Mary Ann Craner

   Ancestral File Number: 20G8-LP.

  General Notes:

MARY ANN CRANER (1870-1947)


Mary Ann Craner was born 25 March 1870 in Tooele, Tooele, Utah. She was the seventh child of twelve children born to George and Sarah Emma Jenkins Craner. Only four of the children, George, John Jenkins, Eliza Elizabeth, and Mary Ann married and had children. Her mother died 14 February 1880 in childbirth, when Mary Ann was 9½ years old, leaving seven children: four older brothers, (George, John Jenkins, Edward, Joseph), one older sister, (Eliza Elizabeth), and one younger sister, (Harriett). In November, 1880, she lost her little sister, Harriett, (age 8). Two years later, in 1882, she lost her brother, Edward, (age 18). Another brother, Joseph,(age 23) died later in a drowning accident in 1891.

George and his new wife, Mary, lived with the family until spring of 1880. Then, Eliza, age 18, took over the household duties. Even after Eliza married in Oct of 1880, she still lived with them for several years to care for the family. Then it became Mary Ann's responsibility to take over. Her father, George Craner, was a strict, precise and meticulous person, so everything had to be taken care of just right. He was a member of the Stake High Council, a member of the Bishopric and various other church and civic positions, so when the visiting authorities came from Salt Lake City, he would bring them to his home for lodging and food, which meant that Mary Ann always had to have everything in order. They had a large house to keep clean and lots of cooking to be done. She attended school a few months each year. Her father was a prosperous man and provided well for his family.

Mary Ann's courtship with Joseph Owen Dunn was over a period of five years. The Dunn Family also lived in Tooele, before and after moving to Bountiful, Lake Town, Brigham City, and Stockton for several years then back to Tooele. Mary Ann's father wouldn't give his consent to marriage until she was old enough. When Mary Ann was twenty and Joseph was twenty-two, they were married 24 September 1890 in the Logan Temple. The long trip was made with horse and buggy and of course, Mary Ann's father, George Craner came along as a chaperone. Their first home was in Tooele in the George Craner home. They lived with him and cared for him until Joseph and Mary Ann had five children. Joseph then made the bricks and built a home that they lived in until they moved to Corinne, Utah in 1911. Mary Ann was very proud of her home. They had plenty of room for horses, cows, pigs, chickens and a very large garden and orchard. They had a small farm east of the cemetery.
Mary Ann and Joseph were the parents of ten children:

NameBirth DateDeath Date

1.Owen Clifford Dunn5 Jul 189123 Jun 1943
2.Emma Dunn6 Aug 189315 Nov 1963
3.Gertrude Dunn 26 Sep 189510 Jan 1974
4.Ruby Dunn6 Feb 189716 Feb 1897
5.Emile Craner Dunn24 Nov 18984 Aug 1989
6.Sadie Marie Dunn18 Nov 190212 Nov 1995
7.Mary Leona Dunn14 Jun 190520 Oct 1992
8.John Edgar Dunn10 Aug 190813 Jun 1985
9.Annis Elizabeth Dunn13 Sep 191122 May 1995
10.Seth Arnold Dunn1 Dec 191820 Aug 1984

In 1908, an ore smelter was built east of town, where many men and boys were employed, among them Greeks, Mexicans, Frenchmen, etc. Mary Ann had roomers and boarders for some time. Emma (age 15) had a job at Tate's Store and was so proud to have some money to spend and to share. It was at this time that the environment in Tooele changed and they felt it wasn't a good place to raise their family. Mary Ann's brother, John Jenkins, had a farm in Corinne and convinced them to move there. Several years later in 1911, they established a new home in Corinne. Emma and Gertrude were especially saddened to leave their friends in Tooele. Mary Ann also was sad to leave her nice home and surroundings in Tooele.
There were no church organizations to attend and not enough families living there to organize any in Corinne so they went to Fruitvale for Sunday School and Bear River City for Sacrament Meeting, which meant that they didn't go often.
In 1912 a Relief Society was organized in Corinne and Mary Ann was called to be the President. This was done before the ward was organized in Corinne 22 November 1914 by President Joseph F. Smith. Bishop Alma Jensen was called as Bishop with Joseph A Packer as first counselor and Joseph Owen Dunn as second counselor.
In 1920, Bishop Alma Jensen was released and Bishop Abraham Evans was sustained as Bishop with Joseph Owen Dunn as first counselor and Edwin Gilbert as second counselor. They held these positions until 1931.
The Corinne Relief Society was organized 27 September 1915. Mary Ann was selected as President and served for twenty years as President of the Corinne Relief Society. One of her mottos was, "Anything worth doing at all was worth doing well." Soon after she was called, the ward had their Relief Society Birthday Celebration, 17 March 1916. Sister Emeline B. Wells, the General President of the Relief Society, came. Many preparations had been made. "At that time Mary Ann's health was poorly, and Sister Wells promised her that if she would do her duty, the Lord would bless her, and I'm sure she was blessed for it." (Sadie Dunn Jensen)
In her Relief Society activities, she was involved in sewing projects during World War I to help the Red Cross, fund raising projects, auctions, as well as charity acts of service in sorrow, sickness and death.
Their family was one of the few families to have a phone, so many people came to use it. When a doctor was called and he needed assistance, Mary Ann would often be asked to help, especially in maternity cases.
"Mother would gather up a little sack of clean clothes, a roll of cotton, the Lysol bottle, the olive oil, maybe a sheet or two (and oh, yes, the bed pan) and be on her way. The bed pan was surely a luxury that traveled all over the community. Later the Relief Society had a maternity bundle, which was always kept ready in case of emergency." (Sadie Dunn Jensen)
Joseph was always willing for Mary Ann to go and do her duty and provided a horse and buggy for her use, or sometimes he would take her himself. Surely his love for the gospel and his kindness and love for Mary Ann helped her accomplish the many things that she did. Following is a story written by Katie J. Nelson, a friend of Mary Ann's, called "The Least of These".

