JOHN G. JONES By Martha Jamimah Jones

Transcription

1 JOHN G. JONES By Martha Jamimah Jones John G. Jones, About 40 Years Old stories of which he often told us children. My father, John G. Jones, was born November 27, 1830, in the beautiful city of Llanely, Brocknockshire, South Wales. He was christened in the Wesleyan Methodist circuit in Llanelly, County of Brecon the 28th of January His parents, David and Ann Lawrence Jones, were sturdy, hardworking people who always took time to love and instruct their children. His father was a miner and John as a young boy of seven years of age worked with his father "under the earth", he said. The family moved many times following the work from place to place. Young John learned the trade of his father and made it his occupation in his young life. John was much the same as other little boys of the neighborhood, always imitating his elders, David Jones and his wife, Ann Laurence, were the parents of eight children. Their children were: John Born 1829 Died 2 Aug 1829 Llanelly, Brecon, South Wales John G. Born 27 Nov 1830 Llanelly, Brecon, South Wales Shadrach Born 17 Nov 1832 Llanelly, Brecon, South Wales Died 24 Jun 1883 At Ravenhill Swansea-Higher, Glamorgan, while serving a mission to his native land at age 50. Adelaide Born 1836 Died 22 Feb 1838 At Gamdiffaith, Trevethin, England Age 2 years 6 months. Eleazar Born 1837 Died 13 Jul1840 at Dowlais, Glamorgan, Wales age 3 Eleazar Born 1839 Died 18 Mar 1842 CWM Celyn (Aberystwth), Monmouthshire, England age 3 years 5 months. Ann Chr. 11 Sep 1843 age 3 months Rhymney, Iron Works Parish of Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, England Eleazar Born 27 Jul1848 Blaina, Monmouthshire, England 1

2 Father was fortunate in having both parents to raise him to the age of seventeen, at which time (June 1848) his father immigrated to America. Two encouraging letters reached the family after the Father's arrival in the United States. The last stated that he had almost had enough money to send for the family and hoped by the next letter to be able to send for them. That letter never came. Shortly after the family learned that he had lost his life in a Pennsylvania coal mine. About this time Father went to work in the coal mines in Wales and while there he became acquainted with Henry John who taught him the gospel. June 9, 1849, he was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The following July he was ordained a Deacon; in 1850 he was ordained a Teacher; May 3, 1851, he was ordained a Priest; these offices he filled to the best of his ability. The protection of the Lord always seemed to be watching over him, for one occasion while working in a mine a heavy weight of coal fell on him, but he was able to withdraw himself from under this weight without injury. Again at a later date, a ton weight of stone broke loose directly over his head, but in some miraculous manner the stone turned edgewise, just missing him. In the year when work was slack in the coal mines he worked in the iron mines and on one occasion the roofing timbers gave way and the mine caved in on him, pinning him fast. The weight was estimated to be from ten to fifteen tons and it required forty-five minutes for his companions to dig him out. He was badly bruised and was advised by the doctor that it would be a long time before he could leave his bed. That same evening, however, the elders administered to him on three different occasions, in the last instance he was commanded to arise and walk, which he did without the slightest pain, nor did the pain ever return from this particular accident. A crowd had gathered outside and jeered that if John G. Jones would walk that night they would believe the Latter-day Saints had supreme power, but when they saw him walk they were unwilling to concede as much During the year 1871 while father was teaching the boys to cut hay with a scythe, one of them accidentally swung the scythe before father was a safe distance with the result that his leg was struck just above the knee, entirely severing the muscles and arteries. There was no medical help near and practically all the blood had left his body. His faith in the Lord, which he had learned as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, manifested itself, and he placed his hands over the wound and in the name of Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood which he held, commanded the flow of blood to stop, which it did immediately. The wound healed up, never again bleeding, and no impairment of his ability to walk took place although one doctor said he would never walk again. Each of these incidents strengthened his faith and taught him that the power of the Lord could and would, be made manifest to those who sincerely desired it. Every time he was given such support he always remembered to thank his Heavenly Father for it and through this fact he was able to ask the Lord for and received assistance on numerous occasions. He asked Mary John (daughter of Henry and Margaret Harris John) to be his wife on 12 December 1851 and they were married at the Libanus Chapel in Brynmawr, Crickhowell, Brecon, South Wales on February 9, As Henry John's wife, Ann, had died on 16 December 2

