Dates

• Existence: 1840 - 1933

Biography

Mary Jane McCleve was born on August 21, 1840, in Belfast, Ireland, the 4th of 10 children of John McCleve Jr. (spelled McClave in Ireland) and Nancy Jane McFerren (or McFerran/McFerron). She was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 26, 1850, along with her three older sisters (Sarah, Catherine, and Margaret), in the Irish sea after dark due to religious persecution.

Due to the cost of moving a large family all at once, Sarah and Catherine emigrated to Utah in 1853 (reaching the Salt Lake Valley in mid-October), followed by Mary Jane and the rest of the family in 1856. They sailed on the ship Samuel Curling, along with 700 other passengers, from Liverpool, England, on April 19, under the leadership of Captain Dan Jones. During the voyage, a severe storm forced the crew to throw some cargo overboard, which included the family's two barrels of down pillows and fine Irish linens. They landed in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 26 (or 23, depending on the source), took a luggage train to Iowa City (losing more luggage along the way due to overcrowding), and there joined the handcart company of Captain Daniel D. McArthur; they left June 11, 1856, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 26 (Mary Jane also narrowly avoided being kidnapped by two men in a buggy during the trip). Sadly, Mary's father had died two days before they reached the valley, from a broken blood vessel in his leg caused by struggling with the handcart, and was buried on the side of the road near Evanston, Wyoming.

Shortly after their arrival, on November 12, 1856, Mary Jane became the second wife of Dr. Priddy Meeks (age 61). They had 10 children: Joseph (1857), Nancy Jane (1859), Hyrum Smith (1861), John Priddy (1863), Sarah Deseret (1864), Mary Ellen (1867), Heber Jesse (1869), Charles Mason (1872), Elizabeth Dalton (1874), and Alfred Randall (1877); they also adopted Sylvia McCleve, who was born in August 1867.

The family first lived in Parowan, Utah, then moved to Long Valley in 1862, and later joined settlers at Windsor, Mount Carmel. In 1877, they moved back to Long Valley and joined the United Order in Orderville, which had been organized two years earlier under the leadership of Howard Spencer. They put their livestock into the community herd and paid $3 per month to the Order, living in a lumber cabin in the fort until the order was dissolved. The members vested their land in a group title and shared everything. The fort held a large dining hall in the center with a kitchen and bakery attached, as well as work shops, 3 dairies holding 250 cows, a saw mill, woolen factory, tannery, shoe shop, and cabinet shop. They made their own hats and clothes. In 1885, polygamy began to be an issue with the federal government; fear of confiscation of the order's goods forced the dissolution of property and farm land, and the livestock and shops were all sold to the members (in 1900, the Order was officially dissolved by order of President Woodruff; at one time, it consisted of nearly 600 members running 28 specialized departments of work).

Dr. Meeks died October 7, 1886, after which Mary Jane became a midwife, ultimately assisting with over 700 births. She continued to live in Orderville with her widowed daughter, Ellen Hoyet, until her death on January 19, 1933.

Citation:

FamilySearch, accessed March 29 and April 8, 2024 (father's name spelled McClave in Ireland, father listed John McClave Jr.; mother's last name spelled McFerran; Sarah and Catherine reached Salt Lake Valley between 13-17 of October 1853; arrival date in Boston listed as May 23, 1856 instead of 26th; children of Mary Jane and Priddy Meeks: Joseph (1857), Nancy Jane (1859), Hyrum Smith (1861), John Priddy (1863), Sarah Deseret (1864), Mary Ellen (1867), Heber Jesse (1869), Charles Mason (1872), Elizabeth Dalton (1874), and Alfred Randall (1877); adopted Sylvia McCleve, born August 1867; Priddy Meeks died October 7, 1886)



Mary Jane McCleve Meeks biography, July 1969 (Mary Jane McCleve born August 21, 1840, in Belfast, Ireland; 4th of 10 children of John McCleve Jr. and Nancy Jane McFerren; baptised into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints August 26, 1850, along with three older sisters (Sarah, Catherine, and Margaret), in Irish sea after dark due to religious persecution; Sarah and Catherine emigrated to Utah in 1853, followed by Mary Jane and rest of family in 1856; sailed on ship Samuel Curling, along with 700 other passengers, from Liverpool, England, on April 19, under leadership of Captain Dan Jones; during voyage, severe storm forced crew to throw some cargo overboard, included family's two barrels of down pillows and fine Irish linens; landed in Boston on May 26; took luggage train to Iowa City, losing more luggage along way due to overcrowding; joined handcart company of Captain Daniel D. McArthur, left June 11, 1856; arrived in Salt Lake September 26; Mary Jane narrowly avoided being kidnapped by two men in a buggy during the trip; Mary's father died two days before they reached valley, from broken blood vessel in leg caused by struggling with handcart; buried on side of road near Evanston, Wyoming; shortly after arrival, on November 12, 1856, Mary Jane became second wife of Dr. Priddy Meeks, age 61; 10 children; family first lived in Parowan, Utah, then moved to Long Valley in 1862, and later joined settlers at Windsor, Mount Carmel; 1877, moved back to Long Valley and joined United Order in Orderville, organized two years earlier under leadership of Howard Spencer; put livestock into community herd, paid $3 per month to Order; lived in lumber cabin in fort until order was dissolved; members vested their land in group title and shared everything; fort held large dining hall in center with kitchen and bakery attached, with work shops, 3 dairies holding 250 cows, saw mill, woolen factory, tannery, shoe shop, cabinet shop; made own hats and clothes; 1885, polygamy began to be an issue with federal government; fear of confiscation of Order's goods forced dissolution of property and farm land, livestock and shops all sold to members; 1900, Order officially dissolved by President Woodruff; at one time, consisted of nearly 600 members running 28 specialized departments of work; Mary Jane became midwife after husband's death, assisted over 700 births; continued to live in Orderville with widowed daughter, Ellen Hoyet, until her death on January 19, 1933)

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