*****Source: Beleived to be
written by the wife of David Rhys Stephens, Mary Leonora Nix. (Francis Kim Stepehns,
grandson of David and Mary, beleives the handwritting is that of his grandmother.)
*****When Written: Unknown--but clearly much later than the
heading date of Aug 28, 1870. Likely written sometime after 1923 given final paragraph and the
dates of death of their children.
History of David Rhys Stephens
Aug 28-1870
David Rhys Stephens was born at Carmarthenshire South Wales
in the Parish of Llanddarog. He attended the Llanddarog National School. His teacher David Gabe taught him for 8
years. School began at 9:40 A.M. with 2
hour lunch period. School was held 11
months of each year with 3 teachers. He
started at the age of 5 yrs.
After he finished School he worked on his Fathers farm.
Attended various Churches and listened to different Ministers. He had heard a great deal about the Mormons from the two Mormon Missionaries Abil
John Evans (Welsh) of Lehi Utah
and Richard Morse of Malad Idaho.
His parents had been baptized and were members of the Church. They had no church building and held private
meetings. But the home was always open
to the Missionaries and many of them stayed there when in that vicinity.
His Father died when he (David) was 25 years old or in
1895. His mother died in 1899. He left Wales
for America on April 4
sailing from Liverpool England. Before sailing he was examined for disease
and if you had been vaccinated. He had
been since he was 7 years old at intervals.
When he landed at Elis
Island they were again
submitted to a physical checkup. Health
100% good there too the luggage received a most thorough inspection. Here also you had to show your money. He had $250.00. His clothes were those of an English Gentleman. He wore (?)his suit
was a single breasted, navy blue one; high top shoes, a black derby hat, brown
kid gloves, and carried a brown cherry walking stick. He wore a full trimmed beard. His hair and beard were black.
After landing in New York
he registered ant the Elias Hones Hotel and stayed for 3 days seeing New York. He visited Niagara Falls,
Canada Ontario,
then Windsor. He crossed the river on ferry boat from Windsor to Detroit. There he took the train to St. Luis Mo. And then on to Salt Lake
City. He
remained there a day and then went out to Mercur. His brother John and family were living in Mercur and he made his home with them. He now had his first experience in working
for a boss as he started to work at Mercur Gold Mines
under Dick Heyland.
He was a wonderful singer and became a member of the Mercur
choir under the leadership of Bro. Wm Robinson.
In 1900 he was baptized by Bishop Jos. Lee (the first one to be baptized
in the faunt in Mercur Church).
He became a staunch and very dependable church worker and in
Jan 1904 he married Mary Nix in the Salt
Lake Temple.
