When I was eleven months old my father, Thomas John Stayner, was called to the Echo Canyon War. While he was there my mother, Rosa Ann Orrell, was taken by death. When he came home and was told my mother was dead and buried, it was such a blow to him he tumbled over.

My Grandmother's sister took me and raised me 'til I was eleven years of age. Four years after my mother died my father married again [to Rebecca Clark]. She was a sickly woman. So, at the age of eleven, he sent for me to go and stay with them. With much reluctance of the good lady that raised me, she had to let me go. I stayed with them 'til I was of age, then I went back to the one I called Mother.

Through Uncle Arther Stayner, my father's brother, I attended the University in Salt Lake City two years, went as a normal student. After that I had papers to show that I could teach school anywhere. So I taught school and gave music lessons.

Sometime later I got married, going into polygamy. I always believed in prayer, always prayed night and morning. Had seven children raised, all but one who died at eighteen months. Others are all married. All good citizens and true Latter-Day Saints. They are raising their children the same way. Neither of them use tea, coffee or tobacco or any kind of strong drink. All good workers.

While my children were small I had them pay a little tithing each year to teach them the principle, and they have kept it up only paying a full tithing now.

I spent most of my married life in Afton, Wyoming. Gave music lessons, played for dancing parties for a number of years. My eldest son, who lives in Afton, played the cornet and violin. As we followed the music, we attended the best parties. The piano was my instrument.

When I got my new home, I took lodgers and boarders, which is what I did the latter part of the time I lived in Afton. Always worked at something. Finally I had to give up the positions I held in the church, for I lost my hearing which was a sad blow to me. I was one of the aids in Stake Relief Society, and was a teacher in the Ward.

After the children got homes of their own, I left Afton and lived with my sisters in Bountiful, Utah. With one of them, Ida, I stayed two years, then went to Cache Valley with my married daughters Vienna and Rose. Then Rueben and Caroline Burton wished me to care for their home while they worked away. I was with them one winter in Salt Lake City and one winter in Ogden. Had a good home with them. I then came and took care of my little home in Logan.

Before I left Bountiful to live in Afton, I played for the choir for two years. With Bountiful's best singers we got up a concert for the benefit of the choir. I taught them seventeen single songs and three heavy pieces, had it two nights, got a nice book case for the choir.

My children have been kind to me, did for me what their means could allow. I love and am proud of them. Since living in Logan, I have raised a garden each year. Have always paid tithing.

Married Anson Vasco Call 1 Oct 1883 at Salt Lake City

Died 12 June 1950 at Lewiston, Cache, Utah.

(The woman who raised her was Mary Pill Marett, sister to her grandmother, Elizabeth Pill Stayner.)