Mary Ellen Lewis & Don Carlos Judd

See Jennie Lewis & Angus Vanmeter Whitmer

Mary Ellen Judd, prominent pioneer woman of Apache County, and also one of the early settlers of the Gila Valley--died at 1:00 a.m. Monday December 31, 1928 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Eugene C. Neagle in St. Johns, Arizona. The deceased had been in bad health for more than a year, due to a hernia, but the day before her death she managed to be up and around.

At the urgent request of her children, who believed a change would do her good, she left her home and went to live with her daughter, Mrs. Neagle, where she died just three weeks later. She was one of the real pioneers of Arizona, having come with her husband Don C. Judd to Pima, fifty years ago.

When a very young girl she married Don C. Judd and was the mother of fourteen children; five boys and nine girls: Her husband and seven of the children preceded her to the grave. She had 43 grandchildren and 11 great grand children. She was a sister of Mrs. Oscar Layton! Mrs. Keturah Baker, of Thatcher; and Mrs. Laura Lewis McBride of Glenbar.

The deceased was born at Parowan, Utah in 18591 and had she lived until May 1929 she would have been 70 years old. She was the daughter of Samuel Lewis and Sarah Jane Huntsman Lewis, now deceased; they were former residents of Thatcher Arizona

Coming to Arizona from Utah, she and her husband brought a number of horses driving them across the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry. The Judds located at Pima, where they lived through the hard years when the Indians were often on the warpath and real courage was needed to face the hardships of pioneering. Mr. Judd and his father-in-law were the first owners of Indian Hot Springs, and did some gardening and farming there, but were driven off by the Indians. They also had some fine mules stolen by the savages. They made no effort however, to establish claim to the springs when peace did come:

In 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Judd came into their home in Alpine which has since been the family home. It was hospitable and a fine home for hunters and health seeking parties, who frequently stopped there. In 1917 Mr. Judd, a hardy character, whose name will always be associated with the early history of Arizona, became ill-and died. Mrs. Judd then bravely took up the battle of life alone, and reared her fine family of children, and as they became old enough aided in managing the farm at the top of the mountain, and through their combined efforts made a marked success of farming and stock raising.

Mrs. Judd was the mother of the first Mormon female child born in the Gila Valley. When the daughter, who was named Edna, became older, she married a grandson of Brigham Young, and she and her husband now live in Port Angeles, Washington. The fathers of Mr. and Mrs. Judd were members of the Mormon Battalion and were with the Battalion on it's famous march. Richard Judd, a son of the deceased sacrificed his life in the service of his country during the World War One, dying in France in 1918. The surviving son, Earnest has in late years been relied upon by his mother. The other children having married and moved elsewhere to live.

Mrs. Young was unable to come to her mother's funeral on account of sickness, and another of her daughters, Maud Allred of Wel1ington, California, with her sons, Heber and Ford Allred of Pima and a sister, Mrs. Laura McBride arrived too late to attend the funeral, which was held in the L.D.S.Church at 11 o'clock on New Years Day, at St. Johns, Arizona. The remains of Mrs. Judd were taken to Alpine add laid to rest beside her husband and two sons, Richard and Arza.

The funeral services was largely attended; many coming form Round Valley and the mountain districts. The speakers were Jarvis S.R. Givvens and Bishop John Jepson of Alpine. The choir rendered several selections and two special solos were sung.

Written by one of her daughters, Mrs. Jennie Whitmer

The third child of Mary and Don; Edna Idella Judd was the first white child born in Pima 7 December 1879. They first Settled in the western part of Pima on a lot where the first log church house was built. Later they moved to eastern part of the town where Mr. Judd took up a farm bordering on the Gila River bank. Mother tells of her sisters going to dances then coming home early and letting her sister wear her shoes and go to finish up the evening dance. Edna was born the west lot.

Alfred Baker, who married Mary's sister Keturah Lewis, lived Just west of the Judd's when they moved to the eastern part of town. Don Judd was a trustee in Pima for many years: He helped build the Pima brick church house and was a good citizen and good farmer; he raised many cattle. They had a family of 14 children.

Mary Judd has entertained many visitors in her home from all over the state and many from other states; even Governors and high officials of distinction. And everyone who knew hers loved her: She was the best cook of anyone who ever roasted a chicken, or made a hotcake and anyone was welcome to eat at her table. It was always loaded with the best of food. They had a big orchard of every kind of fruit trees, with grapes and almond nuts and all the neighbors were welcome to help themselves. Aunt Mary was a wonderful woman.

