BIOGRAPHY
of
JOHN G. JONES
John G. Jones was born 14 Nov., 1856, in Pengarnddu, Glamorganshire, South Wales.
His father was John J. Jones, and his mother was Sarah Griffiths. His parents heard the gospel preached to them
by Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, and they accepted it almost immediately.
When John was seven years old he went to work in the iron
mine with his father to help them earn money to come to America, and Utah the headquarters of the Church. John was in charge of the gate which had to
be opened and closed for horses to pull the cars of ore out of the mine. The hours were long and tiresome and during
the winter months he never saw daylight.
He worked there until the early spring of 1866 when he, with his parents,
two brothers and one sister sailed on the vessel John Bright for America for the
gospels sake. He was baptized 7 April
1866. (This must have been just prior to
their leaving Wales. They were six weeks and three days crossing
the water in which time they experienced great storms and other hardships.
They went by train to the Missouri
River where they purchased some supplies and along the hand carts
and ox teams started the long hard trek across the plains. They were in Captain Chipman's
Company and John walked the entire distance with the exception of half a day
when he was permitted to ride after being hooked with an oxen.
B. H. Roberts traveled in the same company. At one time John and B. H. Roberts went for a
swim in a stream and some of their cattle were stolen by Indians while they
were swimming.
They arrived in Sept. of 1866 in Lehi. The family lived here a little over three
years in which time John had to help herd cattle out near the point of the
mountain. He herded Samuel Briggs cattle
as well as other men of the town.
One day he with other boys, killed a snake, skinned it
and then tied it to Samuel Briggs dog's tail.
The frightened dog almost ran himself to death, much to the boys
delight, but Mr. Brigg's feelings were not so happy so the boys received a good
scolding.
The boys sport was to go swimming in the old mill pond
which was located between Lehi and American Fork. Many times the boys from the two towns had
some good fights. The
winning side always being the one having the most boys on his side.
John also worked for a time as water boy for the railroad
when track was being laid. He was camped
for sometime up at Devils Slide (Weber
Canyon). In the summer of 1869 the Jones family moved
to Adamsville, located in the Southern area of Utah
in Beaver County where he spent the greater part
of his life.
He was married to Mary Ann Griffiths in the St. George
Temple on 10 April 1877. The Temple opened 11 Jan.
1877, and was dedicated 6 April, 1877.
At this time a General Conference of the church was held at St.
George. John and Mary Ann attended the
dedication. They had traveled there by
team with John's parents. It took three
days to make the trip. They were the 204
couple to be married in the Temple. Brigham Young was at the temple at this time.
They went to Manti where John worked on the temple. They worked there for about thirty days, then moved to Frisco for a short time where John worked in
the Horn Silver Mine. They then
homesteaded a farm in Adamsville, spending the greater part of their life.
On 11 April, 1927 they celebrated their Golden
Wedding. John served a Stake Mission
being set apart 23 Jan. 1926. He died 2
January, 1932 in Beaver and was buried 5 January, 1932 in Beaver City
Cemetery.
(Copy from DUP Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah)
