Biographical Sketch
by William D. Williams
Received from B. June Beraz
239 W. 350 S.
Kaysville, UT 84037
We often and perhaps too often hear the old story repeated, so and so died the other day and left no sketch of
his or her life. To avoid having this
said of me, I deem it wise to write a little of my own history and that of my
parents so far as I may be able to trace it.
I was born in the town of Rhyl Flintshire
North Wales, Sept. 29, 1838. My parents were John Williams and Mary Jones
both of Denbighshire, North Wales.
I was baptized by Neil Evans at New Market Flintshire when about eleven years old. My parents joined the church a number of
years prior to that time. My mother was
convinced the first sermon she heard and was reported to be the first Latter
Day Saint baptized in North Wales. The
first remarks she heard on Mormonism was from the lips of Dan Jones, a Nauvoo
Missionary, and Robert Evans, a local elder.
The testimonies of the men was to her veritable
truth from the beginning, which released her mind of all anxiety of doubt
concerning the gospel of Christ. Even
after she was highly favored in that she was priviledged
by a man who was then fulfilling a mission according to a promise made to him
by the prophet Joseph Smith while together in the jail at Carthage. And although the prophet did not live to see
Dan Jones return from that mission nor yet see him
start, yet never the less it was fulfilled.
About the year of 1850 we as a family moved from New Market to Holywell. Our coming
to this place proved a timely aid to the few saints already there. As in a short time after a branch was
organized. From this place we emigrated
for Utah embarking at Liverpool on the sail ship Golconda, Feb. 4, 1854. Arriving at New Orleans about the middle of
March of the same year, continuing our journey up the river on the boat John
Simons we arrived at St. Louis about the beginning of April. We had not been here but a few days when
cholera broke out in the company and many died.
Among whom was my brother Robert.
After a brief stay in this place we continued our journey by
the boat El Paso reaching Kansas City about the 20th of
April. Here we waited about two months,
waiting for supplies for crossing the plains.
Upon leaving that we camped by the riverside. We had been here scarcely a week before the Cholera
had begun to make inroads into the camp.
A new camping grounds was soon selected as a
precaution against its ravages, but not long however before quite a number of
the Saints had died, among the number was my mother (Mary Jones Williams) and
my sister (Charlotte Williams). Removing
again the company set a camp about a mile and a half west of West Point and
about four miles from Kansas City.
Stopping here we began our march across the plains. Dr. Richard being captain
of the company.
Now finding ourselves on Zion’s
soil our minds began to exercise as to what direction to go to find a permanent
location for a future home, and while yet undecided on this matter, Joseph
Parry of Ogden called upon us and offered father
work if he would move to Ogden, the offer was
accepted and so Ogden
became our home. Expecting soon to leave
for our new home my father deemed it advisable to seek for someone to be a
mother to the children, many of whom were quite small—scarcely able to dress
themselves. And under these
circumstances a household assistant was greatly needed. Father realized this and felt that to fail
meant to him a miserable home the remainder of his life. But the all wise providence and the
providence alone opened the way.
Elizabeth Humphryes whose husband
died on the plains was in the same fix as father. Both needed a home so they married. Father John Parry performed the
ceremony. We were now ready and waiting
for someone who might have a team who could take us to Ogden. Scarcely two days passed before a man and a
team called at our tent. He said he was
engaged by Joseph Parry to take us (the family) to Ogden and on that trip he
could take but one of the boys, that evidently meant myself for my brother
Elias next of age was hired for the winter to a party in Salt Lake City.
Shortly after my arrival in Ogden
the Party with whom I stayed (Jack Thompson) allowed me to put in my time on
the house which was then being fixed for the family to occupy upon their
arrival from Salt Lake City. It was a one-room log house about 18 by 20
feet in size, it was lighted by two small windows and
a moderately high ceiling. Father and
the folks were quite pleased with the house when they saw it, and well might
they be for it was a better house than many owned who had been there some years
before us.
Our long stay at the frontier and the tedious journey over
the plains brought the people to a proper thinking mood that they were well
nigh ready to accept any kind of dwelling that was stationary and that the wind
would not blow down.
This is one good thing in a log house, it generally holds
its own against wind and storm. This we
experienced, for Ogden is noted for its high winds at certain times of the
year.
The city is being built in front of a large and broad canyon
which from its vantage position pours its unabated fury upon the town without
mercy as if to say, “I will make level every thing that are
not built upon the rocks.”
But as the old log house was neither built upon the rocks or
the sand it withstood the storms well.
Now looking respectively upon the past and contrasting our
present home with that which we had just forsaken in our native country, though
apart from near relatives and sighing friends we could not say the parting was
but a joyous one.
Our prayers had been answered in our behalf and we knew that
our deliverance had been providentially brought about.
And to God and he alone we owe our
victory.
My father and I being carpenters was able to secure a
comfortable living and soon became in possession of a cow and a yoke of oxen
and some horses.
Children of Mary Jones and John Williams
Williams D. Williams Born
Sept. 29, 1838
Elias Williams July 13, 1939
Diana Williams July 19, 1841
Peter Williams Sept. 10, 1843
Hanna Williams Dec. 12, 1845
Sarah Williams May 5, 1848
Robert Williams Jan 5, 1850
Charlotte Williams About 1852
This record is a copy of the one written by William D.
Williams
Copied by June Bradeson Beraz, May 30, 1948
