WILLIAM NASH THOMAS 1835-----1823
Sketch of the life of William Nash Thomas (copied from a history in possession of Miriam Jones, Written 1 Feb. 1903).
I am the son of David Thomas and Elizabeth Nash, born on 24 February, 1835 at
Merlins Bridge, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, South Wales.
My father, David Thomas, was born at Jordenren Bridge near Fishguard,
Pembrokeshire on the (11th?) day of May 1802. His parents were John and Dinah
Thomas. My Mother was born at Dennant, Pembrokeshire in May 1805. Her parents
were Thomas and Lydia Nash.
My parents were poor, but hard working, honest people. My first memory of going
to school, both day and Sunday, where I learned to read a little, was at this
time. I attended school until I was nine years old I went to work to help get
some clothes, and make a living for the family and I have been self supporting
from that age. I worked for two years and then went to school again for a year.
At the age of 12 I got a position in a Billiard Hall and worked for Mrs.
Potter, a widow. I worked there for twelve months. After this, I got a little
more schooling and worked for various people. At the age of fourteen I went to
Heath, Glamorganshire, 80 miles from my home to work in a Billiard Hall at the
Castle Hotel, kept by Mr. Jenkin Savors, and worked there two years. I returned
home in Feb. 1851.
When I returned home I found that my parents and some other members of the
family had become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They all bore strong testimony of the truth of the work and the knowledge that
the Lord had given them, and that the work they had done had been revealed and
that the Gospel had been restored to the earth with all of its gifts and
blessings, that the Savior had said should come. I believed them and attended
their meetings and began to investigate the doctrines of the Church and they
harmonized with the scriptures and with my own ideas of Christianity. On the
26th day of March 1851 I was baptized by John Griffiths, who at the time was a
good and faithful Elder. He has since left the church and died. I was confirmed
by Phillip Sykes. I received a testimony of the divinity of the work and felt
to rejoice that my sins had been remitted. Them were holy days for me...I bore
this testimony to many of my friends and neighbors, but few I could get that
would take the same view of these principles that I had taken. These were happy
days to my then youthful mind, having been released from darkness and brought
into the marvelous light of the gospel; having no doubts in my mind as to where
I was standing, that my Father in Heaven had given me a testimony of the truth
I knew by the inspirations of the Holy Spirit that my sins were forgiven me. I
took pleasure during the eleven years that I lived in Wales after I received
the gospel, to travel with my brethren in the ministry whenever an opportunity
presented itself; a portion of the time traveling alone without purse or script
and I felt joy and satisfaction in my labors. I was ordained a Deacon on Dec.
19th 1851 by Daniel Williams. Ordained a Priest in November 1852, by William
Bowen. Ordained an Elder by John Price on 24th of August 1853. Ordained a
Seventy 2nd of June 1877 by H.C. Jackson. Ordained a High Priest 3rd of March
1905.
In my early days in the Church I attended my meetings on Sundays and week night
and traveled 3 to 15 miles with other Elders, but sometimes went alone, and
sang and prayed and told people about the restoration of the Gospel, and
enjoyed this labor, being directed by the Holy Spirit at all times.
About the year 1856 the law of tithing was first given to the members of the
Church, which I took hold of and paid an honest tithing each month. I was
getting small wages at the time. About the same time we were called upon to
donate one weeks wages to help build the Salt Lake Temple. This was freely paid
by the Church members and we felt so by doing, donating our money and services
to the Lord at this time. I worked ten hours each week day and walked four and
ten miles to and from work.
I took a pleasure during the eleven years that I lived in Wales after I
received the Gospel, to travel with my brethren in the ministry whenever an
opportunity presented itself; a portion of the traveling alone without purse or
script and I felt joy and satisfaction in my labors. The Lord heard and
answered my prayers, the sick were healed and devils cast out by the power of
God through the authority of his Priesthood.
During these eleven years I worked at various vocations, but mostly in the
locomotive department and passenger steamboats. The last four years I was
engineer on the passenger steamboat, Milford haven, running between the
different towns on the Milford Harbor.
I presided over the Pembroke Branch of the Church until 1857 when I was
released and moved to a town called Neyland and I got work at the locomotive
department of the Great Western Railroad Company.
I got married on October 26, 1857 to Elizabeth Lalliss, daughter of Richard and
Dorothy Lalliss of the town of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, by Richard James,
Register. From this marriage were born to us three sons in Wales; John Edward,
William Henry, and Heber Charles. The latter died and was buried in
Llanstadwell churchyard, 17 March 1862.
At this time I was called to preside over a branch of the Church known as the
Pembroke branch. It was 11 miles each way and 3 miles each way North and South
but very few church members. I continued this labor until I left to come to
Utah in 1862.
