Lightner, Mary Elizabeth Rollins

9 Apr. 1818–17 Dec. 1913. Seamstress, schoolteacher, hotelier. Born in Lima, Ontario Co., New York. Daughter of John Rollins and Keziah Keturah Van Benthuysen. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ca. 1828. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 1830, in Kirtland. Moved to Independence, Jackson Co., Missouri, fall 1831. Moved to Clay Co., Missouri, ca. Nov. 1833. Married first Adam Lightner, 11 Aug. 1835. Lived in Liberty, Clay Co., before moving to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, ca. 1836. Moved to Milford, Caldwell Co., late 1837, and returned to Far West shortly after. Left for Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky, late 1838, then moved to Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky, and stayed for six months. Moved to Alton, Madison Co., Illinois, ca. spring 1839; to near Montrose, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, by Oct. 1839; to Farmington, Van Buren Co., Iowa Territory, ca. Nov. 1839; and to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, Jan. 1842. Plural wife of JS, sealed in Feb. 1842. Joined Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, 14 Apr. 1842. Moved to Pontoosuc, Hancock Co., ca. summer 1842. Purchased lot near JS’s Mansion House, 5 July 1843, in Nauvoo. Moved to Galena, Jo Daviess Co., Illinois, ca. 1847; to St. Croix Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin, 1848; to Stillwater, Washington Co., Minnesota, fall 1849; and to Willow River (later Hudson), St. Croix Co., Wisconsin, ca. summer 1850, where she kept a boardinghouse for two years with her husband. Moved to Marine on St. Croix, Washington Co., ca. 1853, where they rented and operated a hotel. Opened hotel, Dec. 1858, in Marine on St. Croix. Moved to Hannibal, Marion Co., Missouri, ca. 1861. Returned to Minnesota, ca. 1862. Migrated to Minersville, Beaver Co., Utah Territory, arriving 20 Sept. 1863. President of Relief Society, ca. 1869, in Minersville. Died in Minersville.