A SHORT LIFE HISTORY
OF WILLIAM JOHN DAVIES
William John Davies was born at Llanwonno,
Glamorganshire, Wales,
on 7 February 1810, the son of Thomas and Mary Jones Davies. He first
investigated the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843 and was
baptized 12 January 1850. For the next three years he tried to convert his wife
(who was a devout Baptist) and family, but they would have nothing to do with
the “Mormon Church.” Discouraged because he was unable to bring his family in
to the Church, he began making preparations to emigrate
to Utah. It
is known that he left his wife and four children, one born after he left, in
good financial circumstances.
He though in a few years he would return to Wales hoping that his wife would have changed
her views and would return with him to Utah.
William sailed from Liverpool on the ship Jersey on 5 February 1853.
George Halliday was in charge of the 314 people in
the company. The ship landed at New
Orleans on 22 March 1853. William then traveled by
steamboat (the Elvira Owen) up the
Mississippi River and landed at Keokuk (now Florence), Iowa. He stayed there in Iowa nine weeks and then came across the plains in
Captain John R. Winder’s Company, arriving in Salt Lake City in October 1853.
While in Salt Lake
City he took part in the Echo Canyon War of 1857-58.
In 1858 he settled in North Ogden, and in 1860 he moved to Logan, thus becoming one of the early
settlers of this valley. He purchased about 90 acres of land between 5th
and 6th West and 1st and 2nd North which he
farmed. He also built a small home and while living there was a very active
member of the Logan Third Ward.
After living in Utah
three or four years he was advised to by the Church authorities to get married.
He married Sarah Thomas Hopkins in 1856. She was born 20 March 1812 and died 14
July 1879 at the age of 67. William also married Mary Pugh, born about 1819 and
died 26 March 1903, having been a widow for 19 years.
As his children in Wales
grew older William John Davies corresponded with them and told them he would
send them money to come to Utah
if any of them wanted to come. He also wrote letters to his grandson, William
Evans, and told him of the wonderful outdoor life of Cache Valley
– the hunting and fishing – of this section of the country. Young William, 17
years of age, accepted the invitation to come to Utah
and left Wales on 29 August
1883 on board the Nevada. On the
British Mission Records passenger list he is described as a “Non-member.” He
arrived in Logan
on 19 September 1883 and was met by his grandfather at the train station. He
lived with his grandfather and helped him run the farm.
According to Logan City Cemetery
records, William John Davies died on 24 September 1884 just a year after his
grandson arrived from Wales.
According to William Evans records he died 21 September 1884.
