Mary Jane Shadden, wife of William Holmes Walker, and daughter of Simeon Shadden and Fanny Cronk, was born in Sing Sing Westchester County, New York on the 26th day of July, 1830.
Mary and her mother became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the state of New York, and they eventually emigrated to Nauvoo, Illinois in order to be near the body of the church of their choice. Mary's father deserted his family, as he did not wish a family, and he never joined the church. Her mother after being divorce from Simeon Shadden, married Stephen Van Velsor, a good member of the church. A daughter was born to them in Nauvoo and she was named Catherine. Stephen Van Velsor died at Nauvoo in 1840; and March 17, 1867, Mary Jane and her mother were sealed to Stephen Van Velsor.
After his death, Mary and her mother, together with the saints were driven from their homes in Nauvoo, in what was known as the Exodus and in this they suffered untold trials. They went to Montrose, Iowa, where Mary's mother died, and this trying time is best related in her own words:
"I was all alone with my mother when she died. It was a very stormy dark night, and I was only fourteen years old, and had my little sister, a baby two years old to care for also, and I could not leave the baby and mother to get help. That night the wind blew and the rain came down in torrents, leaking through the roof of the old log hut. In all the trials I had to pass through in my life, this was the hardest to stand. I thought the night would never pass; as soon as it became daylight, I took my baby sister in my arms and went for help. As soon as our condition was found out there were many kind friends who came to our aid, and did all in their power to comfort us. Sister Smith, the wife of Don Carlos Smith and brother to the Prophet Joseph Smith, took the little baby sister, and were exceptionally kind and good to her."
Mary Jane was persuaded to go on to Utah with some of the saints, and arrived in Salt Lake City, in 1849, or just two years after the arrival of the first company coming on to Utah and leaving her little sister with the Smith family. She told of many interesting experiences in crossing the plains. They were always told in a way to show her thankfulness and appreciation, and there never was tone of regret or remorse in these experiences.
Mary Jane was married to William Homes Walker April 28, 1850 by President Heber C. Kimball, and made their home in the Sixteenth Ward, in Salt Lake City, and while living here she had a most wonderful experience, which she related as follows:
"I was taking a walk when I saw some emigrants camped on the bank of the creek know as City Creek, so I thought I would walk over and see if there was anyone I knew from the East. There I found Mr. and Mrs. Pickett and my little sister among many others. Imagine my joy and delight at seeing my little sister again. She was now 12 years old, I found that Mrs. Smith had married Mr. Pickett and they were on their way to California, and if I had not been impressed to visit their camp, my little sister would have been gone and I would have lost all trace of her. As it was I got her from them, and when she grew up she married Jesee Smith and lived at Farmington, Utah, where she had raised a large family, and where she died."
This was the only relation that Mary Jane had in Utah, but uncles and aunts on her mother's side living in New York State.
When word came to Utah that Johnson's army was coming to Utah the saints were advised to move south, and upon this movement south, and while camped in the bottoms on the Provo River, Mary Jane gave birth to her third son. She was confined in a covered wagon, and this son was named Don Carlos in honor of the good man, Don Carlos Smith, who had reared her sister, Caroline. Mary Jane was the mother of six sons and two daughters: Theodocia Fanny, Simeon, Don Carlos, William Adelbert, Winslow F., Welby Holmes, Edwin, and Ollie May. She and her family moved to Lewisville in the spring of 1884, where she lived the remainder of her life.
She promised Aunt Olive that she could always claim Don Carlos, because she felt badly over having no children of her own. She did always claim him as her own.
She was loved by all who knew her, and was considered a wonderful grand old lady. She was always cheerful even during her last illness. During her earlier life she had the misfortune to be thrown form a spring wagon and had her leg broken, and while this left her with one shorter than the other, she never complained, and often would step dance, and was ever willing to make people happy who came in contact with her. She was a keen observer, and loved animals, and especially live stock, and could and did pick them out when all others were at a loss to identify them.
She died at her home at Lewisville, September 3, 1916 being more then 86 years of age. She is buried in the Lewisville cemetery.
The principal speakers at he funeral, all of whom testified of her wonderful character, were Apostle George Albert Smith, President Mark Austin of the Fremont Stake and President John W. Hart of the Rigby Stake, and Bishop Richard F. Jardine of the Lewisville Ward.
Her memory and her many sterling qualities will long live in the minds of those who knew her.