Mary (BUYS) MOSS was born 15 Dec 1836 in New York City. She is the daughter of Hyrum Debaun Buys and Elizabeth (Huntington) Buys. Mary had long beautiful red hair! Her ancestral heritage goes back to the Netherlands in her paternal heritage. Her maternal lineage goes back to English pilgrims and early patriots in the American colonies. Her parents were devout Christians! She was raised with strong a faith in the Savior. Her father was an ordained Methodist minister in Albany,Albany Co., New York. He heard the restored gospel from Elder Parley P. Pratt from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mary's parents were baptized into the church in 1939, when she was just a baby. Due to the many persecutions and hardships endured by the early members of the church, the Buys family left New York. They gathered with others of their faith in La Harpe, Hancock Co., Illinois. Mary was baptized in 1844 at the age of eight years. When Mary was fourteen years old her family migrated west in a covered wagon as pioneers to the Utah Territory, in continued search of religous freedom! Mary and her older sister walked most of the way across the plains, allowing other members of the family that were ill or aged to ride in the wagon. Mary had been taught by her mother the value of being gentle and kindly. Her family settled in Bountiful, Utah. Later, Mary met a handsome young man, a convert, from Yorshire, England. Robert MOSS had also sacrificed his means and strength to join with the Saints in the wilderness of the Utah Territory to embrace religous freedom. He had settled with family in Bountiful, Utah. Mary and Robert met and fell in love. They were married 25 December 1853 (on Christmas Day). Robert built a log cabin for the couple to live in. They were the parents of twelve sons and daughters. Mary was a very nuturing and a brave mother! She protected her children from the harsh environment, including a huge stray Black Bear standing at her cabin's door. Robert MOSS and Mary (BUYS) MOSS lived a beautiful love story out on the frontier, bearing many, many hardships, always with hope in the Lord. Their personal lives and values have become a legacy forever to their descendants. Mary died with full faith in the resurrection on 17 July 1877, Bountiful, Davis County, Utah.