Skip to main content

Andrus, Mary, 1890-1975

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1890 - 1975

Biography

Mary Andrus (1890-1975) was a librarian in Spanish Fork, Utah.

Mary Erickson Higginson Andrus was the child of Mormon pioneers from Iceland and long time resident of Spanish Fork, Utah. She served in various organizations during the course of her life, principally in the Icelandic Association of Utah, the Icelandic Genealogical Society, and the Relief Society. She was also a librarian at the Spanish Fork Public Library.

Mary Erickson was born February 18, 1890 at Spanish Fork, Utah. Her father, Eyjolfur Eiriksson, and her mother, Jarthrudur Runolfsdottir, were immigrants from Iceland, and had their last name changed to Erickson when they became citizens of the United States. After arriving from Iceland, Eyjolfur and Jarthrudur traveled to Spanish Fork, Utah, where they built a home on the corner of 700 East and 200 South. It was there that Mary grew up with her two sisters Ellenborg, and Sigurveig, and her three brothers Noah Erastus, Erick Ronald, and Matthew Thorgur. As a child Mary worked in the fields thinning and toping sugar beet. She also worked as cook for some traveling sheep shearers, often traveling as far as Verdi, Utah, Duchesne, Utah, and even Wyoming. When Mary's father died in 1907 they received much-needed assistance from their next-door neighbors, the McKell family. During this time Mary's mother Jarthrudur made a living quilting, sewing rug rags, knitting socks and doing other handiwork.

Mary married Ralph Daniel Higginson on June 5, 1912 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They had four children: Ruth, Sarah, Phyllis, and Ralph. After six years of marriage Mary's husband died October 29th, 1918 of influenza. Fortuitously Mary lived next door to her sister Sarah and they were able to assist each other in the care of their respective children.

Mary married Alma Archibald Andrus on July 16, 1943. Archibald owned a small farm in Leland, just southwest of Spanish Fork, where he raised cows, pigs, chickens and sheep. As a family they would take a short vacation each year, and visit Yellowstone, Texas, California, Nevada, Colorado, and the National Parks in Utah. In December of 1967 Mary and Archibald sold the farm and moved to Spanish Fork where they bought a home located at 510 East 300 North. Mary died January 30, 1975 almost two years after her husband.

During her lifetime Mary was active in both civic and religious activities. She served as a Relief Society president, World War I registrar, member of the Price Control Administration (for which she received a certificate of award from United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt), secretary of the Icelandic Association of Utah, member of the Icelandic Genealogical Society, and librarian at the Spanish Fork Library.

Citation:
Mary Andrus photographs, 1929-1962

Mary Andrus papers, 1902-1975 (Mary Andrus; Mary Erickson Andrus; Mary Higginson)

Brigham Young University, L. Tom Perry Special Collections worksheet, Oct. 26, 2007 (Mary Erickson Higginson Andrus; b. 1890)

Ancestry.com, viewed Oct. 26, 2007 (Mary Andrus; Mary Higginson; Mary Erickson; Mary Erickson Higginson; b. Mar. 18, 1890 in Spanish Fork, Utah; d. Jan. 30, 1975 in Spanish Fork, Utah; m. June 5, 1912 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ralph Daniel Higginson; m. July 16, 1943 to Alma Archibald Andrus)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Mary Andrus papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231581312]
Identifier: MSS 1462
Scope and Contents

Collection contains an autobiography, certificates, family history, legal documents, letters, photographs, talks and tributes. Also includes material relating to the Latter-day Saint Church Spanish Fork, Utah 1st Ward Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, 5th Ward Relief Society, Spanish Fork Public Library, the Icelandic Association, and Alma Archibald Andrus' journal (1909-1968).

Dates: 1902-1975

Filtered By

  • Subject: Letters X