Maria I. Barnard Budge

(Descendant of John and Priscilla Alden of the Mayflower)

Today, some forty-three years since I last saw my dear grandmother, Maria I. Budge, in this life, the memory of this remarkable, courageous and lovable woman lingers with me, so with the help of my two sisters, Amy and Aurura, we have pieced together parts of her interesting history showing some of her wonderful accomplishments and achievements during her short span of life, that her love for humanity may live forever in the hearts of her posterity.

She was born August 15, 1844, in Hancock County, Illinois, a daughter of Erastus Harper Rudd (son of Erastus Rudd who died in Zion's Camp in Missouri) and Eliza Hancock, daughter of Solomon Hancock. Maria's parents were early pioneers who suffered many trials and tribulations of the early days of the Church, including persecution in Illinois and Missouri, but who were ever true to the faith. Maria had one sister, Alta Experience, and a brother, Franklin Osro. This little family was very happy together until death came to take their sweet mother from them. She was only twenty-eight years old, but had become weakened through early hardships. This left Maria without a mother at the age of four years, and she was raised by another mother through marriage. Her father, Erastus, came west to be with the Saints, and settled in Farmington, Utah. As a very young girl, Maria was married to Lachoneous Barnard, who was interested in farming and was able to provide well for his family. Through this union there were five children, all born before Maria was twenty-five years of age.

Their first home was on the land where the courthouse now stands in Farmington. Later they moved to North String, and took up a larger acreage. This land was north of Brigham City, Utah. They had a number of cows and horses and did farming in general. Maria was at one time making thirty-five pounds of butter a week, and doing all her churning in a very small, inadequate churn. This land was located close to Corrine, which at that time was a flourishing city, and they sold much of their produce to travelers and to the city people.

Her husband rode a beautiful black horse called Naylor to oversee the farm, as he had the misfortune to be unable to walk very much. This horse was trained to kneel for his master to mount and dismount, and was in the family for years.

In 1862, Brigham Young was called by Abraham Lincoln to equip a company of cavalry to guard the mail and telegraph lines to the Pacific Coast, which were menaced by the Indians. Grandfather Barnard was called to go in the Lot Smith Company, and was stationed out of Fort Bridger.

Maria, my grandmother, was very artistic, cultured and refined in her nature, and in much of her spare time she did sewing. When her fourth child was born, her brother-in-law's wife died suddenly, and Maria took her infant baby and nursed it along with her own baby, and raised them together. Later, on the death of her sister, Alta, there were left two little girls (Esther and Delia) whom she also took into her home to raise. Later a boy was brought to them by the name of Bobby Ogden, who was without a home or mother, and she raised him until maturity.

So you see, with five children of her own she also cared for and raised four orphan children at the same time, giving her a family of nine. She was ever cheerful and loved by all. One evening, a little colored boy, who was hired to help with the chores and lived with the family, was found dancing around the room, holding one of Maria's little slippers, saying to himself, "Golly, Miss Maria, what beautiful little feet!" Maria was back of the door at the time, laughing to herself and thinking it was a good joke.

Years later, when her family was all gone and married, she met Alex Budge, of Ogden, and they were married. He had three daughters, Dolly, Myrtle, and Cecil, who loved her very much. At this time a new world was opened up to her, and she and her husband had a nice trip to California, and to the World's Fair at St. Louis. They were extremely happy, and she was able to rest for a while from her busy life.

About the year 1900, she came to Payson to visit her daughter, who was my mother, Julia. We were so thrilled to have her pay us a visit. But during her stay with us she received the sad news that her husband had passed away very suddenly and she was griefstricken. She later came and settled in Payson to be near her daughter, Julia. She bought a little cottage which was close to the business district and there set up a shop of dressmaking where she made many rich and lovely bridal ensembles and also delicate burial clothes.

Her home was to me like a fairyland. I lived with her one winter and went to school. The home was spotless, full of sunshine, love and cheer. We always called her Mother instead of Grandmother.

She was of medium build, with jet black hair and a clear skin and complection, and always was very neat in her general appearance. She always looked twenty years younger than she was. She was so good to me. Many times she invited my young friends there to dinner and she also let me have some parties there, and she would join with us in our games, etc. All the water that was used in the house had to be carried from across the street, as the houses at that time were not piped with water. In front of her home were beautiful rose bushes and the water was carried to them to keep them blooming.

About the year 1902, she had an opportunity to homestead land near American Falls, Idaho. Her son, Frank, lived there and she could see him occasionally, so at the age of around sixty years she took up 320 acres of land. She lived on it and paid for it by cooking for the field men of other tracts of land. Her home was built on wheels and the meals were taken to where the men were working. She proved up on this land and was able to sell it in later years for a good price.

In the year 1909 when my mother was living in Salt Lake City, she came again to be with us and help my mother who was doing dressmaking. She wasn't very well when she came, and seemed to get worse as the time went by. In the spring of 1910 she passed away, which was a terrible shock to my mother and all who knew her, as she was loved so dearly and still seemed so young and loved life so much.

She was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

By Cecil Manwaring and Sisters,

Aurura and Amy