In the spring of 1858, I started to work as foreman on a passenger steamboat.
At this time earning 13 shillings per week. I paid my tithing honestly. In a
short time I was promoted to engineer, and earned 20 shillings per week. Next
year I got 35 shillings per week. Next I was raised to 65 shillings per week. I
attribute this to the goodness of the Lord in paying an honest tithing and my
faithful labor in his church.
During the eleven years in South Wales after joining the Church, I had a great
lot of walking to do. Sometimes more than 20 miles each way to hold meetings
and to attend conferences. This was done on Sundays as I had to work six days a
week. I walked one night 11 miles after work and crossed two rivers to baptize
Br. Frank Purser and all of his family at the time of a reformation in the
church and felt well in doing my duty. I have many marvelous gifts in
administering to the sick and casting out evil spirits when they would trouble
the saints.
I left Liverpool on Wednesday, May 7, 1862 (one account says Tuesday the 15th
of May) on the William Tapriat (?).
During these eleven years I worked at various vocations but mostly in the
locomotive department and passenger steamboats. The last four years I was
Engineer on the passenger Steamboat Milford Haven, running between the
different towns on the Milford harbor.
After leaving Liverpool we had a very pleasant time most of the way, but we had
some very heavy storms at times. Lots of sickness and some deaths. Those that
died was buried at sea. Myself and family was not sick. We had prayers night
and morning and Testimony meeting twice a week. Our berths were midship in the
second deck. We were considerable mixed up during one storm. Boxes, tons of
food, and emigrants were all tossed to and fro. Some enjoyed the scene, others
were crying and some praying and many singing. To me this was all right, having
been for five years on the water I was all right when the wind was blowing
hard. We had several marriages, only two deaths during the voyage. There were
eight hundred people on the ship, crew not included. We landed in Castle
Garden, New York on 26 June 1862. There was 800 passengers on board. Myself and
family stopped in a hotel overnight. We left New York on Friday evening on the
Hudson river Railroad and arrived at Albany on the 28th then took the Grand
Western and Canada Train to Winsor (Niagra Falls) and a boat to Detroit on the
30th. Then took the Michigan Central to Chicago, where we arrived on the 1st of
July. Then we took a steamboat to Quincy by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy,
where we arrived on July 2nd, then by boat on the Mississippi to Hannibal and
left that evening for Saint Joseph, Missouri where we arrived on the night of
July 3rd. We stayed there until 6 pm July 4th, then we took a steamboat to
Florence, Nebraska. This place we arrived on Sunday the 6th at midnight. This
was the worst part of the journey. The sun was so hot, and the river water so
thick with muck and very warm. There was plenty of ice cold water for the crew,
but none for the Mormon emigrants. We had one death on the boat. We stopped on
Sunday morning long enough to dig a grave and bury him. We landed and took our
baggage ashore in the dark and did the best we could. On the morning of the 7th
we moved about one mile to camp. It was a beautiful day; the suns hone clear
and warm, but before we got our camp fixed up the rain poured down in torrents;
the wind blew a gale, the thunder roared, the lightening flashed, it was
terrific. It blew one wagon over, and nearly killed Brother Joseph Young. It
blew down store fronts and one man was killed with lightening. The while camp
and their clothing and baggage were all in the same fix; well soaked from the
effects of the storm. It cleared up in about one hour and we were able to dry
our clothes. Then we got our tents which we pitched and were soon made
comfortable again.
We stayed at Florence until the 17th of August; then loaded our effects into
the wagons; 18 to each wagon and 12 to each tent. My wife and I walked all of
the way across the plains. We had a very pleasant time, taking all things into
consideration. We had about a dozen deaths on the way. It fell my lot to help
bury the dead, and I dedicated nearly every grave. This was sorrowful work to
leave our friends on the dreary plains. We always buried them as soon as they
died or at the next stopping place. We never started with a dead body in the
wagon. We had a very good Captain, Horton Haight (?), also a fine lot of
teamsters. We had prayers night and morning. The able bodied men all took their
turn at guarding the stock and the camp. We had no murmuring on guarding to
speak of, but we felt that we had a common purpose to accomplish in gathering
to Zion. We waded through the cold rivers, to Elkhorn, and the Loop Fork, the
Platt several times, also the Green river, but strange as it may appear we were
preserved in health.
We arrived in Salt Lake City on the 19th day of October and Brother John Isaac
met us and brought us some cake and milk which we shall always remember with
kindness. We stopped in Salt Lake City nearly three weeks where I worked in
City Creek Canyon with Br. John and William Gibly getting out fire wood and
sold it for molasses, which we took to Paradise, Cache County.
We then went to Paradise, Cache County. We arrived there on the 11th day of
November 1862; and commenced to work the next day helping to thresh. They had a
machine called a Chapp piler and cleaned the grain with a machine run by hand.
