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I was born on the
25th of August, 1848 in Altwen, a small village located about 6
miles from the sea port town of Swansea,
in Glamorganshire, Wales.
My sister Margaret also was born here on Sept. 9, 1850. My brother Noah was born in
Rhydyfro January 26, 1853.
When about 2 and 1/2 years old, my parents moved to a small farm named
Gilliwea [Gellilwca] Fach near Rhydyfro, a distance of about 2 miles further
up the valley where they could keep two cows and a pony.
My father's vocation was that of Millwright and pattern maker. He
worked during this time in the Iron and Tinplate works at Pontardawe, a
distance of 1 1/2 miles from our home. The nearest public school being
in Pontardawe a distance of on and a half miles from
Rhydyfro, and too far for the children of the first grade to attend.
An old retired school teacher and minister conducted a small school for such
at his home in the village at which I learned to read and write. When
about 8 years of age I commenced to attend the Public school at Pontardawe
and 2 years later my parents moved back to Altwen in order to be nearer work
and school. I attended school at Pontardawe till I was 14 years of
age, when I started to work in the Tinplate Works at 6 pence a day, which was
considered at that time equal in purchasing power to 25 cents in American
money. After working about one year at different jobs, I was placed in
the carpenter shop to work with the wheelwrights and carpenters, where I
continued to work for one year and a half.
When my Father accepted a position as manager of all the mechanics in the
Lnyspenlboch [Ynispenllwch] Iron and Tinplate Works, near Clydach, a town one
mile distance down the valley. I also worked with the carpenters
there, but being anxious to learn the building trade, I went to work for one
Richard Jones, a Builder and Contractor. At that time, we had to make
all the windows and panels and glass doors by hand, as well as all kinds of
mouldings, and I much preferred doing kind of work than any thing else in the
carpenter line. I left Jones and went to work for another builder
named Rees Llewelyn, who paid me higher wages and
after working for him for nearly a year, I read and advertisement in the
newspaper giving an opportunity to any young man to get higher education, I
at once concluded to make the attempt to secure the free tuition. I
had saved enough money out of my wages to pay for several months schooling.
I gave notice to my employer that I would leave him in one month, and
he pleaded very earnestly for me to stay with him, offering me higher wages.
At this time he had a contract to build three new Chapels and promised
me all the fine work that was to be done on the pews and pulpits. I
rejected his offer and went to school at Clydach and commenced to prepare for
the examinations. My studies consisted of Penmanship, Arithmetic,
Algebra, Euclid's Geometry,
Grammar, Geography, English History, linear and free hand drawing and the
roots and derivations of both the Greek and Latin languages. Studies
being different to the ordinary curriculum of the school, I had a desk for
myself where I studied alone. As the time for the examinations was
approaching I asked the teacher, Mr. George Gordon, if he thought I would
pass, and he said I would go high in everything except Geography and English
History, but that I would utterly fail in them. Accepting Mr. Gordon's
judgement, I discontinued further studies for the examination and thought
seriously what vocation to adopt in order to make the best use of my
education. I thought of the possibility of becoming a manager of an
Iron and Tinplate Works. To proceed to attain such a position it would
first become necessary for me to enter the office of such a concern as a
Junior Bookkeeper and having thus decided I wrote one letter to the
Worthington Tinplate Works, Scotland, and another to the Lydbrook Tinplate
and Iron works in Gloucestershire England, applying for a position and got a
letter of engagement from Lydbrook by return of Mail. Which filled my heart with inexpressible joy.
Fortunately at this time my parents were living in Lydbrook. My father
having charge of all the machinery in the Iron and Tinplate Works so my
position brought me from Wales
right home to them. I was then in my 22nd year and began to work in the
office as soon as I arrived.
The Office force then consisted of three bookkeepers and Mr. Richard Thomas,
the proprietor of the business, who spent much of his time there also.
On account of the increase in business a stenographer had to be employed.
Owing to my parents house being very near to the office, one of the
office keys was left at our home for the convenience of the janitor, who came
every morning to make the fires and clean the offices. As previously
stated my sole purpose in securing this position was to diligently prepare
myself to eventually become a manager. Therefore, using the key that was
left at our house, I went back to the office alone in the evening and spent
many hours studying the different account books and the general routine of
the business. After having worked in the office for about one year and
three months, Mr. Samuel Thomas, who was the chief accountant and cashier,
and a brother to the proprietor of the business, bought the Lydbrooks
Chemical Works, and had to resign in order to attend to the management of his
own concern.
