WILLIAM ROWLANDS THOMAS
William Rowlands Thomas was
born 15 November 1854 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, South Wales. His mother, Elizabeth Rowlands, died when he was an infant six weeks old, leaving
his father, James Thomas, with three children, namely: Charles R., Joseph R.,
and William R.
Grandfather hired Dorothy Phillips to keep house and care
for his small boys. She was a very kind and patient woman. She loved and cared
for the boys as if they were her own. Later Grandfather married her.
In 1860 Grandfather decided to try his fortune in America.
He landed in New York and was
fortunate in getting a job as a farm hand. He saved enough money one year later
to have his wife and sons join him.
Grandfather's wife, "Grandma Dolly," as she was
known, and three sons set sail on the sailing vessel Manchester. It was
a long rough voyage. All four of them had severe sea sickness. The boys thought
they would never reach land. William was six years old and clung to his
mother's dress most of the time. One time his little mind compelled him to do a
little exploring on his own, resulting in his falling from the hatchway to the
lower deck which, fortunately, did not injure him seriously.
Grandfather met them in New York
weeks later when the ship docked and took them to a little house, which was to
be their home for the coming year. The boys attended school that year, and they
had many experiences to tell about in later years. This was William's first
year in school, but his two older brothers had attended school in Wales.
The next fall they left New York
by train and first left the train in Nebraska,
where they stayed several weeks waiting for the next Mormon group to go to Utah.
They had a long, hard experience traveling by ox teams and on foot. They finally
reached Logan, Utah
where they settled down for six years. At the end of this time, they emigrated to Malad
Valley, Idaho and settled in
the little hamlet of Samaria in the
year 1868.
William was a very excellent student, becoming an
excellent reader and speller. These two traits followed him throughout life. He
married Eleanor John, 25 December
1874. He had already built a log house and added two rooms later.
This home housed their growing family, which finally numbered ten.
William was a man of many interests. Besides being a
relatively successful rancher, he entered politics as a permanent stand-patter
Republican, holding various county offices, such as county commissioner,
Justice of the Peace, etc.
He mined for gold in both Utah
and Idaho. He was an investor and
promoter for a sugar factory in Malad
Valley. He invested heavily in oil
stock and became a promoter of the oil well in what is known as Bannock and Arbon. He also freighted from Corinne,
Utah to Butte,
Montana. At one time he owned three herds
of sheep, which were pastured on the summer range and fed hay on the home ranch
or wintered on the deserts of Utah
and Nevada.
During his most prosperous years he built a beautiful
eight room house for his wife. But, alas, it was too late; his family except
for Albert and Alvin now had homes of their own and his dear wife, Eleanor, who
had worn herself out for her family, died within a few months after the
completion of his home 21 January 1909.
With the death of dear "Ellen," as he called
her, life became very lonely. Six years later he married Belle Anderson Powell
in 1915. They lived together for a number of years. She finally left him to
live with her children in California.
He gave up the home he had built for his dear wife,
Ellen, and died in his son Alvin's home in Rexburg,
Idaho on April 11, 1936. He was buried beside his dear Eleanor in
the Samaria Cemetery.
_ Alvin Thomas, Son