This was strange work to me, not having done anything like it in my life
before, but I soon got onto it and all other kinds of labor that I had to do. I
worked for the first few years in the canyon. In the spring of 1863 I got a
city lot and planted it. I also built a good log house before the next winter.
In the fall of 1863 I sold the house for a yoke of oxen and built me another
one in the spring of 1864. I took up some land and raised some crops.
On 12 of November 1862 our first daughter, Sarah Jane was born. (She married
John T. James.) In 1864 I took a load of Tithing wheat with four yoke of oxen
from Wellsville to Salt Lake City, with four yoke of oxen. (Some dates missing)
The next day I began to work helping thrash wheat. It was the first day to
thrash that season. Myself and family lived with Br. E.D. Miles and wife. The
first I worked in the canyon all winter cutting logs to build a house to live
in. I got a city lot and built a house and planted the lot and kept working. In
the fall of 1863 I sold the house for a yoke of oxen and built me another one
in the spring of 1864. I took up some land and raised some crops.
On Nov. 17, 1865, my son James Richard was born. In September 1866 my father,
David Thomas, arrived in Paradise, Utah. My mother died in march 1866 in
Neyland Pembrkeshire, South Wales and was buried at Haniborro burying ground.
My father was in good health and worked hard until the spring of 1873 when he
fell and burst a blood vessel. He died 4 November 1874 (1876) and was buried at
Paradise, Cache, Utah.
In October 1866 the grasshoppers came in millions, and ate up everything that
was green. They cut the heads off the grain that was not harvested, and
deposited their eggs in the ground so that when spring came and the grain was
up and covered the ground, they hatched out and traveled, and ate up all of the
crops before they left. They continued with us for three years. This was a
scarce time with many of the poor, but my household had plenty of food all of
the time.
On November 27, 1867, my daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born. (She since married
Harry A. Shaw.) In the fall of this year we (that is the settlers of Old
Paradise, since called Avon) thought it best to move as a body, about 3 ½ miles
north of the old site where we could get more room; also, that we could better
protect ourselves from Indian raids; as they had been very troublesome in this
part. So during this fall we took up and plowed new land and worked in the
canyon all winter to get fencing and logs for our houses, and get comfortably
fixed through the summer of 1868. This year my sister Jane Jones and my family
came, having crossed the plains partly by train and part way by ox team. They
stayed with us that winter. On 11 November 1868, myself, my wife and several
others went to Salt Lake City by ox teams and got our endowments, and had a
very wet time on this trip, but felt that we got these ordinances attended to.
This is the winter that many of the brethren went to work upon the Central
Pacific Railroad, then being built. In 1869 I was engaged getting ties and
lumber for the construction of the Utah Central Railroad, then building from
Ogden to Salt Lake City. On 20th November 1869, my son, David Hyrum, was born.
In 1870 and 1871 I worked in the canyon and farmed.
On January 1 of 1872 I married Mary Jan Obray, daughter of George and Maria
Obray, born at Pembroke Dock, Wales. We were sealed by Daniel H. Wells at the
Endowment House, Salt Lake City. On 1st July of this year I went to run an
engine in a sawmill in the mountains about 30 miles east of Paradise. On 2
August my son, Joseph Parley, was born. The same fall I bought a shingle mill
at paradise and commenced making shingles in April 1873. On 17 August 1873, my
son, Willard Evan, was born. On 25 November my son Alma Phillip was born. On
June 1, I took charge of building a sawmill for the people of Paradise and I
took charge of running it until the fall of 1876. My son, Albert Nathan, was
born 14 February 1876. During the summer of this year I built a sawmill to run
in connection with making shingles in the town of Paradise; I also purchased a
section of land adjoining the town. For the next three years I was at home
sawing lumber, railroad ties, and shingles. On 9th June 1878 my daughter,
Dorothy Minnie was born (who has since married Fred Whittle). On 4th Dec. my
son, Orson was born. On 1st June, 1880 I purchased a steam sawmill at Beaver
canyon, Idaho and was sawing with two steam mills until 1886. Sawed ties for
Utah Northern Railway, later known as the Oregon Short Line, and for Union
Pacific Railway Company. On June 1 ?? I bought eleven hundred acres of plant
land near Cache Junction. I also bought three thousand dollars worth of live
stock. I worked this land for about two years and made much improvement. I sold
this property to a Mitchell for fifteen thousand dollars. I had broke up about
twenty acres of this land and fenced a large portion of it in.
On 13 August 1880 I had a son born who died without being named. He was buried
at Paradise. On 2 November 1881, my son, Evan, was born and died (11?) January
1882 and was buried at Paradise. On 8th March 1883 my daughter, Sarah Jane, was
married to John P. James, (son of David and Annie P. James) at Salt Lake City,
by Daniel H. Wells.
