Mary Elizabeth Judith Beemus was born 10 September 1832 in Lewiston, Futon County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Lynus Beemus and Martha Jewell. Mary was the oldest known child of Lynus and Martha. They were married in 1827, so it is possible they had other children before Mary that didn't live very long and I have never found record of them.

Sometime in the late 1840s or early 1850s the Beemus family came across the newly-founded Mormon Church. They joined the religion and in 1854 Mary met Mathew Ivory.

Mathew had already made his way west to Utah territory but had agreed to go back east to help other pioneers make their way to Utah. The details are unknown, but at some point on one of his journeys helping others cross the plains he met the Beemus family and him and Mary fell in love. They were married in Lewiston on 14 December 1854.

Over the next year Mathew and Mary's story remains a complete mystery. I do not know if they remained in Fulton for a time, made their way to Utah, or even possibly went even further east.

On 2 October 1855 their first child was born. His name was George Washington Ivory - my 2nd great-grandfather. The reason I say that Mary and Mathew's previous year remains a mystery is because of where their son George was born. If you look at the records for George, his birth place varies from Illinois, Utah, and Pennsylvania. I have never seen a first-hand account from George saying where exactly he was born, so that part remains a mystery.

I can see Illinois and Utah being very likely, but Pennsylvania seems a bit odd to me. The only thing I can't think of is that Mathew may have taken Mary back east to Pennsylvania/New Jersey area where his first wife, Mary Susan Cox, still remained. Family story suggests that Mathew went back to Pennsylvania/New Jersey at least once to see if Mary Susan Cox had changed her mind about the Mormon church and that Mathew wanted to be a polygamist with both wives. Read more about Mathew and Mary Susan Cox on Mathew's profile.

Mathew and Mary Beemus had a total of 7 children: George Washington, Reuben Norris, Linus Brigham, Isaac Eneas, Martha Amelia, Mary Ann, and Frederick Olsen.

In late 1869 Mary Beemus became sick. Mathew and Mary were living in Beaver at the time, but Mary went to go stay with her mother in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah Territory. On January 29 1870 Mary died. Mary died of paralysis, according to the 1870 Mortality Schedule.

She was buried in the Manti City Cemetery where her mother, brothers, and likely father are buried.