by

Gladys W. Bradfield

My grandfather, John Williams, lived in Llanelly, Brecon, Wales, as did his fathers before him. They were wealthy farmers and owned many acres of land. Some of their lands were called: The Church Farm, Yew Tree Cottage in Llanelly, Brecon Wales, Crossway and Calles in the Parish of Llangattock, Llingoes, Mon. Wales. Another parcel of land called Try John Lewis Hardy, Athrola Cottage in the Parish of Llanelly. The abstract and copy of a will is shown in the family organization. This will was made by uncles of William Williams, my great grandfather. These uncles, John and Thomas Williams were wealthy bachelors and left all their property to Robert Williams, a brother of my great grandfather, and a nephew of theirs. At the time the will was made, William Williams, my great grandfather, was occupying the land, "John Lewis Hardy." This Robert Williams was to pay a yearly sum to William Williams, and after his death the same annuity was to be given to his four children, William, John, (my grandfather), and Thomas, their heirs, executors and administrators and assigns forever. This will was made the 11 March 1837. My grandfather was ten years old at that time. Robert Williams, my great grandfather's brother, was appointed sole executor of the will. John Williams lived on these lands all his life until he came to America. The Yew Tree Cottage and the Church Farm were the two most spoken of.

John was born in Llanelly, Brecon, probably on the Church Farm, on the 20 December 1827. His father was William Williams and his mother was Ann Morgan.

His life in Wales was, I presume, a life of luxury. Because the family had plenty. When they lived in the Yew Tree Cottage it was traditional at Christmas time to go into the forest on their property and cut a large Yew tree and haul it home to be used in the fireplace.

In this book are some receipts made out to my great grandfather, William Williams when he paid his rent (taxes) to the Hon. Duke of Beaufort, who had charge of collecting dues in that part of Wales in behalf of the King of England or the Queen, whichever it may be. (In the book of the family organizations.)

John Williams' mother, Ann Morgans’ family originally came from Cardiff, Glams, Wales. Ann's brother, Thomas had a family of five. Four boys and one girl. Jacob, Abram, Edward, Lewis and Janet. (My grandmother) Janet used to spend a great deal of time at the home of her uncle William Williams and her Aunt Ann. She was the only girl in both families. William's family was five boys, and she loved equally by all the boys. John was ten years older than Janet, but his love grew so much he wanted her to be his wife. It was not uncommon in those days for cousins to marry. John was a bachelor of thirty-five years and Janet was twenty-six when they were married on the 2 July 1864. The family didn't approve of them getting married, but they loved each other and no amount of talking would change their minds. John went to work in the coal mines for a while.

John's family never joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as Janet's family did. He was very much against it and for some time forbid Janet to mix with the saints. John and Janet lived in Gilwern, and on the Church Farm, in Llanelly Parish. John's father died 20 December 1864 on John's birthday, just a few months after John and Janet were married. His mother, Ann, continued living at the Yew Tree Cottage until her death on the 25 March 1871.

John decided he with his family, would come to America. So they packed up a few of their belongings, leaving most of their things in their home, the Church Farm, and sailed for America. They arrived in Nova Scotia, sailed down the St. Lawrence River and settled in Ontario, Canada. John bought a farm and had many nice things. His horses were the pride of the surrounding country. Their address was: Dochester Station, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada.

John made several trips back to Wales to collect his annuity from the property. He had an old redwooden steamer trunk that he took with him each time. In our day it was referred to as the "Old Red Box." Gay has it now.

John and Janet had ten children. Five girls and five boys. According to the records in the family organization, Robert, the oldest, born in Llanelly, Brecon Wales, died within same month he was born. Annie Catherine, born 22 November 1866 in Llanelly Brecon, Wales, she died in Scofield, Emery (now Carbon), Utah when she was twenty-three years old. Henry (Harry), my father, was born in Gilwern, Brecon, Wales on the 13 November 1868 and died at the age of seventy-seven years, at Castle Dale, Emery, Utah. Edward died as a baby. Mary Jane died at the age of eleven. William as a baby, Gwendoline as a baby, Jennett died at the age of six years and John Lewis as a baby. Also Gabriel as a baby. Myrtle tells me she thinks Gabriel was born in Canada.