3 1851 at Yellow Row Sirhowy, Monmouthshire; father and mother made their home with him until he and his son, Daniel, came to America in March, On April 28, 1853, Father's first child, Adelaide, was born, and in March, 1854, the family of three started on their journey to the United States of America. Owing to the ship on which they were to sail being taken by the English government to carry troops to Russia, they were forced to remain eleven days at Liverpool. They landed at New Orleans Louisiana, May 29, The company numbered 400 people under the direction of President William Taylor. On April 20, 1855, Father was ordained an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the spring of 1857, the family moved to Coalchester, Illinois. While there, Father was called by President Orson Eldredge to organize a branch of the church there and to preside over it. This same year he was ready to immigrate to Salt Lake City but was advised not to come as Johnston Army was invading Utah. June 1859 found them on the old trail of the Latter-day Saints going from Coalchester to Florence, Illinois, where they joined a company under the leadership of Edward Stephensen. They crossed the plain with ox teams reaching Salt Lake City, September 16, The many incidents that happened to the Saints in general on the plains were their fate. While father was in Salt Lake City, President Brigham Young employed him to assist in construction of the east wall of the Temple block. He later moved with his family to Provo. Here he assisted in building the Woolen Mills, Co-op Store, Tabernacle, Brigham Young Academy and many other prominent structures. He also helped to make the roads into Provo Canyon. In 1875 he was called to preside over the first district of Seventies and was set apart by Karl G. Maeser. In May 1878 he left for a mission to his native land. During the last year of his labors in Wales he was President of the Welsh Conference, and on returning home in 1880, he was in charge of a company of Saints who immigrated to Utah. On August 24, 1883, he was called to preside over the 45th Quorum of Seventies. The greatest trial of his life came on September 27, 1886, when his dear wife and companion was called by death to the great beyond, leaving eight children to his care.. In 1902 he was ordained a High Priest by President David John of the Utah Stake, and in the same year was ordained a Patriarch by President Joseph F. Smith. He gave hundreds of blessings in addition to those he gave to his children and grandchildren. He devoted all of the latter part his life to service in the church, including considerable temple work for his dead ancestors. He was the father of twelve children, eight sons and he lived to see thirty-two grand children and ten great grand children. At 9:30 A. M., March 14, 1914, he passed to the great beyond, living eighty-four happy and useful years among his fellow-men, and children. 3

4 Adelaide Born 28 Apr Sirhowy, Monmouthshire, England John Born 6 Aug St. Louis, Missouri Died 31 Oct St. Louis Mary Ann Born 30 Aug Colchester, Illinois Samuel Born 1859 on plains Died 1859 on plains David Henry Born 8 Sep Provo, Utah Daniel Born 8 Oct Provo, Utah Died 17 May 1865 Provo, Utah Eleazer John Born 24 Jan Provo, Utah Martha Jamima Born 6 Apr Provo, Utah Shadrach Harris Born 1 Apr Provo, Utah Elizabeth Born 13 Apr Provo, Utah Thomas William Born 10 Apr Provo, Utah Benjamin Born 8 Mar Provo, Utah Died 5 May 1889 Provo, Utah Front Row: David Henry Jones, Adelaide Jones, John G. Jones, Mary John Jones, Eleazer J. Jones Standing: Elizabeth Jones, Shadrach Harris Jones, Martha Jamima Jones, Benjamin Jones, Mary Ann Jones, and Thomas William Jones. Pictures were inserted of Mary John Jones, Benjamin Jones, and Mary Ann Jones because they were already deceased at the time of the picture. There were three other deceased family members - John Jones, Samuel Jones, and Daniel Jones. 4

5 OBITUARY] JOHN G. JONES March 14, Funeral services over the remains of Patriarch John G. Jones of this City were held in the Stake Tabernacle at 2 0' clock this afternoon and many friends gathered at the bier of this much respected citizen. Speakers told of the many splendid qualities of the departed and spoke words of comfort to the bereaved family. John G. Jones was born in Llanelly, South Wales, November 27, 1830, and died at his home in the Fourth Ward at 9 o'clock Saturday morning. He embraced the gospel in his native land and came to America in 1854, remaining in St. Louis until 1859, when he came to Salt Lake and spent six week, after which he came to Provo and made this his home ever since. For many years Mr. Jones was one of the most active citizens in this section and held many positions of responsibility and trust. In church circles he was prominent and held many offices, the last being that of Patriarch which he held at the time of his death. He is survived by three sons and three daughters. 5