Sarah Jane Judd, daughter of Don Carlos and Mary Lewis Judd was born January 31, 1884 in Pima, Arizona. She was the fifth child in the family of 13 children. She attended school in Pima, and grew up in the peaceful atmosphere of the small Mormon community. At the age of 17, engaged to one of the young men of the community, she convinced her parents that she needed to get a Job to earn enough money for the necessary things that a young lady desires for her wedding, and she was given permission to go to Globe to earn the money. The first Sunday evening she was in Globe, a young returned missionary was to give his report, and she attended the meeting and met the young man who took her for his bride. They, Jennie and Angus VanMeter Whitmer were united in marriage on November 7, 1902.

Due to the dependency on the mines for their livelihood, when the mines closed, Mr. Whitmer was forced into bankruptcy shortly after the couple were married. Mr. Whitmer moved his wife to Pima.

Their first child was born February 28, 1904, as son, Angus Don. The second son was born 18 months later, Ralph Judd, and within 18 more months the third son, Leland was born, but lived only a short time. About this time Jennie’s parents moved to Alpine, and the Whitmer’s went up there for a visit, liked the country and bought a place nearby. The first child to be born in Alpine was Cecil Paul, Harold H, followed with 18 months followed by Rex R, about one and a half years later. Their first daughter, Genevieve, brought the number of children to 7. From that time on another child arrived about every 18 months or two years, making the number 15 in all.

She was a worker in the ward Sunday School, a teacher in the Primary and an MIA teacher as well as a Visiting Teacher in the Relief Society, in the various wards where she has resided. She served as Primary President, President of the Young Ladies, and was in the Relief Society Presidency, and following her husband's death she served as a Mt. Graham Stake Missionary until ill health forced her to resign from the call.

In 1945 due to failing eyesight of Mr. Whitmer, he and Jennie moved to Safford where they bought a small home on North 8th Avenue, and where they were residing at the time of his death. November 3, 1957. They had enjoyed a few years beyond their Golden Anniversary which had been observed a few years before his passing.

After her husband's death Jennie busied herself with making each of her many grandchildren a quilt. She belonged to a little quilting club called the Aunt Dinah's and with their help finished a quilt for each one.

Her life was a most rewarding one, for she saw many wonderful things in effect during her lifetime. During her last months of life, she has been cared for by her daughter, Mary Montierth, who was most attentive and considerate of her mother's failing health, she passed away quietly Sunday, April 30, 1967 in the Mt. View Nursing Home where she had been for the past year.

She is survived by thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters: 52 grandchildren, and 61 great grandchildren. Two children and five grandchildren have preceded her in death.

Dear Relatives:

But---All things must come to an end some time, and so it did with this dear couple. Angus contracted Yellow Jaundis; became sick and no doctor had a cure for that disease. Angus did look very bad; he took a very large stomach; he didn't look like Angus. Mary was there every day until her dad passed away. He, after a lovely funeral, was buried in the Pima Cemetery, where their baby was buried many many years ago. Poor Jennie was left alone, but she took courage and tended her flowers faithfully# but time was marching on. There was less than two months difference in our ages, and we had tried the best we could to be together as much as possible,.

Well, Jennie got where she couldn't get up or down easily--she wouldn't give up, but started sewing; she could knit, crochet and read. Mary catered to her mother's wishes and I went there as often as I could. It seemed I had several broken bones and was on crutches a lot. I would hobble in her house and marvel at the beautiful hand work she was doing and so happy. She was making baby quilts for grand babies stilt unborn; crocheting lovely afghans; edging baby blankets, and all kinds of fancy sewing:

Mary could see the end coming. Mother was forgetting, Mother was, ---0 so---. Mary was in between two crosses: She couldn't go live with mother and she dreaded to broach the truth to her; but her days were limited living in her dear old home: Mary and her husband moved the mother to Mary's home--she was married to a wonderful mane a Montierth, a school teacher. It was at their home cousin Jennie found a lovely room to live in; fixed so swell with everything needed to make dear Jennie happy. But she wasn't happy; she fussed, cried and was so unhappy--what could they do? It was decided to try putting her in the Nursing Home that was quite close by. It was tried and seemed to work pretty well, Hundreds of people like her--getting old--just getting OLD, All under one roof, some like it and some didn't. One poor soul` came to me and said, "Will you take me home, I don't like it here. Please take me home:" I felt sorry for her. But Cousin Jennie seemed to adjust very well.

(I can't find the end to this story of Mother Smith's -- but I do know that Jennie died while in this rest home)

Return to Samuel Lewis & Sarah Jane Huntsman