On the 1? Of August 1884, on the invitation of the Stake Presidency, myself and
wife, Elizabeth, went to Rexburg, Idaho, in the company of John Taylor, George
Q. Cannon, and several others. We traveled with team from Market Lake to
Rexburg. They went there to more fully organize the stake. The next morning I
went to a council meeting, when in the meeting there came a telegram that two
elders had been killed by a mob in Tennessee. When this message was read a
voice spoke to me, "John Gibbs," he said. I said "What?" The voice said
gain "John Gibbs." When I got out of the meeting I told Br. George Q. Cannon
that I felt that John H. Gibbs was one of the elders that was killed. He asked
me how I knew. I told him of the voice that spoke to me. He said it was
marvelous. In the afternoon meeting, the names came. Br. Cannon came to me and
told me to cultivate that gift that I had and it would be a blessing to me. I
have tried to do so and has been a comfort to me.
On January 23, 1900, my wife, Mary Jane, died at Paradise. She had been sick
for several weeks. She left two sons, Willard and Orsen.
On May 19th, 1901 my wife, Elizabeth, died after eight weeks of severe
suffering. She was buried at Paradise. On Thursday evening May 16 she said to
me, "I've had three patriarchal blessings. I have been reading them today.
They each said that I should live as long as life was desirable to me, and I
shall not die as long as I feel as I do now." Only two days after this when I
got home from work she said to me. "William, I have been talking to the girls
today that I did not think it a sin that I would ask the Lord to take me to
Himself as I was tired of living." I said to her "Bessie, we do not want you
to let you go." "I know," se said "But my suffering has been so great that
I want to go." She then said, "I want to ask you a favor. Will you do it?" I
said, "What is it?" She then said, "I want you to put your hands upon my
head and ask the Lord in authority of the Holy Priesthood, to take me this
night. Will you do it?" I then said, "Bessie, I have never refused you
anything you have asked me to do." I administered to her and rebuked the pain,
and asked the Lord to take her spirit that night as she requested. When I got
through she said that the Lord heard that, and felt sure that she would die
that night. One of my sons passed through the room and heard me and went and
called the Dr. Budge. HE came and looked at my wife. Then he went into another
room where the family was and said to them, "Now if you keep quiet and make no
noise, you can come and see your mother die." They promised that they would.
This was about half past ten o'clock. The Doctor said on he side of her and me
on the other. All was quiet for ten minutes. She opened her eyes and said, "I
feel happy and comfortable and I am going to die." The Doctor took her pulse
and had his ear by her mouth, then said, "She has breathed her last breath but
do not make a noise, her heart is still beating." Then said, "Your mother is
dead and if you must cry you can, as you cannot disturb her now."
I was prepared for this. On the night before this I was sitting on the sofa in
front of the stove and heard beautiful singing in the air the hymn found on
page 194 of the LDS Hymn book, "Let us pray gladly, Pray in the House of
Jehovah." The singing was beautiful. She was buried in Paradise 21 May 1901.
She died in Logan.
Then I prepared myself to take a trip to South Wales to hunt up some of my
relatives and friends. I was set apart for this trip in the Annex of the Salt
Lake Temple by Apostle Teasdale on April 14, 1903, (?) record on page 123 of
the old family record..
On account of rock slide of the Union Pacific Railroad, we had to take trip on
the O.S.L by way of Bear Lake Valley. We reached Rock Springs next morning and
arrived at Lexington, Nebraska at one o'clock on the 17th day and stopped at
nephew James Thomas for one week. We got into Boston on the 26th.
(Many of the notes on the trip to Wales do not have dates and the pages have
been mixed up so I will put the information in as I read it LKC)
We left Boston on May for Liverpool on the steamship Commonwealth. When about
mid-ocean we had a terrific storm for about two days. There was many passengers
in bed very sick. Some of the Elders and many of the sisters who was going on a
visiting tour was in bed. I felt troubled about them and felt some of the
brethren should pray for them. I hunted up the President who had charge of the
missionaries, and found them on the deck. Is aid to them, "Brethren, I have
been hunting for you to ask you to get a few of the elders to pray to the Lord
to stay this storm so that our people may be relieved of their sickness." The
president said that they were glad that I was inspired by the spirit to come.
We have a room ready and was going to join in prayer, please accompany us, As
you are the oldest, you pray first.
After prayers each one of the passengers came to me and said, the sea is smooth
as glass. I told them the Lord had been very merciful to us. The passengers all
got better.
We arrived at Liverpool May 12, all well. I was not sea sick on the trip. After
having our baggage checked and passed through the custom house, I went to
number 42 Irelington. I met President Lyman. We had a meeting. The president
gave us all welcome and instructed us to our duties...I stopped over night.
