| Birth: | May, 1854
Spanish Fork
Utah County Area
Utah, USA |
| Death: | Dec. 7, 1856
Spanish Fork
Utah County
Utah, USA |
Alpharetta is the adopted Lamanite daughter of John and Mary Ann Barzee Boice. They with the other saints encountered the hardships of all who crossed the plains in the early days. John and Mary settled in the Spanish area in 1852 were they encountered the trials of early life in Utah. Here Mary Ann donated her time to hesitance of teaching and doctoring as which she was very skilled at as mentioned before.
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| John Boice |
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| Mary Ann Barzee |
At the time of this incident in her life she was the mother of five children. On March 16, 1854 another son was born to her. Some two or three months later a young Indian Father came to her home bringing with him his tiny baby daughter whose mother had just died. He asked Mary Ann if she would take the baby girl and raise it for him. This of course brought things she hadn't expected, but she told him to come back the next day for his answer. Mary Ann wanted to take this tiny bit of motherless human to her breast and keep it, but she had to consider the extra work it would make for her, with her own small son, it must share the nourishment she gave him. So this wonderful woman being the kind she was went with her husband to the Bishop about the matter. He said by all means Sister Boyce, take that baby and one of my wives will help you with the work. And so Mary Ann took little Alfretta the name they gave her when she was blessed along with their son Albert.
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This monument is all that remains of the fort located in Palmyra Utah, The fort John and Mary Ann were called to help build. It is located at the corner of a corral on a farm. When Indian trouble increased, these pioneers followed the admonition of President Brigham Young and moved to the safety of the larger fort in Spanish Fork. This marker is located west of Spanish Fork, not far from Utah Lake. Stephen Markham was Bishop, and he was also John Boice's son-in-law. He married his daughter Martha Jane, daughter of John Boice and Jane Herns.
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Sharing alike the joys and baby trials and sickness, the babies grew to be three years old and a great sorrow came. Both babies became ill with the measles. Mary Ann cared and prayed over them alike, but God saw fit to take the little Indian baby girl. She died in 1857 at the age of three. Nothing was left undone for she was their very own. She had been sealed to them in the Temple of our Lord. In 1857 John and Mary Ann were called with their family to settle what is now called Camas Prairie.
On arrival they made camp and began making arrangements for settlement. In the evening they were filled with terror to find themselves surrounded by hostile Indians, whose intent it was to massacre all.
John stepped out and tried to talk to them, but it was of no use. Then Mary Ann tried, this had it's effect. One of the warriors recognized her as the woman who took care of his baby girl.
After Mary Ann took the baby the young Indian watched closely and saw she loved the baby with all her heart, so he told all present the story and it saved their lives.
But this being the Indians hunting grounds the families left and were not permitted to stay, but allowed to leave in peace. The Saints returned to Parley's Park where they lived for some years. Then the Boyce family left after giving and serving and raising their children, went to Oxford, Idaho and lived for 24 years. Assisting all those whom they could help.
(Family oral history - This Indian Brave would watch from the hillside the children. He knew of the wonderful and watchful care the little ones were receiving. His little daughter was given the special care that little Albert received. The Indian Father watched her burial from a distance.)
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| Pioneer Heritage Cemetery Spanish Fork, Utah |
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findagrave.com
Reference Created by: Georgia Drake
Record added: Jun 30, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 72278162
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=72278162 |
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