EDWARDS
FAMILY AND JOHN FAMILY
David
R. Edwards was born June 7, 1845, in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales to William Edwards and Jane
Roberts. He married Esther Price in 1864 in Wales. She was born October
30, 1842,
in Talybont, Breconshire, Wales. To this marriage were born
three daughters, Margaret Jane (died at 14 months), Mary Ann and Ruth. They
came to the United States in 1870 and settled in Pennsylvania, coming to Samaria, Idaho in 1875.
Esther
Price Edwards died February 23, 1884. David Edwards worked as a
mason until he retired. He lived with his granddaughters until he passed away April
22, 1934,
in Malad, Idaho. He had six grandchildren
and twenty nine great-grandchildren.
Their
daughter, Ruth, was born February 2, 1884, in Samaria. She married William Dalton
on October 5, 1904. They were divorced. She
married Dewey Van Fleet on December 22, 1909. Ruth passed away in Samaria February
6, 1917.
Dewey passed away there on September 16, 1936. They had no children.
Their
other daughter, Mary Ann, was born April 10,
1865,
in Cwmbach, Aberdare, Wales. She was ten years old when
she came to Samaria with her parents. She
married William L. John February 26,1886. To this family four
children were born in Samaria. They are David E., Henry
E., William E., and Esther E.
In
1896 they purchased a ranch about three miles northeast of Samaria (where the William E. John
ranch is now) and moved there. Two more children were born to them - Ann L. and
Mary M. William L. John was a farmer until he passed away on January
22, 1907.
His
wife Mary Ann later purchased a home in Samaria. She and her children moved
from the farm to Samaria each year so the children
could go to school until the oldest son, David E., married Mattie Williams. He
then operated the ranch and the others stayed in Samaria permanently. Mary Ann
Edwards passed away November 25, 1921.
William
E. John married Sarah Mae Williams, a sister to Mattie; Henry married Eliza
Davis; Esther married Oliver Williams; Ann M. married William L. Jones; and
Mary M. married William Jenk Williams. David E. John passed away May 3, 1962,
in a Salt Lake City hospital. Henry E. John passed away December 24, 1966 in
the Salt Lake Veteran's Hospital.
-
Mary M. John Williams, Granddaughter
