By Mrs. Anna J. Lewis 

David C. Jones was born October 16, 1841, in South Wales, son of David and Ann Griffiths Jones. In 1862 he married Mary Stephens. They came to America in 1867 with their two children, Ann and David S. After landing in New York, they crossed the plains from Missouri to Utah. He drove an ox-team and carried his son, Dave, most of the way as his wife was in poor health at that time. 

When they arrived in Utah they located at Willard, and lived there seven years. While there he built the gristmill and also the Harding Store. Three children were born there: Tom S., John S., and Jane. 

In 1874 they moved to Malad. First they lived in a log room on Tom Stephens’ property where Evan W. was born and then they took up a ranch of 160 acres on Devil Creek. They lived too far from school and so bought some land from David Stephens and built two rooms where Mary Reed now lives. Here three more children were born: Daniel, Mary Ellen and Sarah. 

David C. Jones was a carpenter by trade, and had a shop at Malad where Hugh Evans’ shop now stands at the corner of Five Points. Hugh’s father was the blacksmith and they worked together. He would walk to town to work every day. He was also the coffin-maker at St. John for many years. He told many stories of boards rattling in the attic the night before someone died and he knew then that he was to make a casket. He always had his son, Dan, climb in them when they were finished to see if they fit right. 

Davey C. was trustee of the St. John School District for several years. In 1912 he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with their nine children present. They were each presented with a gold watch. David C. Jones died August 19, 1920 and was buried in the St. John cemetery. 

Partial History Found on Back (cont.) 

…then. Professor Evans was our teacher. Later they held school at St. John in a two room house which was standing in the center of Henry Jones’ field. Professor Edward Woozley was our first St. John school teacher. The water that supplied the school was got from little wells dug like post-holes. There is a lot of difference in the sanitation now, but we all seem to have lived and thrived somehow. 

Father took up a 160 acre farm on Devil Creek, the place where Will and Jane live now. Mother always worked hard. She plowed, harrowed, cut grain, and did everything while Father worked at his trade in town to get money to live on and to raise the family. 

It was too far for the children to walk to school from the ranch, so they bought a lot from Grandfather Stephens where they built the home they lived in up to the time of their deaths. Father built only two rooms at first, but added on to it as they could until they were quite comfortable.  

Dan, my brother, was born September 19, 1877, Mary Ellen was born January 11, 1879, and Sarah was born March 9, 1883. They were all born in the new home. Mother had nine children. They are all married and have families.  

Mother had had her sorrows and worked hard, but she was blessed as she raised every one of her children, not having a death before her own father’s death. 

They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1912, with all their children present. They were each presented with a gold watch, but the celebration ended in sadness as Uncle Tom Stephens’ wife died that afternoon. 

Father died August 19, 1920 at the age of 80, two years before Mother’s death. 

Mother had a cheerful disposition. All loved her who knew her. She always gave her grandchildren $5 for wedding gifts, and as a rule always put 50 cents in the hand of the new babies born in each family. 

She lived to go to the temple and received her endowment. 

For one year before her death, she went to live with her girls. She was a pleasant, patient soul, always trying to make the best of everything. She died December 22, 1922 at the home of Mary Ellen, leaving nine children and fifty-one grandchildren. She now (as of 1935) has 188 great-grandchildren.