John decided to move to the United States. They went to East Saginaw, Michigan and bought another farm. John must have loved this new country he brought his family to because on the 27 February 1896 he decided to become an American citizen. He went to the County Clerk in the county of Saginaw, Michigan and made out his Declaration of Intention to become an American Citizen. With this declaration he solemnly swore to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to each and every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereign whatsoever, and particularly the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, of whom he as a Subject. Later, on the 23 September 1896, John received his certificate of Citizenship, after he came to Utah.

While they were living in East Saginaw, Michigan, a dreadful disease struck their home. Diphtheria. Mary Jan, Gwendoline, and the baby, John Lewis became ill and the following day John Lewis died. Each little body was wrapped in a sheet and put out through a window and was buried without ceremony. No one could come in the house. John was quarantined out so Janet was alone with the sick and dying. As the last little body went, Janet was so numb with grief she could hardly remember what had happened. She knew though the Lord had spared her two children. Henry and Annie. The fourth child died four days later.

They lived in East Saginaw for some years, here Annie and Henry (Harry) attended the Ann Harbor University.

Another time John went to Wales to collect the annuity from the property. When he came back he brought a niece back with him. Jeanette Morgan. A daughter of Janet's brother Jacob Morgan. Jeanette lived with them for some time.

John was very unsettled. The urge to move to Utah came upon him. So again he sold his farm and moved to Scofield, Emery (now Carbon), Utah. A lot of Welch people had moved there because of the coal mining.

When he arrived in Colton, Utah, it was so desolate he said, "Janet, let's go back to Michigan." Janet said, "No, John not me, you can if you want to, but now I am here I am going to stay."

It was a great change for John and Janet and their two children. To go from being wealthy farmers, to successful farmers, and then to poor coal miners. Because in those days of the Scofield boom when the town was filled with people, miners made about two dollars a day, and they really had to dig for it. There were no machinery, the men used pick and shovel. John was a tall man, over six feet and to be stooped over a shovel and car in maybe a four foot tunnel all day was a hard job for him.

Some of the men were breaking away from the mine and taking up homesteads in the valleys. So John decided to do the some. So he chose Castle Valley because some of his friends had gone there. He and Janet filed claim on 160 acres in Emery County, Utah, just half way between the towns of Cleveland and Huntington. During the summer they would work their farm and in the winter months they would spend in Scofield working in the mine.

Janet tried so hard to bring John into believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which she loved so dearly, but he was very bitter. Finally he decided to please her and be baptized, but he was never converted, and was never confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Annie Catherine, their daughter, lived at home and worked in a grocery store, the U.P. Store it was called. She started working there 4 March 1889 and was paid four dollars a week. She was a very reserved girl, and probably loved by all. In August she became ill, and on the 24 August 1889 she died. John and Janet were both broken-hearted. Henry, who was now known as Harry, was twenty-one years old. He had met and fallen in love with a beautiful little Welch girl of sixteen, whose name was Gwendoline Williams. They were planning on getting married in December. But right now he was the only child left of John and Janet's family.

Harry rented a house and got it ready to live in, and on the 24 December 1889 he and Gwendoline were married in Scofield, Emery, Utah by S. J. Harkness. They had their wedding dance in Scofield Church House, which still stands.

Harry was a wonderful scholar. Not many of the miners had a good education so it was Harry's lot to read to them. They would gather by the dozens in the store to hear Harry read. He would read everything to them from the newspaper to Shakespeare. He had a wonderful talent for acting. Leading man to villain part. One time, I remember my father telling me when he played the part of the villain he had to be hit over the head with a club. They did things so real in their plays that mother made a club out of an old stocking and stuffed it. The night of the play the person who was to use the club made a mistake and hit Harry over the head with the real club. He was knocked out cold. Harry was a great singer, A deep bass voice that enriched any choir where he sang.

