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Her father was a blacksmith. Life was rather hard in England during those years. Many people had little to live on. Many were seeking for something better.
They heard the preaching of a new religion called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Elder George Q. Cannon found this family and taught them the gospel. Daniel was a devout Catholic and Jannet a good member of the Church of England. Both were very religious, yet the truths that they heard from this Elder touched their hearts and they felt strongly that this was the true church of Jesus Christ. They were baptized in 1849 before Mary Ellen was born. She was raised in the gospel along with all her brothers and sisters. Their desire was to go to Zion and they saved what they could to be able to go to America. This became a reality in 1863. A church emigration fund provided help for those who could not pay the passage for their families.
They were scheduled to leave Liverpool on the packet ship "Cynosure". This created a problem as Ephrain was apprenticed out as a blacksmith and William as a printer. They had two years to go on their apprenticeship. As Daniel and Jannet had already made their plans to go to America, there was nothing they could do but leave the boys behind to finish their apprenticeships. This was very hard on Jannet but Daniel got the promise from the church that when the boys finished they would be taken to America by returning missionaries This gave them some peace of mind.
The following is taken from shipping files room 302:
"Daniel McMillan and his wife, Jannet and two children Phebe and Mary Ellen came with the 125th Company on the Packet Ship 'Cynosure', left Liverpool, England May 20, 1863. J. Smith was the Captain. There were 775 emigrating Saints on board."
The migrating company was organized by George Q. Cannon with David M. Stuart as President and John S. Gleason and William G. Smith as counselors. Besides these three presiding officers Edward Clift also returned home in the same company along with four local Elders – John Gibbs, William H. Pitt, Alexander Wickham, E. Morwiack and William E. Perks.
Before sailing, the saints on board were organized into wards or companies. The first was presided over by William H. Pitts. The second was presided over by Elder James Watson, the third by Edward Clift, the fourth or bacholer's Hall by Elder Lewis Boen, the fifth by Elder Hopwood and the sixth by Elder John Gibbs. Two to four teachers were appointed to assist in each ward. Robert Patrick was Captain of the Guard.
They were on the water six long and dreary weeks. The waves were so great at times it seemed that the ship would be swallowed up. But the saints had great faith in the Lord. They felt like their mission on earth was not finished and that the Lord would protect them. He did for they arrived safely in America.
On July 19, 1863, the ship arrived in New York and was brought by tug to anchor close along the side of the ship, Amazon. Brother William C. Staines, the Church representative in New York came on board.
Most of the saints who crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the ship Cynosure also made the journey across the plains in the Thomas E. Ricks wagon train. There were no record of the names of the Saints that came in this wagon train but from facts and dates the McMillan family probably came in this company. Mary Ellen was 12 years old and walked most of the way across the plains.
By a telegram to Brigham Young, it was learned that this company had camped ten miles below Pawnee Springs on August 24, 1863, and all were well. The wagon train, pulled mostly by oxen, arrived safely in Great Salt Lake City October 4, 1863.
They stayed in Salt Lake City a short time then decided to make their home in Heber City, Utah, just over the mountains East of Salt Lake City about 50 miles away. It was a beautiful valley with a glacier on nearby Mount Timpanogos.
The health of Mary Ellen's mother deteriorated during all the struggles, hardships and the worry about her two sons. The boys did join them in 1865 and 1866, but she kept going down hill until she died April 21, 1869. This was a great loss for Mary Ellen.
Mary Ellen married Henry Thomas Nelson and they lived in Buysvillem, Utah, which later became Daniels Creek. They had 12 children:
Mary Janette born 13 January 1874 in Salt Lake City
Phoebe Hannah born 2 May 1877 in Buysville as were all other children
Henry Thomas born 25 May 1878
Margaret born 7 November 1879
Erma Mae Nelson born 28 July 1881
Daniel born 13 April 1884
Sarah Ann born 29 June 1886
William born 12 July 1888
Joseph born 19 September 1890
Rose Ellen born 19 September 1892
Jessy Richmond born December 1894
Jean born 10 November 1898
Mary Ellen served as counselor to Mary McDonald, President of Buysville Ward Relief Society from May 2, 1900 until the wards were joined together as Daniel Ward. They lived in Buysville all of 30 years. They moved to Victor, Idaho were they spent the last years of their lives and where they are buried.
The family was a happy one, when they got together there was laughter and joy and a lot of love shown.