JOHN SILVANUS DAVIS
husband of Elizabeth P. Davis
John Silvanus Davis was born June
7th, 1822, in the town of Carmarthen,
Carmarthenshire, South Wales. At the age of 13, he was
apprenticed for seven years to a printer, where he learned the trade in all its
branches.
At about the same time, he began writing poetry, with his mother as his
critic, which appeared in various Welsh magazines.
After his apprenticeship was served, he worked at several different printing
establishments in and about Carmarthen. In the printing
office of Rev. John Jones, in Llanybyther, Carmarthenshire, were being printed
some Mormon tracts, and for the first time, in 1845, he came to hear about the
Latter-Day-Saints, in which he became intensely interested, being baptized in
the year 1846.
In October of that year, he was ordained a Teacher, and in 1848 was ordained
a Priest; becoming first counselor to William S. Phillips, president of the
Welsh Mission. During these years he wrote many tracts, hymns and poems. He had
bought an old Caledonian printing press, second-hand type, and fitted up an
office of his own at his Father's house in Llaunerdy, where beginnig January 8,
1849, for six years he was the editor and publisher of a periodical
"Udgorn Seion", (Zion's Trumpet). In March, he moved his office and
appurtenances to Merthyr-Tydfil, in compliance with the request of the
Presidency.
He put up his printing office in a house in Nantygweints, which he and Pres.
Phillips had rented. He paid L7 a week for board and washing, but slept in his
own bed (which he had brought from his father's house) in the composing room.
At this time, he began to receive the fourth part of the collection for being
secretary to the church and a scribe for Pres. Phillips, which amounted to
about S7/6c a week, out of which he paid all office expenses for stamps, paper
and ink.
He engaged Thomas Harries to assist him, as up to this time he had had no
help in publishing "Udgorn Seion". He also printed a new hymn book,
containing 194 hymns, some old and some new ones, many of which were of his own
composition.
About the same time, he printed a French tract for Elder Wm. Howells.
Besides being a compositor, pressman, editor, author, bookseller, preacher,
counselor, scribe, secretary and church doctor, on July 30, 1849, he was
appointed to operate and preside over the English Branch of the Welsh Mission,
in connection with John August and William Willis, who were his counselors.
In 1850, he was directed by Orson Pratt, a church leader, to translate the
Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants into the Welsh language.
December 30, 1850, he was married to Elizabeth Phillips in the Parish
Church, Merthyr-Tydfil.
Beginning January 7, 1851, he began to issue the "Udgorn Zeion"
every fortnight. On the first of June, he attended a conference of the L.D.S.
Church in London, where he met Erastus Snow, John Taylor and F. D. Richards,
which he reported in "Udgorn Zeion". Immediately after this, he took
his wife to London, where he had some business. They attended the Exhibition,
visiting Regent Park's Pool, Garden, Museum, Drury Lane Theatre, etc.
On December 8, 1851, their only child, a daughter, was born to them. They
named her Julia Elizabeth.
About the latter end of May, 1852, the first number of his "Treatises
on Miracles" appeared. In August, he commenced translating into Welsh and
printing "The Pearl of Great Price", which he finished October 16th
of the same year. Also, in October, he published a new hymn book, containing
575 hymns, many translated from the English edition; and some of which were his
own compositions. He finished that work in the short period of two months.
In 1852 he was stricken with cholera, which was raging through the country.
On May 20, 1853, he began a journey from Merthyr to North Wales and Dublin,
preaching in towns along the route-walking the greatest part of the distance.
November 29th, he finished writing his biography, with the intension from
that date to keep a journal, recounting all of his travels and activities.
December 5, 1853, he began packing for his emigration to Salt Lake Valley,
Utah. On December 26th, he transferred his printing office over to Daniel Jones
and spent much time closing up his personal and church accounts, binding books
and packing for the long journey.
He paid 100 pounds to buy some two wagons and teams. On January 15th, he had
word from the Liverpool branch of the Church that the Saints would have to
emigrate on the 31st day of January. On January 19th, he, with his wife and
child, went by train to see his father and mother for the last time. The
parting was very hard. They then went to Llanelly to bid farewell to his wife's
father and mother. On the 26th, nine packed boxes, a bed and miscellaneous were
taken to the station, and on the 27th his family took train for the journey to
Liverpool. Also with them went William Jones and David Morgan and their
families, whom Mr. Davis had helped to emigrate.
On the night of the 31st, they went on board the ship "Golconda".
He says in his journal, "We came on board very late and had to creep to
our berths in the dark." On February 4th, at 11 o'clock, the ship started
down the river. The whole company consisted of about 477 souls. The ship was
tugged for 15 miles; sailed favorably until about six o'clock, when a heavy
gale blew, which caused the ship to roll heavily, with much seasickness
resulting. The weather continued rough much of the voyage, and Mr. Davis found
himself very busy cooking for his wife and little daughter (his wife being
still ill from seasickness), besides attending to the duties of his office
aboard. By march 3rd, when they came in sight of the Bermuda Islands, the
weather was warm and fine. There was much entertainment aboard, mock trials,
dancing, band music, and several weddings. Meetings were held each day. The ship
anchored March 16th, and on the 17th was tugged by steamer up the Mississippi
River to New Orleans, reaching there on the 18th. The next day, the large
steamboat "John Simmons" came alongside and took them and their
luggage to No. 6 where they bought provisionis, etc.
