Mary Ann Oatman

Mary Ann Oatman (1844–1851) was the sister of Olive Oatman and a survivor of abuse by the Yavapai people, though many historians argue that it is impossible to know whether or not these were Yavapai or members of some other tribe.

Mary Ann Oatman was born to Royce Oatman and his wife, also named Mary Ann, in Illinois. The Oatmans were members of the Mormon religion. Believing that they were immigrating to a divine country, the Oatmans travelled to Arizona, where they were massacred by Yavapai. The only survivors of the Oatman family massacre were Mary Ann, her sister Olive and brother Lorenzo, who was badly injured.

Mary Ann and her sister Olive were taken as slaves by the Yavapai. Tied with ropes and forced to walk along the Arizonan desert, the girls' health suffered deeply; they became hungry and dehydrated. Whenever they asked for rest or water, they would be poked by the Yavapai with lances.

Mary Ann and Olive were forced to hard labor, and they would be bothered by Yavapai children, who used sticks to burn them.

In 1851, the sisters were traded to the Mohave tribe for a couple of horses and bags of beans. The Mohave chief and his family welcomed the Oatman sisters with love and care, giving them food and providing them with a family life. Mary Ann after 3-4 years with the Mojave died of starvation during a famine in which many Mojave died as well. Olive stated that she died "about a year"--before her release in 1856. The date of Mary Anns death is significant--because it adds weight to the fact they had assimilated--Whipples team had been there in which they could have been rescued--and Mary Ann not starved. Shortly before dying, she tried to comfort her sister by telling her "I have been a great deal of trouble to you, Olive. You will miss me for a while, but you will not have to work so hard when I'm gone."