Next day I went to Bristol to meet Charles Lalliss but they had moved to
Portsmouth. I then went to Newport where I met two of my cousins, James Thomas
and Ann Evans and their families. I took their records and the names and
references of a large number of my relatives. I left with them several church
books and then took the train to Cardiff, South Wales. I went with him several
times to get the records of Sarah Lalliss' family. Births, marriages, and
deaths from her great grandparents to the last baby born.
I was at Haverfordwest until the 23rd then went by team to Haraldston West and
I met my cousin, Steven Thomas' widow and daughter with her husband, Joseph
Philipp and family. I then stopped with them and took what records they had and
bore a strong testimony of the Gospel to them. I left them some church books.
I returned to Haverfordwest on the 30the day of May and I stopped there until
May 31. Then went to Milford. It being White Monday, a Holy Day, I saw some of
the (?) and got some records.
I went to Neyland that night. Next day I went to Porter (?) and met Thomas
Gibbs and also a Mrs. Hubbard, that I had saved from being drowned. She fell
out of the boat. I jumped into the water and got her to land. This happened
forty-three years since. I also met John Obray, a brother to Sam and Thomas
Obray of Paradise. I got his family records and returned to Neyland, and
visited my mother's grave at Honiborrow. The next morning I visited the grave
of my son, Heber Charles, at Llanstadwell Churchyard.
I returned to Haverfordshire on July 4th, and done some visiting among some of
my old friend's families. On the 5th I went to Fishguard, the birthplace of my
father, and got some records. I returned on the 12th. I stopped at
Haverfordshire visiting many of my relatives and friends of the family. Also
the family of Sarah Lalliss. I also visited Freystarss Lugum Johnsten (?) and
neighborhood. On June 22 I visited Porter (?) Pembroke and got some information
of some friends.
On the 23rd I went to Whiteland Carmarthen and visited some relatives of Evan
Jones of Logan. Is aw a circus parade on the street. Then went to Llanelly and
stopped over night with John Evans, my nephew-in-law, and got some records.
Then visited the home of Mrs. Samuel, a cousin of Mrs. William James of
Paradise and got what records I could get.
Then to Swansea and visited a sister of Evan Jones, Martha Daneslton, to
Britten ferry with my cousin, Ebenezer Davies, and family and had a good time.
I then went to Pincheweither (?) and met my cousin Catherine Davies. I got some
records and then visited the coal mines.
I met the president of the conference and several elders. I took dinner with
them and they took me around. I met Thomas White, brother to William White of
Salt Lake City. I stopped overnight with them.
Then went to Britten Ferry and stopped with Ebenezer Davies, a son of my
father's sister, Margerett, and had some good family talk, and got their
records, and then took train to Neath.
Thence to Llanelly where I met my cousin, William Nash, and the Family of my
cousin Nash Jones, and what records they could give me and left on the 19th for
Haverfordshire and stopped at the Kings Arms Hotel.
I then met May Lalliss, my wife's sister, and John White, brother to William
White. I visited my birthplace, Merlin's Bridge, and had a talk with some of
the old inhabitants, most of them were dead.
When I got to Haverfordshire, West Pembrokeshire, I had about a mile to walk
uphill. I was carrying a satchel and overcoat. When I got on the level road I
was very tired and had to take a rest in front of a house. I looked up and saw
a sign "Gloves Inn." I went in and there were two men sitting by the window,
I sat down on a chair. The lady of the house came into the room. I asked if she
could tell me where Mary Lalliss lived. She said all of the Lalliss family had
gone to Salt Lake City some years since. I told her my name and that I married
a Lalliss girl, and that I had come from Salt Lake. She asked me if I knew
Sarah Lalliss. I told her yes and that I had seen her the day before I left.
She called her husband and said put up your paper. "The man can tell you all
about Aunt Sarah." We had a long conversation about the family and about Utah.
The man's name was Charles Pughe. He then said to me, if you could come all
the way from Salt Lake that he had a horse and buggy and that I could take a
ride with him to see all the folks eight or ten miles as often as I wished but
not to offer him any pay as he would not take it.
I got back from Haversfordwest July 4 and went to Haraldsten (?) church yard
grounds on July 5. It rained hard all day. I had dinner with Harry Miles. From
the 5th to the 18th I went visiting many of my old friends and relatives. On
Sunday 19th I visited Mr. Williams and family at a farm called Temperness. His
wife was a sister of the late William Howds of Slaterville, Weber County, Utah.
She is a member of the Church. I had a good time with them and then returned to
Haverfordwest, on Monday the 20th and stayed home all day writing.
