was not in our Church but he was very kind to her and she thought she could convert him to be a member. They went to Virginia City to live, and started a restaurant. But after being there a few weeks the city took fire and their home went with it. Being compelled to leave with nothing they went to San Francisco, California. Here they started a hotel. While there she gave birth to three children, William, Lillian, and Sadie. A few years later she was left with only Sadie. The other two being called away.

Having a great desire to see her dear parents in England and being discouraged about converting her husband; she took a trip with her child, (her husband being willing) to England. Her husband promising to follow her the next month; but instead of him doing this he deserted her. So at the age of 26 years, Jane was compelled to keep herself and child. Her parents advised her to come to America and start anew, so this she did leaving her child with her parents. On this trip she was on the ocean 8 weeks, the vessel being bound on icebergs 6 weeks. She arrived in Salt Lake a stranger, but found work at a residence by the name of Austins taking care of a sick lady. These people were very kind to her and in 2 years she saved enough to send for her child and also help her parents to come to Utah.

After their arrival she married a man by the name of William J. Heckmann, who also was not a member of our church, but whom she converted to be a Latter-day Saint. She gave birth to two children by William Heckmann, namely William and Cecil, both living in Salt Lake City with her.

During my mother's life she has been blest with good health and also strength, she has worked very hard during her life. One time while her husband was on his mission for two years, she worked washing, ironing, or doing anything she could earning money to support him and two children, as when he was called she told him to go, and when he left she never had a dollar. When he returned she never owed a dollar.

She has worked in the temple a great deal and also worked in the Relief Society for many years. She has been blessed with her dear mother whom she has helped to keep for 20 years and who is still living at the age of 86.

My mother has only 3 children living. She is the grandmother to 8 children. She lives for her children and in doing all the good she can for others. She has been blessed with wealth enough to make her comfortable through her careful saving. She is 60 years old next August and we hope to see her live for many years and make her life as happy as she has ours.

(Apparently the above was written years ago (1916) to present to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers in Providence, Utah. It was copied from a handwritten manuscript of Sadie S. Rossiter, daughter, who has the manuscript in her posession. In handwriting on the margin is written lived to be 80 years old.)

• Fact: AKA Went by Jennie

Sources

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 14 November 2020, 05:25), entry for Mary Jane Harding (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KW89-XN2 ); contributed by various users.
• from family tree on another site