Mr. Richard Thomas, the owner of the business, approached me one day stating
that his brother was going to resign and that he had to engage a man to fill
the vacancy. That he already had one application for the position, but
had not yet decided who to employ, then said, “If you were old enough and knew
how to keep my brothers accounts, I would be pleased to let you fill his
place, but you are too young and lack the experience.” I thanked him
for feeling so kindly toward me and that I would be more grateful still if he
would give me the opportunity of trying to fill the position and that I felt
confident that I could do so, and if I failed, I would willingly resign.
He then patted my shoulder and said “the place is yours”. While
occupying this position, I continued to study to qualify myself to become
manager. Each year after balancing the account and making out the
financial statement, C.J. Redland and Co., Auditors and Accountants audited
books. One year after auditing the books, Mr Ryland, speaking to Mr.
Thomas in my presence, said, “Mr. Thomas your books are neatly and accurately
kept and are a credit to your office,” and I thanked him very kindly for the
compliment.
In the summer of the year 1875, I spent my vacation in my native town of Altwen
and vicinity in Glamorganshire, Wales,
visiting with relatives and friends. On the same train on which I was
returning home, there was a company of Mormon emigrants starting on the long
journey to Salt Lake City, Utah.
I started conversing with some of them and the missionaries who were
in charge of the company and returning home to Utah.
They gave me several Gospel tracts and we discussed religion at some
length. After reaching home, I read the tracts very carefully and my
interest in the Mormon religion increased and I sent to the headquarters of
the British Mission 42 Islington, Liverpool for more tracts and literature,
and they sent me nearly all of Orson Pratt's works, which I read carefully
and studiously till I became thoroughly convinced that Mormonism; so called,
was in every deed the true church of Jesus Christ. With this
conviction and apparent assurance, I became very anxious that everybody
should know that the gospel of Jesus Christ was again established upon the
earth in the fullness, and I hastened to try and find some missionaries from Utah
so that I could invite them to come preach the Gospel in our town. I
found one John Woodhouse of Lehi and W. J. Lewis of Provo
laboring in Wales.
I wrote and told them if they would come, I would hire the Mackert
Hall in Lydbrook for them to preach in. They promised to come.
They formulated handbills to announce their meetings, which I took to the
printer and had the bills posted and distributed all through the town.
The hall was crowded every evening with orderly and attentive audiences.
My father and Mother and brother Noah and a young man named Elias
Williams became converts but none of us were baptized till later.
Elder Francis M. Lyman was at this time President of the London Conference
and never having been in London
and having another vacation coming soon, I concluded to Metropolis. I
wrote to President Lyman stating that I had investigated Mormonism and had
been thoroughly convinced that it was the true church
of Christ and that I intended to
visit London, would like him or
one of the Elders to baptize me. In reply I received the
following letter:
Dear Sir: In reply to your letter just received, will say that I am
highly pleased to learn that you have been investigating the doctrines of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and that you are perfectly
satisfied that it is the true Church of Christ, and that you desire I should
baptize you when you come to London. I would like to have you
thoroughly understand and bear in mind, that when you lot with the Latter-Day
Saints your nearest and dearest friends and even relatives, will turn their
backs upon you and despise you and the finger of scorn will be pointed at you
as you walk along the street. You will lose your honor and your good
name in the world and you may lose the position that you now hold as cashier
for your company and further the labor that may be required of you in serving
the Lord, may even cost you the sacrifice of your own life. Now, young
man, if you have seriously counted all of these costs, you are a fit subject
for baptism and it will afford me much pleasure to have the privilege of
baptizing you.
Yours very truly
Francis M. Lyman
However, instead of going to London
as I at first intended, I went down to Wales
in company with my Brother Noah and the young man Elias Williams, heretofore
mentioned. We were all there baptized by W. J. Lewis of Provo
in Merthyr, on the 24th of March
1876. I was confirmed a member of the Church by Thomas C.
Martell of Spanish Fork, Utah
who also ordained me an Ender on the same date.
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