After this I went visiting my relatives and friends that I had met on my visit,
and said goodbye for this time. On the 15th day of August, I left my place of
birth well and satisfied with the traveling and the information that I had
gained.
I got to Liverpool on Sunday morning and went to a hotel. The next day I went
to 42 Lislington (?) and met President Lyman and many of the Elders. Also many
of the brethren and sisters that was about to start for Utah. We had a pleasant
time. Went to several meetings.
We left Liverpool on the 20th. We had a pleasant trip on the ocean. Arrived at
Boston about noon on the 28th, making the trip in about seven and one half
days. After passage the doctor and inspector we went on shore and took dinner.
We arrived in Salt Lake City at 4 PM on Sept. 1 and got home to Paradise on
September 3.
On 4 April 1884 my son, John Edward, was married to Annie Obray and on the same
day and same place my son, William Henry, was married to Rose Zarra Obray at
Salt Lake City by Daniel H. Wells.
On March 30, 1887 my daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was married in the Logan Temple
by W.C. Edlufson to Harry Albert Shaw of Paradise.
On 10 October, 1888 my son, James Richard was married in the Logan Temple to
Martha W. Bickmore of Paradise.
On 10 September 1891 my son, David Hyrum, was married in the Logan Temple to
Cathrena Thatcher of Logan.
On 13 Feb. 1895 my son, Joseph Parley, was married in the Logan Temple to Sarah
Ann Davies of Logan.
On 10 June 1902 my daughter, Dorothy Minnie, was married in the Logan Temple to
Frederick Whittle of Richmond, Utah.
On December 10 1902 my son, Nathan Albert, was married in the Salt Lake Temple
to Beatrice Cristman of Salt Lake City.
On 22 March 1900 my son, Orsen, was married in the Logan Temple to Elizabeth W.
James of Paradise.
On 3 October 1880 I went to Salt Lake Conference, and took sick the next day
with pneumonia. They did not expect me to live, and on the fifth day I sent for
Brothers Jeremy and William White to administer to me. So great was my faith I
got healed and not by medicine. I was also taken sick on the 15th of April 1897
with the same disease and was healed in the same manner after the doctor said I
could not live. The gifts of healing and of being healed have been given to me
in a marvelous manner at all times since I embraced the truth.
On May 18, 1877 I attended the dedication and breaking of the first ground fro
the Logan Temple. President Brigham Young and many of the Brethren came with
him.
On the 19th of September I was present and saw the corner Stone laid and heard
the dedicatory prayer. President John Taylor Presided. I donated 100 dollars
per year for its building until finished. It was dedicated May 17, 1884. My
wife, Elizabeth, and I were admitted on the 17th; My wife, Mary Jane, went on
the 19th. My family and I have, before this writing, 1 February 1903, been to
the temple and have done work for a great many of our kindred dead, also for
many faithful saints who have died in Wales, also for many of my old friends
and neighbors. We also attended the dedicatory services of the Salt Lake Temple
on 10 April 1893.
On 14 August 1884 by invitation, I accompanied President John Taylor and
company on his visit to the Snake River Country, to more fully organize the
Stake. We took teams at market Lake, from there to Parker and held a meeting,
and stopped overnight, then crossed the North Fork and held a meeting at Teton,
then drove to Rexburg and stayed overnight. We drove to Lyman and returned the
next day, and held a meeting there. On the next day, Sunday, we held a council
meeting at the home of Brother M.E. Ricks. While holding the meeting a dispatch
came. It as that some of the Elders had been killed in Tennessee. After the
meeting I told Brother George Q. Cannon that I felt that one of those killed
was John W. Gibbs, which proved to be true. After the council meeting we held
two meetings at which the Stake was more fully organized. We left by team and
crossed the South Fork with a small boat and stopped overnight and held a
meeting next morning, then took the team to (now Idaho Falls). The president's
party went south to Utah; I went north to Beaver Canyon. This was a pleasant
trip.
On the first of April 1887, I bought one half interest of the Barber and Sons
Implement business. We sold the business to CO-OP Wagon and Machinery Company
in January 1889.
