David Clair Jones was
born October 16, 1841, at Seythlin fach in the parish of Llanfihangel
ar-arth, (Pencader)
Carmarthen, South Wales to David Jones and Ann Griffiths.
Mary Stephens was born
June 20, 1842, at Ralltfichan in the parish of Llanfihangel, Pencader, South Wales. Her parents were David Phillips Stephens
and Jane Evans. She was raised on a farm in Wales. She was talented
in singing. She and her sister-in-law, Margaret Stephens (Dan’s wife), would
sing for most every gathering. She was also a good reader.
On October 16, 1862,
David Clair Jones married Mary Stephens. They were married in the parish
church of Llanfihangel ar-arth
according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church by the vicar,
Evan Jones.
Two children were born
to David and Mary in Wales. On January 4, 1864, Ann was born. David
Stephens was born on July 4, 1865.
When David Stephens
was six months old, they started to America for the Gospel’s sake. At
first, it was thought it would be best for David to come alone and later send
for his family, but they decided to stay together, make money as they went the
best they could, and all pioneer together, which they did. They all came
to America on the ship Arkwright. They set sail from England
on May 30, 1866, and landed in New York on July 4, 1866. They crossed the
plains from Missouri to Salt Lake in October of the same year. Mary was
sick most of the trip, especially while crossing the plains. David Clair
Jones drove a team of oxen and carried his son, David, most of the way.
Mary’s family, her father, mother, brothers and sisters, came with them, with
the exception of Tom and Ann who had preceded them.
They first lived in
the back part of John Edward’s house and David worked at odd jobs, trying to
get ahead. It was quite a handicap though as neither David or Mary could
speak a word of English. That winter he got a job helping to build the
Gristmill at Willard, Box Elder, Utah. He also helped build the harding Store in Willard,
Utah. They lived in Willard for seven years.In the spring of 1869, they went to the north
part of Willard, which is now called Perry and leased a farm where they worked
hard. While David C. Jones worked at his trade every chance he got, Mary
worked in the field, helping to put in crops, and in the fall, helping to
cradle grain. On December 19, 1868, Tom was born. They lived in one
room, where the fire place was the only stove they had. Mary’s bed was a
pile of straw in one corner of the room. It was a very cold winter.
Mary’s health was poor, and that winter she developed a chronic ailment that
bothered her as long as she lived.
The next spring they
moved down to the south part of Willard. David bought a little home and
leased another place, so they had plenty of work to do. Mary would take
all the children out in the field with her. Ann would take care of the
little boys while David and Mary cradled the grain.
That summer Mary took
Davis’ peach orchards on shares. She dried $75 worth of peaches for Mr.
Davis while David was helping build the Willard Store for the Harding
Boys. In the evening, Mary picked and carded wool for the
neighbors. She worked very hard. When fall came, she had made
$100. She felt well paid for her labors.
John L (December 31,
1869) and Jane (January 30, 1872) were born at this home.
They sold their
Willard home because all the land around Willard was taken up. In the
spring of 1874, they moved to the Malad Valley and
settled in St. John, five miles northwest of Malad.
They moved into a one room log house owned by Uncle Tom Stephens. Later,
they took up a 160 acre homestead on Devils Creek. Mary worked very hard
doing the plowing, harrowing and cutting of the grain. David worked at
his trade in town to get money to support his family. Another son was
born here; Evan was born on June 7, 1874.
The children had to
walk to school in Malad, as St. John did not have a
school at that time. Dave S., Joe Peterson, Mrs. Emmy Thomas, and Ann
would walk to Malad every morning and back at night
for three months every year, for that was how long school was held then.
Professor Evans was their teacher. Later they held school at St. John in
a two room house. Professor Edward Woozley was
the first teacher in the St. John school.
The water that
supplied the school was from little wells dug like post holes. There is a
lot of difference in sanitation now, but they all seemed to have lived and
thrived somehow.
It was too far for the
children to walk to school from the ranch, so they bought a lot from
Grandfather Stephens, where they built the home they lived in up to the time
they both died. Education was important to the Jones family. David
C. helped organize the St. John School District. He was one of the first
trustees, serving for several years.
David Clair Jones was
a carpenter by trade and had a shop in Malad at the
corner of Five Points. When he built his house, he built only two rooms
at first but added on to it as they could until they were quite comfortable.
More children were born to David and Mary. They were Dan (September 19,
1877), Mary Ellen (January 11, 1879), and Sarah (March 9, 1883). They
were all born in the new home. David and Mary had nine children, and
although they had their sorrows and worked hard, they were blessed as they
raised every one of their children, not losing any family member to death until
the death of Mary’s father.
David would walk to
work every day. He was also the coffin maker for St. John. He told
many stories of boards rattling in the attic the night before someone
died. He knew then that he was to make a casket. He always had his
son, Dan, climb into the coffin when they were finished to see if the fit was
right. David and Mary celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary in
1912, with all their children present. They were each presented with a
gold watch.
David C. Jones died
August 19, 1920 at the age of eighty. Mary Stephens Jones had a cheerful
disposition. All loved her who knew her. She always gave her
grandchildren $5.00 for wedding gifts and as a rule, always put 50 cents in the
hand of the new babies born in each family. For one year before her death,
she went to live with her girls. She died December 22, 1922 at the home
of her daughter, Mary Ellen. She left nine children and fifty-one
grandchildren. She was buried next to her husband in the St. John
Cemetery, at St.John, Oneida, Idaho.
Sources of information: Histories of
David Clair and Mary
Stephens Jones,
written
by: Ann Jones Lewis, a daughter
History written by:
Viola Kent Morgan in the
St. John Centennial
Book, page 163.
Family group sheet of
Elmer J. Lewis
Submitted by: Klea Scott Lusk