They started for St. Louis on the 21st, on the "John Simmons". The
weather became colder as they passed Lake Providence. As they passed the town
of Napolean, they saw a number of Indians with bows and arrows, and their
squaws. They reached St. Louis in about ten days, where they remained three
weeks, buying equipment for the journey across the plains. They left St. Louis
on the steamboat, "Australia"; fitted up on the hurricane deck their
wagon beds, in which to sleep and live. They landed in Kansas in about a week,
where they took their wagons and luggage to the camping ground in McGees Park.
They remained there for about five weeks. There Mr. Davis bought six yoke of
oxen, two cows and a pony.
From Kansas, they went to the next camping ground, near Wind-mill, where the
company was organized (about 42 wagons). They started their journey from there
the first part of July. The cholera again commenced its ravages (They
experienced much of it on the voyage.) Mr. Davis and his little daughter were
both stricken for a time. Though he was a beginner in shooting, he killed many
ducks, doves and other birds, as well as rabbits, which served along with fish
to help the bacon supply, as well as making their meal more appetizing. As they
passed Fort Kearny, they came to a very large herd of buffaloes. Mr. Davis shot
a large bull and had a narrow escape when his horse stumbled and he was thrown
in front of the buffalo.
Near the same place, they passed a large camp of Indians, gathered there to
receive gifts from the Government. They were friendly and anxious to trade with
the immigrants.
The company arrived in Salt Lake City on the 25th of September, 1854, and
camped for five days across the Jordan Bridge. They turned their animals out
farther across the river. Mr. Davis went to see Brigham Young, and at first he
advised him to go into farming, but when he found out that Mr. Davis was a
printer, he (Brigham Young) counselled him to follow his trade of printing at
the Deseret News, which he entered the 18th day of December, 1854.
He bought a lot from Brigham Young for $500.00, of one-half acre, on the
Northwest corner of 4th South and 2nd East, across the street from the present
City and County Building. On the lot was a log house of three rooms, and the
family moved into it the 2nd of October. Much time was spent in improvements,
planting trees, gardening and building a barn, etc. He had a cow, chickens and
pigs.
He kept at his printing at the Deseret News, besides preaching at meetings
held in the Bowery on Pioneer Square, which is the block on which the City and
County Building now stands, and where immigrants camped upon their arrival in
the Valley, many of whom were passing through to California. His wife gave many
meals gratis to these weary travelers. She also cared for their sick, once
nursing back to health a man, who, in a dying condition, had been left behind,
as his company moved on to California. She and Mr. Davis also afforded many
nights of refreshing sleep to these travelers on straw mattresses, which they
put in all available space in their house.
Mr. Davis also held Welsh meetings at Thomas Jeremy's house, and he taught
English there to the Welsh immigrants.
He was a member of the High Priest Quorum.
In April, 1855, he began to build a new two-story house on his lot. He had
the inside adobes made from the cellar clay. The house was not finished until
May, 1856. It was called the "big house" for many years.
Early on the 23rd of July, 1856, according to invitation, he, with his
family, started with President Brigham Young and selected company to the
headwaters of Cottonwood Canyon, where they spent the 24th; when couriers
brought news of the approach of Johnson's Army into the Valley. On account of
the coming of that Army, and the order of Brigham Young, a general exodux from
Salt Lake City to Fillmore City, Millard County, the capital of Utah at that
time, took place. Mr. Davis and his family, with their belongings, left Salt
Lake City, April 16, 1858, arriving at Fillmore, April 26th, making the trip by
oxen team in ten days. They lived at one of Alan Russel's log houses. The Deseret
News printing press had been removed to Fillmore, and the Deseret News
continued to be published. They remained in Fillmore until September 11th, when
they returned to Salt Lake City. On October 4th, the Deseret State Fair was
held in the Social Hall on State Street.
He worked at times in the "Valley Tan" printing. The "Valley
Tan" was an early non-Mormon newspaper. December 31st, he delivered a
lecture on Astronomy (a subject he was very conversant with) at the Welsh
"Eisteddvod" in the 15th Ward.
On May 11th, 1859, he had word from his father, informing him that his
mother had died February 4th near Carmarthen, Wales.
In August, 1859, he became foreman of a new newspaper, called the
"Mountaineer", later called the "Utah Herald". At the same
time, he was assisting at the Deseret News office. December of that year he was
elected Public Printer for the Legilative Assembly.
About 1861, Mr. Davis, through ill health, was obliged to give up his work
as printer, and for one year was unable to work. With $100 saved by Mrs. Davis,
a large sum in those days, they stocked and opened a small store in the front
room of their house. The business flourished until 1870, when the Ward
Co-Operative Stores were organized.
As he would not be in competition with the store in his ward, he rented a
piece of land from President Brigham Young, on First South Street, almost
opposite the Old Salt Lake Theatre, and built a store there. He later built a
two-story house connected with his store, where the family lived for five years.
In 1876, the old Davis home in the 8th Ward was rebuilt, and the family
returned to it in October of that year. It was at this home that, December 8,
1876, their daughter Julia was married to Joseph L. Rawlins.
Six years later, 1882, Mr. Davis died, after a lingering illness. Mr. Davis
was of a gentle, retiring disposition, but was a strong and independent and
original thinker.
