Marian, the Book Maker

by Anna Galeniece

Marian, whose full name was Mary Ann Davis, was born on August 21, 1847, in North Berwick, Maine. She had three younger siblings: Grace, William, and Ella. When Marian was just a little girl, her parents became Adventists who kept the Sabbath. From a young age Marian eagerly looked forward to Jesus’ second coming and loved learning about God. She could not wait to get baptized as soon as it was possible.  

When Marian was 21, she and her family moved from Maine to Battle Creek, Michigan, hoping to start a new life with other Adventist believers. Unfortunately, their dream didn’t last long. In 1876 Marian’s sister Grace passed away from a sickness called “lung fever.” Just two weeks later their mother, Elmira, was so heartbroken that she passed away too. Despite this deep sadness, Marian and her family kept their faith in God and their hope in Jesus. Marian’s father, Obadiah, stayed a devoted Seventh-day Adventist for the rest of his life.

“Marian, why don’t you take a teacher’s course at Battle Creek College?” her father asked.  

“I would love to because I enjoy learning and teaching,” Marian replied with a smile. That was all she needed to hear to begin following her dream. 

When she finished college, Marian started working at a country school, but the job was very hard on her health. It took a long time for Marian to recover, but with lots of prayer and patience she slowly got better. Unable to continue teaching, she began working for the church as a proofreader at the Review and Herald printing office. She could work in a way that suited her health. She even wrote poems and articles for Adventist publications, sharing her creativity with others.

A couple years later, when Marian was 32, Mrs. White invited her to work as her assistant. Mrs. White did the writing, but Marian’s job was to organize everything so the books could be published. This teamwork resulted in the inspiring books that Adventists and non-Adventists still enjoy reading today.

Being Mrs. White’s helper was a big job, but Marian loved it! It was fulfilling and enjoyable for her. Marian was privileged to accompany Mrs. White on her busy travels while gathering and arranging her writings. They traveled all over—to Michigan, Texas, California, several European countries, and even Australia! After many travels they finally returned to California. 

How exciting for Marian to dedicate 25 years to helping God’s messenger! It was even more exciting for Mrs. White to trust her invaluable, hardworking helper. Mrs. White ended up calling Marian her “book maker.” 

While your cherished dreams may not always be achievable, never give up! Trust God to take care of your life. He will do His part, and you’ll enjoy your life to the fullest, just as Marian Davis did.