David Cair Jones and Mary Stephens
By Viola Kent
Morgan
David Clair Jones was born October 26, 1841, at Seythlin fach, in the parish
of Llanfihangel ar-arth (Pencader), Carmarthen, Wales, to David Jones and Ann
Griffiths.
On October 16, 1862, he married Mary Stephens in the parish church of
Llanfihangel ar-arth according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established
Church by Evan Jones, Vicar. The witnesses to the marriage were Thomas Jones
and David Evans. Mary Stephens was born June 20, 1842 at Ralltfichan in the
parish Llanfihangel ar-arth (Pencader) to David Phillips Stephens and Jane
Evans. She was raised on a farm. He was a joiner when he got married in 1862.
Two children were born in Wales, Ann and David S. They joined the Mormon
Church in Wales and all came to America on the ship "Arkwright." They
sailed from England, May 30, 1866, and landed in New York on July 4. They
crossed the plains from Missouri and arrived in Salt Lake in October of that
same year. He drove an ox team and carried his son, Dave, most of the way as
his wife was in poor health at this time.
When they arrived in Utah they located at Willard, Utah, where he worked at
his trade (carpenter) for about seven years. He built the gristmill and also
the Harding Store. They had three more children while living here. All of the
land around Willard was taken up, so they decided to come to Malad Valley and
settled in St. John, five miles northwest of Malad. In the spring of 1874, they
took up a homestead on Devil Creek. She worked very hard doing the plowing,
harrowing, and cutting of the grain while he worked at his trade in town to get
money to raise his family. He would walk to town every day to work. He was also
the coffin-maker at St. John for many years.
He helped organize the St. John School District and was one of the first
trustees for several years.
They were the parents of nine children: Ann S. (William Davis Lewis); David
S. (Charlotte Owens); Thomas S. (Rhoda Louise Jones); John L. (Margery Tovey);
Jane (James William Larson); Evan W. (Mary Evans); Daniel S. (1.) Mary Taylor,
(2.) Ester Bywater; Mary Ellen (Timothy Morgan Woozley); Sarah (William Samuel
Pierce).
David C. passed away August 19, 1920 at St. John and his wife, Mary Stephens
Jones, passed away December 22, 1922 at St. John. They were both buried in the
St. John Cemetery.
(From St. John, Oneida County, Idaho: A collection of personal histories
from the time of the first settlers to the present day, p. 163.)