In March 1889, by advice of Apostle Moses Thatcher, I went to Baker City,
Oregon to look up some timberlands; so that lumber may be shipped to Logan to
be manufactured into door sash and building. I moved my sawmills there from
Beaver Canyon, Idaho. And on may first I took a lot of men and two steam saw
mills to that point. After forming a company (Oregon Lumber Company) (Capital
stock $1000,000 and I took $30,000 after stopping there one year.) with several
of the leading men of Logan and Salt Lake City, we put up mills and sawed that
summer with success, but in the next winter the company sold out to Mr. David
Eccles and other, and I joined myself with another company and cam home to
Logan and engaged in the mercantile business. I went to Baker City to attend a
July stockholders meeting in January 1890, they had another good report of last
year's business. I was at the railway station to return when two stockholders
came to me and said that balance sheets were false at the meeting and in about
three weeks that the company be dissolved, and they would come and take all of
my property where they could find it, as the law of Oregon would permit them to
do so. Is topped and examined the books and found that they had told me the
truth. I did not say one word to the bookkeeper about this matter but came home
to Logan and fixed up things the best I could. The next morning I made
arrangements with A.G. Barber to be my signee and made thatcher Brs. Banking
company a preferred creditor. In one week after, they had officers come to
Logan to take all my property but it was too late, they could only get their
share. During the money panic of 1892 and 1893 the lumber business as forced to
go to a receiver and I lost 20,000.00 in that concern which was the cause of my
losing every dollar I owned, and had to assign all of my property to Brother
A.G. Barber. By the help of my son, J.E. Thomas, and my nephew, John H. White,
who bought all of the merchandise that I had assigned, and my wife and I ran
the store, which we had owned in J.E. Thomas's name. I borrowed three thousand
dollars. My son John E. Thomas, and my nephew, John H. White, and got them to
purchase the store goods and run the store under the name of J.E. Thomas and
done a good business as was soon out of debt, and kept one son on a mission in
the Eastern States for 27 months.
We were successful in the store and paid all of the price of goods. In the
November election 1895 I was elected a member of the City Council, from the
first precinct of Logan for 2 years, commencing 1 January 1896. The following
November I was elected a Justice of the Peace in and for Logan precinct
commencing 4th January 1900 for two years.
On 23 January 1900 my wife, Mary Jane Obray, died and was buried in my lot at
Paradise. On the 19th day of May 1901, my wife, Elizabeth Lalliss, died at
Logan and was buried at Paradise on 21 May 1901.
On 15th of August 1902, I sold my mercantile business to Mr. John Bench of
Logan and prepared to go to Wales to get genealogies of my parents and their
ancestor.
William Nash Thomas died February 14, 1923 and was buried in Paradise, Utah.
Continued: Miraculous Healings Under Administration of William Nash Thomas
(copied from a copy in possession of Miriam Jones Sept. 1964)
The following are a few of my testimonies on the Power of God that has been
given to me out of the many hundreds of cases I have been called upon to
administer to. I have always felt to use the authority of the Priesthood
without fear of consequences when I knew I had the Spirit of God with me to
dictate my sayings. I always spoke as I was led.
In the spring of 1871 Sister Jane Price, wife of Brother Samuel Oldham of
Paradise, was taken sick with childbed fever. Doctor Ormsley had been attending
her, but had given her up, and she said she could not live. Her father, Edward
Price, came to the...
THOMAS, Elizabeth Ann, 27 November 1867
THOMAS, David Hyrum, 20 November 1869
THOMAS, Joseph Parley, 2 August 1872
THOMAS, Alma Philip 25 November 1873
THOMAS, Nathan Albert, 14 February 1876
THOMAS, Dorothy Minnie, 9 June 1878
THOMAS, Infant, not named, 13 August 1880
THOMAS, Evan, 2 November 1881
CHILDREN OF MARY JANE OBRAY AND WILLIAM NASH THOMAS
THOMAS, Willard Evan, 17 August 1873
THOMAS, Orsen 4 December 1878
Copied by Louise K. Clark © November, 2000 redone and added to Feb 2003
Recopied Dec 2000. I had two autobiographies and tried to combine them. There
may be some duplications. LKC That's a lot of pages.
My son, Albert Nathan, was born 14 February 1876. During the summer of this
year I built a sawmill to run in connection with making shingles in the town of
Paradise; I also purchased a section of land adjoining the town. For the next
three years I was at home sawing lumber, railroad ties, and shingles. On 9th
June 1878, my daughter, Dorothy Minnie was born (who has since married Fred
Whittle). On 4 Dec. my son, Orson, was born. On 1st June, 1880 I purchased a
steam sawmill at Beaver Canyon, Idaho and was sawing with two steam mills until
1886. Sawed ties for Utah Northern Railway, later known as the Oregon Short
Line, and for Union Pacific Railway Company. On June 1 ?? I bought eleven
hundred acres of plant land near Cache Junction. I also bought three thousand
dollars worth of live stock. I worked this land for about two years and made
much improvement. Is old this property to a Mitchell for fifteen thousand
dollars. I had broke up about twenty acres of this land and fenced a large
portion of it in.
On 13 August 1880 I had a son born who died without being named. He was buried
at Paradise. On 2 November 1881, my son, Evan, was born and died (11?) January
1882 and was buried at Paradise. On 8th march 1883 my daughter, Sarah Jane, was
married to John P. James, (son of David and Annie P. James) at Salt Lake City,
by Daniel H. Well.
