John Henry Davis was the eighth child of Titus and Mary Gwenllian Bowen Davis. He was born August 9, 1852, in Llanwenog, Cardiganshire, Wales. 

With his Father and brothers, David and Timothy and sister Gwennie, he joined the Mormon Church [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] and then migrated to Utah. 

After the difficult journey to America, they settled in Willard, Utah. Upon arriving in Willard, the sons immediately found work. John Henry’s schooling was very limited and much of his knowledge was obtained by experience and self learning. The Union Pacific Railroad was being built westward and John was employed by Sharp & Young in Echo Canyon with his brother, Thomas. From there they were employed by their brother-in-law, John L. Edwards in Promontory. When they became of age, they homesteaded land there. When the Golden Spike was driven, joining the railroads from the east to the west, John was present at this exciting ceremony. 

He [John] went to Logan with his brother, Timothy and they became partners in the mercantile business. Later they separated and each had his own business. For a time, John was a fireman on a work train. Seth Thomas asked him to become a partner in a store near the Railroad Station. They were very successful. In the meantime, John met and married Martha Williams of Logan who was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary Watkins Williams. They were married in the Logan Temple. 

John bought a home at 50 North 5th West in Logan and remodeled the house in 1911 and he and his family lived there for many years. 

After being in business for many years, John sold out and went to Oregon to manage a store for the Eccles Lumber Company, His family remained in Logan. At this time their children were, Mary Gwendolyn, Gladys, John Llewellyn and Martha Rachel. When Martha Rachel was 2 ½ years old, she became ill with pneumonia and John returned home. A week later, she passed away on May 7, 1879. 

John was called on a mission for the Mormon Church in the Eastern States Mission so he did not return to Oregon. He and his wife left Logan on July 4, 1897 for Salt Lake City and on the way stopped in Willard to say goodbye to his Father and family. In Salt Lake he bade his wife goodbye and went on a two-year mission. 

His mission was very successful and when he returned home he served on two home missions. Later other children were born to him and his wife, Benjamin Henry, Rolland Williams, Florence and Harrison Williams. 

John owned a large farm west of Logan which he ran with the help of Benjamin and Rolland. His son, John L., was bookkeeper and cashier for the Oregon Shortline Railroad in Logan. They built a large barn to shelter the cattle and hay. There was a large dam of water across the farm where Benjamin would take everyone, especially the children, for rides in a boat he had built. 

One morning, upon returning from Sunday School, they found there was a large fire on the farm. The barn, hay and some of the cattle were destroyed. This was a very difficult tragedy for them to have this great loss. 

John loved music, both classical and religious and often purchased operatic arias for his “Edison” phonograph. While he was a young man in Willard he taught young people to play different musical instruments. He played the flute and also taught others to play this instrument. At John’s funeral, Hal Farr, an accomplished flutist in Logan, played a solo and said that John Henry Davis had taught him his only lessons on this instrument. John had an excellent bass voice and sang in the Logan Tabernacle. He loved sitting at the piano and playing hymns for his family who would gather around and sing the different parts. 

He was the first stockholder in the First National Bank in Logan and served as Director for many years. His health was poor and he passed away May 5, 1928. 

The following was written by his daughter, Florence Davis Ross in 1979: 

During 1868-69, the Railroad was built in Utah. By December, 1872, the road had been extended through Ogden to Brigham City, then north along the Petersboro Hills to Mendon. Here the first cars to get into Cache Valley arrived on December 20, 1872. When the train arrived on the west side of the summit, coming towards Cache Valley, it was unable to make the grade and all hands, including those of a number of men and boys from Logan who had gone over to see it, helped push it over the top. 

The coming of the railroad made a considerable change in the population. Many of the men working on it, or for it, came to Logan to live either temporarily or permanently. My Father was among them. He was a fireman on the train. For the convenience and accommodation of the Railroad patrons and workers, several business houses were built along Depot Street (6th West) and until the early 1900’s, it was quite a commercial center. Timothy Davis ran a general merchandise store and another store was built by my Father on the corner of Center and Depot streets. 

Logan became the Division Headquarters for the Company* and a small roundhouse turntable and machine shop were built west of the Depot. In 1877, the company began building the Railroad north into Southern Idaho and the line was known as the “Utah Northern Railroad”. 

About 18_0[1880?], the Depot which is still being used as such, by the Oregon Short Line Railroad, was built. For a number of years after it was finished, it was a popular place for the young people of the town to congregate and spend their leisure time, especially on Sunday afternoons, where they could watch and wait for the trains to come in. 

The Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) authorities became quite concerned about this and to correct the condition, the Bishops of the Wards were advised to try to find other recreation for their young people. At one of the meetings, a speaker said he thought the attendance of Sunday School would be better if there were few fast horses and good buggies being used on the Sabbath. 

On November 1. 1878, the Logan Tabernacle had been completed and it was dedicated by President Wilford Woodruff. Alexander Lewis was the Leader of the Tabernacle Choir. My Father was a member of that choir. 

One of the organists was Evan Stephanes, the composer of several Mormon Hymns. On April 6, 1893, by invitation, Alexander Lewis took his Choir and sang at the dedicatory services for the opening of the Salt Lake Temple. 

• See Railroads in Utah, Page 111.