The Cover H. Last Last Pioneer of 47 in S. S SL L L. A Area rea Sole surviving pioneer of 1847 1841 In the Salt Lake City area is Mrs Mary Ann Park Brockbank whose picture picture- taken on the eve of her ninety-fifth ninety birthday anniversary appears anniversary appears on the cover of this 1938 Covered Wagon Days edition Highlights of a life span that has already included Utah's 91 years of existence plus an extra four years were recalled July 17 when when friends friends and relatives honored Mrs Brockbank on her ber birthday anniversary As a toddling child she w was one of settlers the states state's first year e As a girl she followed her father Into the fields barefooted to see that the Indians didn't get him As a mother of 12 children and a grandmother she watched Utah change from a group of tiny Uny frontier settlements settlements settlements settle settle- ments to a thriving modern commonwealth common common- wealth As a great-grandmother great of 88 years she he took her first airplane ride As a great grandmother at 95 she lives alone of her own choosing in the home at Holladay to which her herb b husband took her in 1864 provides for her own needs takes an active Interest Interest in interest In- In terest in life and life and longs for another airplane ride Three 47 n Pioneer Survive Mrs Brockbank Is one of three living liv liv- tr ing persons who first set foot In Utah in in- 1847 1841 Mrs frs Lavina Gibson Andrus Andrus An- An drus of St. St George is the only other pioneer of 1847 still sUll residing in Utah t irs Hulda Cordelia Cordella Thurston Smith born In la 1846 and still practically a babo babe baboIn baboin in Iri arms anns when she reached Utah in 1847 ISn the third first year survivor lives in Idaho Falls Idaho Born in Lamson Ont Canada July 17 1843 Mrs Brockbank Brockbank accompanied her parents John and Louisa Smith Park and three sisters Bisters in 1846 to Winter Quarters Quarter near Omaha Neb where the Saints were gathering for forthe forthe forthe the strenuous journey to the Rocky mountains Still vivid in her mind are a few memories of the ox team trip across the plains in 1847 18 with the John Taylor company the company the awe she felt at first sight of a huge buffalo herd and the fear and curiosity which filled her ber when Indians rode up to the covered train wagon agon Raised in Provo PrOTO W We lived lived in the fort at Provo until the p danger clanger from Indians was Wa less and then moved onto the land father was WM farming she recalled ii r Y h- h r Sf 1 j 1 f fr r a r 4 f 1 h aNi MRS MARY ANN PARK BROCKBANK A child of four years when she came to Utah in 1847 Mrs Brockbank now 95 pauses at her knitting to think back over the past Tho The oval picture was ta taken en when she sho was 18 Mrs Park had been a school teacher In Sn Canada and had brought a primer and an aU atlas across the plains in addition addi adds Lion tion to the Bible and other religious works so 10 she ahe taught her daughters to read write and spell at home Mrs Brockbank's greatest interest however was outside her school books I used to follow father to his work in the fields because I was afraid the Indians would try to get him Mrs Irs Brockbank said saleS I would sneak behind bushes and keep out of sight until we were far tar farenough farenough enough from home I knew he wouldn't send me back The grass and stubble would hurt my bare feet and father often orten would pick me up and carry me on his shoulders From her father and mother she learned to card wool and prepare flax for spinning and weaving Clothes for the family were made at home so she early learned to knit and sew and to make dyes from weeds and bark Only by thrift and industry were the pioneer families able to overcome the effects of the cricket plagues and other hardships they experienced and as a girl Mrs Brockbank became skilled in making butter cheese bread candles soap lye and starch and in drying wild fruits and berries gathered in the mountains Married in 1864 She was married December 31 1864 to Isaac Brockbank a pioneer of 1852 who died in 1927 and has since lived in Holladay In the summertime she lives Jives in the theold theold theold old family home at Highland drive cooking g most of her meals and caring for her own needs but she has spent each winter lately with some member of her family Still living are seven children in including including including in- in John P. P Brockbank of Salt Lake City J. J William Taylor P. P and Alma P. P Brockbank of Holladay Heber P. P Brockbank of Huntington Mrs Airs Charles R. R Reynolds of Murray and Mrs John A. A North of Holladay 50 W grandchildren more than 75 great great- grandchildren and one great great-great- grandchild Enjoyed Airplane Ride During the first Covered Wagon Days celebration In 1931 the pioneers of ot 1847 1841 were invited to take an airplane airplane air LIr- plane ride over part of the old covered wagon trail and Mrs Brockbank was was- the only woman to accept the tion It was wonderful and Id I'd like to togo togo togo go again some gome time she has told members of her family frequently Until recently she has kept busy sewing and knitting occupying much of her time making shawls for tor her ber great grandchildren and one ono great- great great Unable to do much sewing lately she still retains an active Interest in inthe inthe the affairs of or government In the I L. L D. D S. S church and in the welfare of her friends