On the 1? Of August 1884, on the invitation of the Stake Presidency, myself and
wife, Elizabeth, went to Rexburg, Idaho, in the company of John Taylor, George
Q. Cannon, and several others. We traveled with a team from Market Lake to
Rexburg. They went there to more fully organize the stake. The next morning I
went to a council meeting, when in the meeting there came a telegram that two
elders had been killed by mob in Tennessee. When this message was read a voice
spoke to me, "John Gibbs," he said. I said "What?" The voice said again
"John Gibbs." When I got out of the meeting I told Br. George Q. Cannon that
I felt that John H. Gibbs was one of the elders that was killed. He asked me
how I knew. I told him of the voice that spoke to me. He said it was marvelous.
In the afternoon meeting, the names came. Br. Cannon came to me and told me to
cultivate that gift that I had and it would be a blessing to me. I have tried
to do so and has been a comfort to me.
On January 23, 1900, my wife, Mary Jane, died at Paradise. She had been sick
for several weeks. She left two sons, Willard and Orsen.
On May 19th, 1901 my wife, Elizabeth, died after eight weeks of severe
suffering. She was buried at Paradise. On Thursday evening May 16 she said to
me, "I've had three patriarchal blessings. I have been reading them today.
They each said that I should live as long as life was desirable to me, and I
shall not die as long as I feel as I do now." Only two days after this when I
got home from work she said to me. "William, I have been talking to the girls
today that I did not think it a sin that I would ask the Lord to take me to
Himself as I was tired of living." I said to her "Bessie, we do not want you
to let you go." "I know," she said but my suffering has been so great that I
want to go." She then said, "I want to ask you a favor. Will you do it?" I
said, "What is it?" She then said, "I want you to put your hands upon my
head and ask the Lord in authority of the Holy Priesthood, to take me this
night. Will you do it?" I then said "Bessie, I have never refused you
anything you have asked me to do." I administered to her and rebuked the pain,
and asked the Lord to take her spirit that night as she had requested. When I
got through she said that the Lord heard that, and felt sure that she would die
that night. One of mysons passed through the room and heard me and went and
called the Dr. Budge. He came and looked at my wife. Then he went into another
room where the family was and said to them, "Now if you keep quiet and...
...child labor and was very sick. She asked me to administer to her that she may
be delivered, which I did; but had very little faith. She asked me if I could
get her doctor as she had to have a doctor with each of her children formerly
born. I told her that a doctor could not be here in less than ten hours. The
husband and she were crying saying that would be too late to save her life. She
was a deformed woman. The nurse was a very large woman. She said, "If it was a
doctor that you want, I will doctor you." She was indicated at the time. She
rolled up the sleeves of her dress and said "Now I am ready." I felt sure she
would kill the woman and my heart was grieved to see this. I jumped to my feet
and held my right hand over the sick woman and said, as nearly as I can
recollect, as follows: "In the name of Jesus Christ and in the authority of
the Priesthood that I hold I command that child to come forth by the power of
God." The child was born. They said, I never touched you, and you must have
been delivered by the power of God and give Him the praise."
On the 3rd of November 1896 I was asked by Elder ? D. Cranny if I were afraid
to go to administer to those who had the diphtheria. I answered, "No." we
went to the house of brother William H. Afferly and they were all sick; one
child was buried form there the day before. We anointed and blessed all in the
house commencing with the mother and on down according to age. They thanked us
very kingly, and felt that they would all be well in a short time. We were
going out at the front gate when I heard a scream, and I told Brother Cranney
that we were wanted in the house. He said they had not called us. I said, no,
but that an evil spirit had taken possession of the body of the second
daughter. We went in and the daughter was raving. I said to her, "Sister, why
did you doubt the promises of the Lord." She said that she had not doubted,
but that she wanted me to be mouth in sealing the anointing and that that was
the reason that she was overcome. We then rebuked the evil spirit, and blessed
her again and the family all got well in a short time.
These are a few of the many that I have administered to and seen healed by the
power of the Priesthood and I bear my testimony to the truth of what I write to
the best of my recollection, just as they happened. Let this suffice for the
present. I have always felt when asked to administer to the sick to let my
tongue be guided by the spirit of truth and was never afraid to say to the
sick, "Be thou healed," when under the influence of that spirit and power.
Although, I have shuddered at the words after I had spoke them, many times...
CHILDREN OF ELIZABETH LALLIS AND WILLIAM NASH THOMAS
THOMAS, John Edward, 31 July 1858
THOMAS, William Henry, 22 April 1860
THOMAS, Heber Charles, 24 February 1862
THOMAS, Sarah Jane, 12 November 1863
THOMAS, James Richard, 17 November 1865
