Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner (1818-1913) was born in Lima, New York. After the death of her father, she lived with her uncle, Algernon Sidney Gilbert. A group of Mormon missionaries came to visit them and at the age of twelve Lightner was baptized. While a school teacher she married Albert Lightner in 1835. Later she was secretly sealed to Joseph Smith (1805-1845) by Brigham Young (1801-177) in 1842. Mary would live with her husband Albert until he died in 1885. In their lives they moved around quite frequently, living in such places as Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Iowa. In their travels, Mary would help supplement the family income by sewing and giving painting lessons. In 1863, her brother sent a wagon for them to come to Utah, where they would eventually settle in Minersville.
From the description of Biographical sketch of Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner, 1936. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122560064