In the summer of 1898 John and Janet were on the farm alone. On the 27 August 1898 John came in from the field feeling quite ill He died that day and Janet was alone with him. She saw some people driving by in a wagon and she tried to wave them to stop, but they thought she was just waving a friendly greeting and they kept on going. She had to leave him alone while she went for help.

Janet was now alone. Harry had his family, close to his mother as did his wife and children.

Janet continued to live on the farm and in Cleveland. She lived to be eighty-nine years old, and she, too, died on the farm. She had lived with Harry and his family for several years.

Harry was a hard worker. A farmer by summer and a coal miner by winter. His family were all girls until the eighth came along. A boy whom he loved very much. But this little boy died at three weeks of age. His tenth was a boy. A son who grew to be a lot like John, Harry’s father. A son who grew to help him on the farm. The girls each in their turn gave him a hand. I worked along side Dad in the hay and grain, harrowing and laying off the land and irrigating.

Harry had many close calls in the mine. Several times he had his face cut wide open. One time his heart stopped for several minutes. But each time his faith would give him new lease on life. He had a lot of faith. His Priesthood meant so very much to him, and he worked diligently in the Church. He was Word Teacher for many years and never missed a month in making a visit. When he was in the M.I.A. he would stage some of the best plays ever put on in Cleveland Ward. He sang in the Cleveland Ward Choir. When he was a young man he belonged to the Emery Stake Choir, I believe that is what it was called. Thomas Hardy, a friend of the family, was the choir leader, and it was a good one. Harry had a very good bass voice, one that would make any choir better. I think of him when I hear the song, "The Voice in The Old Village Choir." Nearly all his old friends were gone when he passed away. He was a missionary in the Emery Stake. Many times he has borne his testimony to the truthfulness of the Gospel. He had such great faith.

(Note from Arvella Easterbrook Wilberg: He blessed Dennis for me 4 June 1944 and that was the first time he had ever blessed a child. Kay was in the service and not able to be home. At that meeting he bore his testimony and I’ll always remember he shook so badly, but it was such a thrill to hear him tell of how he had agreed to give up his smoking if the Lord would spare his life.)

When Harry wanted to go anywhere he would walk. It wasn’t anything for him to walk from Scofield to Cleveland, when he was a young man, a distance of sixty miles over the mountain. From Price to Cleveland, which was twenty miles, was just a jaunt. And from the farm to town, three miles, he sometimes would walk three times a day. Even when he was so sick he continued walking. The doctor said for the family not to try to stop him from walking because he had been so used to it.

Harry was an ordained Teacher, Elder, Seventy, and High-Priest. He loved every office he held.

He was very modest. The least suggestive thing would really make him angry. He believed really and truly in the thirteenth Article of Faith, "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent virtuous, and in doing good to all men, etc."

When he was left alone after his wife, Gwendoline, died, it was a sad picture to see. He couldn't content himself anywhere. He walked many miles. He was so lonely. Even though he had his children, he was still alone. He had his room at his daughter Gwen's home with his personal furniture. Many times we would see him looking through the cupboards that Mother had cleaned, looking at the dishes that once were hers. He missed a tall glass pitcher one day and wanted to know where it was. Mother had given it to me a long time before I got married and this was the first time he had missed it. It was a wedding present to them, and now it meant so much to him..

In 1945 he became very sick. He had yellow jaundice. It was so pitiful to see him. Gwen was ill so he came to live with us for a while, bless his heart. The doctor said he could eat anything he wanted. We had a few cherry trees that were loaded with beautiful red pie cherries. He would climb onto a ladder and sit there and eat cherries. His yellow skin and the red cherries was a sight to see. He stayed with us for several weeks, but he was so anxious to get back to Gwen's to be in his own bed. We took him back the first part of July, and he died on the 27 July 1945. I know he was happy to be with his loving wife and parents. May his family remember him for his faith, courage, love and goodness to all people.