Mary (Christie) was born in Malmohus, Sweden in 1849. Her family were the first people to be baptized in Sweden even though a few Swedish people had joined in Denmark. Christie’s parents faced much persecution following this decision and were even arrested at one point. They sent their three children, including Christie, to Denmark and later were able to escape in the night. She emigrated to America at five years old and lived in Sanpete, Utah. In 1870 Christie marries Joseph Barton and they had a child together. It is unsure if something happened between them, but in 1875 she married Joseph Ash and they had five children together. In 1921, Christie died in Beaver, Utah at age 72.