Mary Elizabeth Dean
Born 15 Oct. 1866 in Morgan, Morgan Co., Utah Territory.[1] Daughter of Joseph Dean and Catherine Knott.[2] Accompanied EBW’s daughters and Sarah Granger Kimball, Lizzie Kimball, and Evan Stephens on a trip to Portland and San Francisco, July 1888.[3] President of the Salt Lake City Nineteenth Ward Primary.[4] Married William Allison, 17 Sept. 1890, in Logan, Cache Co., Utah Territory; seven children.[5] Moved to New York City with her husband, who attended law school; studied voice culture and instrumental music, 1890–1891.[6] While in New York, visited by EBW, 5 Mar. 1891.[7] Well-regarded performer and soloist, both in Utah and at national events.[8] Studied under Evan Stephens, a noted musician, and taught music lessons.[9] Requested by EBW to sing at the Assembly of Women, 1894.[10] Died 2 Sept. 1915 in Ogden, Weber Co., Utah.[11]
[1] “Endowments of the Living, 1884–1957, Index 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 1884–1899, p. 264, line 9491, Mary Elizabeth Dean, 17 Sept. 1890, microfilm 178052 DGS 4342223 (restricted access), FHL. 1880 U.S. Census, Salt Lake City 10th Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, ED 46, p. 10, Bessie Dean. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 13 July 2020), Mary Elizabeth Dean (KWC8-8DR).
[2] “Endowments of the Living, 1884–1957, Index 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 1884–1899, p. 264, line 9491, Mary Elizabeth Dean, 17 Sept. 1890, microfilm 178052 DGS 4342223 (restricted access), FHL. Somerset Heritage Service, "Taunton, Somerset, England, Somerset Parish Records, 1538–1914," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com, accessed 10 Oct. 2021), Joseph Dean and Catherine Knott, 21 May 1855, p. 141, no. 281, image 149/264; Anglican Parish Registers, Somerset Archives and Local Studies, South West Heritage Trust, Taunton, England.
[3] EBW, Diary, 10 July 1888.
[4] EBW, Diary, 19 May 1890. “Primary Annual,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 June 1890, 7.
[5] Summit Co., UT, County Clerk, Marriage Records, 1887–1966, Marriage License Records, 1887–1905, p. 59, no. 829, William Allison and Bessie Dean, 17 Sept. 1890, microfilm 480880, DGS 4540849, image 209/426, FHL. “Sealings of Living Couples, 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. A, 1884–1900, p. 242, line 4350, William Allison and Mary Elizabeth Dean, 17 Sept. 1890, microfilm 178135 DGS 5270270 (restricted access), FHL. 1910 U.S. Census, Ward 1, Ogden City, Weber Co., UT, ED 223, p. 6B, Bessie Dean Allison.
[6] “Music and Law,” Salt Lake Herald, 17 Sept. 1890, 1.
[7] EBW, Diary, 5 Mar. 1891.
[8] “Dramatic and Lyric: The Logan Opera Company Will Visit Salt Lake,” Salt Lake Herald, 17 May 1891. “Historical Member Roster,” The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/about/roster.all.a.html, accessed 9 June 2020). “Irrigation Ode; Its Fine Music,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 16 Sept. 1903, 5. “Star of Bethlehem,” Deseret Evening News, 24 Dec. 1909, 3. “Funeral Services in Tabernacle for Mrs. Allison,” Ogden (UT) Daily Standard, 6 Sept. 1915, 5. “Mrs. Wm. Allison Is Suddenly Called by Death,” Ogden (UT) Standard Examiner, 3 Sept. 1915.
[9] B. F. Cummings Jr., “Shining Lights: Prof. Evan Stephens,” Contributor 16, no. 11 (1894–1895): 658.
[10] EBW, Diary, 3 Feb. 1894.
[11] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov, accessed 16 June 2020); Utah Department of Health Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death Certificates, series 81448, file no. 293/425 (1915), Bessie Dean Allison. “Mrs. Wm. Allison Is Suddenly Called by Death,” Ogden (UT) Standard Examiner, 3 Sept. 1915.