Malad Valley Pioneers

SAMUEL WILLIAMS

(by Earl J. Thomas)

Samuel Williams was born April 10, 1826 at Brinmellon Farm, Breckonshire, South Wales and embraced the gospel when a young single man.  He was the son of Ruth Jones and Daniel Williams.  His grandparents were William Jones and Mrs. Margaret Jones, Roderick Williams and Mrs. Elizabeth Williams.

He married Ann Price.  She was born on his birthday, April 10, 1826.  They grew up on neighboring farms.  She was a Latter Day Saint before her marriage.  To this union were born four children, Daniel, Mary Ann, Ruth and Samuel John.  He planed to come to America before his children were born, and sold everything from the farm and paid the first payment for passage to America.

While preparations were being made to make the voyage, grandmother Ann Price Williams fell from the loft in the barn to the floor and was so badly injured they had to give up the trip at that time.  But grandmother was consoled by seeing in a dream the suffering and deaths of the saints on the plains.  When she awoke from the dream, she told grandfather what she had seen, and he said that he believed it was well they did not go as the saints were starving and suffering so and dying on the plains.  That was in 1853.

Grandfather restocked the farm and stayed there 15 years longer.  During those years, his four children were born and his wife died and was buried in Wales.  Grandmother Ann Price Williams died very suddenly in the night and, being a long distance from neighbors, grandfather had to leave the children with their dead mother while he went for help.  He called the children and told them their mother was dying, then he put his children in bed by their dead mother and left the house to bring back friends to the saddened home.

He married Elizabeth Parry in 1866, and brought her to America.  To this union were born 11 children.  Elizabeth was born in Wales, the others in America.  He once more sold everything he owned and left Wales.

The family prepared to come to America and grandfather never intended to leave Daniel in Wales, but when he went to Grandfather Price to get his son to bring him to America, Grandfather Price with tears streaming down his face, said, “Samuel, if you take the boy from me, it will break my heart.”  So, Grandfather Williams left his son with his grandfather, Daniel Price.  It is said, when returning home from this errand, that he came to the top of the hill and looked back over the farm that he would never see again.  As he stood there, he could see his little boy driving the cows home.  Realizing that was the last time he would ever see his son in this life, great grief took possession of him and he fell to the ground and wept in agony and sorrow because he was leaving his eldest son in Wales forever.

It was hard treatment for grandfather, but he did it for the Gospel’s sake.  He never let Mary or Ruth see their brother before leaving Wales as he knew the parting would be too hard for them.  So the children never knew that they were seeing their brother for the last time.

Another incident is related of grandfather’s greatness.  He had gone one evening to call on friends and left Mary, Ruth and Samuel John home on the farm.  When bedtime came, Ruth said she would sit by the fireplace and wait for father to come home.  Mary, taking Sammie on her arm and a candle in the other hand, went up the stairs to bed.  Mary was 12, Ruth 11 and Sammie one year old.  She was not gone long when Ruth called in a cold, scary voice, “Mary.”  Mary answered and Ruth said, “There is someone here on the floor, like a man.”  Mary, picking up Sammie, went down the stairs to her sister.  They were crying and frightened when grandfather opened the door and in a stern voice said, “Who is here?”  I met the fellow down by the field gate when I was coming home and he stood in the center of the floor and commanded all the unclean spirits to leave the dwelling in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ.  He was a true believer in the Gospel and had many experiences with the power of Satan.

The family left Wales from Liverpool, June 4, 1868, in the sailing vessel, “Old John Bright.”  They were six weeks on the sea and traveled across the plains by mule team under the direction of Captain Hato.  Grandfather had the measles on the plains and Mary had the mountain fever when they arrived in Salt Lake City, August 24, 1868.  After arriving in Salt Lake City they camped under a shed in the old tithing yard where the Hotel Utah stands today.  They stayed there on week and then went to Brigham City to his father’s place.

His parents had been in America 15 years before he came.  His brother, John Williams, came to Brigham City with a wagon and took the family to Malad.  He also had been in this country for 15 years. The family stayed in Malad the first winter and in the spring grandfather moved to Samaria and lived the rest of his life quietly and peacefully.

Grandfather was a prince among men and well respected by all who knew his worth.  He served as president of the Samaria ward for some time.  It can be said of him that he was a true Latter Day Saint, a peaceful neighbor, a good citizen and a loving and tender father.  He passed away quietly August 24, 1900 and was buried at Samaria.  His life is worthy of emulation and he lives forever in eternity.