"The Least of These"
It was early spring. The alkali mud stuck to the wheels of the buggy and halfway on the horse's legs. It was a one horse shay affair, but looked as if a team of horses were needed to make the grade.
"Git up there Bally!! Faster, hurry, faster." Evidently, there was no time to lose. A short built, middle-aged man spoke to his horse as he laboriously jogged through the mud. "Git up, git up!" The lines slapped over the animal's back as their destination came to view. It was a farm house set back from the road.
He jumped from the vehicle, tied old Bally to a post and started toward the path that led to the little brown house. That path holds many fond memories. Here sweet-peas had flaunted their beauty and fragrance to many passerbys. Numberless bouquets had been given to neighbors and friends. She was noted for her love for flowers, but not so much as for her care and devotion to the sick and afflicted of the farming community-regardless of color or creed. She had indeed followed the admonition of Christ, "......Inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me."
He knocked rather reluctantly on the door. A feeling of intrusion came over him. He had no right to ask her to come tonight-the storm, the mud.....no! And then, the agonizing moans for help spurred him on. Well, hadn't she been helping others? Hadn't she done things of this sort since he had known her? She had been president of the Relief Society for over fifteen years and had become known for her charity and care of the sick. The door opened. She smiled. She always smiled in the same sympathetic understanding way.
She bade him enter. The home, where so many problems had been solved, so many happy hours spent, was immaculate and nice to look at. He looked at her almost pleadingly, and said, "You come? My wife, she very sick. I don't know what to do. You come with me please?"
In her calm, assuring tone, she answered, "Of course I'll come." Then aside to her husband, "Shall I go with him?" He replied, "I think I had better take you. You might need some help."
Very hurriedly, she gathered the things she thought she might need, while her husband hitched the horses to the buggy.
Traveling with the team was much faster than that of the one-horse shay, so before long they came to the shack from whence the torturous cries of pain proceeded. With the deftness of one who understands the situation, and a prayer in her heart, she put forth her best efforts.
Soon the pain of anguish subsided and with the help of her husband, a little black-haired, olive skinned baby was born, as the father entered the door."

In September of 1930, a hand carved chest was made and certain documents, photographs, stories, etc were written by each Relief Society President of the Box Elder Stake and placed in the chest and locked up to be opened in fifty years or 1980. At the ceremony, Mary Ann was called to bear her testimony. Her written testimony was included in the chest.
In 1934, they sold the farm and moved to Logan into a new home and were very comfortable and happy for a few years, going to the temple, doing a service they both loved very much. They always had beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. They were delighted to be able to take clean, washed vegetables to all the neighbors. They made many friends, both young and old while they lived there.
They celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in September 1940 at the home of Sadie and Pat Jensen in Brigham City. Many friends and relatives called during the day from Corinne, Logan, Brigham, Salt Lake City, Tooele, Utah, and Burley, Idaho.
Mary Ann passed away 3 April 1947 in Logan, Cache, Utah. She was buried in the Tooele Cemetery. She was 77 years old. Joseph passed away just a few months later, 20 September 1947 in Ogden, Weber, Utah and was also buried in the Tooele Cemetery. He was 79 years old.


Sources: Family Group Sheets and histories, Naomi Lowe, 607 Holiday Drive, Brigham City, Utah 84302
Histories written by Sadie Dunn Jensen

  LDS Information:

Baptism: 6 Jun 1878

Endowment: 24 Sep 1890, Salt Lake Temple

Sealed to Parents: BIC

She was sealed to her spouse on 24 Sep 1890 at Logan Utah Temple. (Joseph Owen Dunn was born on 16 Dec 1867 in Bountiful, Davis, Utah, USA, died on 20 Sep 1947 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, USA and was buried on 23 Sep 1947 in Tooele, Tooele, Utah, USA.)