Edward and Joannah Morgan Woozley

By Marie J. Smith Gleed

Edward Woozley, musician and farmer, was born May 5, 1842, in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, South Wales. His parents were Timothy and Jane Jones Woozley. He had one brother and four sisters: William, Jane, Margaret, Jennet, and Mary Alice.

The Woozley name is found in the Carmarthenshire district in the 1700's, and after the political unrest and social depression in the early 1800's, the name can be found in the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare coal mining areas. Many Welsh families moved to these areas seeking better living conditions. The Woozley name is thought to be of English origin, rather than Welsh.

In 1861, the Timothy Woozley family is found in Madee Hamlet, near Treorky. Son, Edward, 19 years old, is listed as a coal miner on the Merthyr Tydfil district census.

The family believed in educating their children, and Edward received extensive education for his day. His handwriting gave evidence of much training and beauty. In a time when a 'mark' was all most could write, it is an indication of the value placed on such teaching, as most of the children in the family could write their name and were skilled musicians. Edward was an accomplished musician and at one time played before the Queen of England. He wrote many musical compositions and was a teacher, director, and leader of many musical groups during his lifetime. His brother, William, was also well trained in music.

In 1857, Edward became interested in a new religion that was being talked about in Wales. On January 31, 1858, he was baptized into the Latter Day Saint or Mormon faith.

At the age of 24, he married Joannah Morgan, 16 years old, daughter of Samuel and Catherine Thomas Morgan. She was born July 1, 1851, in Pentrych, Wales. They were married in Ponty Pridd, August 20, 1866.

In 1867, a son, David, was born but lived only a few months and was buried in Treorky. While still living there, Lucy their first daughter, was born March 17, 1869.

Joan accepted her husband's religious beliefs and was baptized July 7, 1869. The prevalent belief of most of those baptized into the Mormon religion was to gather in Zion. So, on August 25, 1869, Edward, Joan and six-month-old Lucy, left from Liverpool, England, on the "Minnesota" and emigrated to America.

They arrived in the United States and took the new railroad across the land. They stopped in Willard City, Utah, where other Welsh immigrants had settled. The "Welsh Settlement" was north of where the tabernacle now stands in Willard. Moses Dudley donated the land for the building. The Welsh brought with them many skills and they built many solid rock houses that still stand there today.

Edward moved his family onto Malad Valley, as many friends and relatives had continued onto a little settlement just west of Malad, eventually to be called St. John, Idaho. Catherine Jane was born in Malad, July 11, 1871.

But believing that opportunities for musical advantages lay in Willard, the family moved back there for a short while. Edward became known for his musical abilities and was present on many occasions when dignitaries were honored. He was a friend of Evan Stephens, who later became Tabernacle Choir director.

Edward organized the first brass band in Willow Creek, an early name for Willard.

Willow Creek's first brass band was organized under the leadership of Prof. Edward Woozley, a very efficient musician. Other members of the band were William Woozley, George Mears, Fred Ward, Daniels Stephens, and David S. Stephens.

For some reason, Edward took his little family to California, possibly still seeking opportunities to better their living conditions. Another daughter, Mary, was born in Morton Villa, near Los Angeles. Los Angeles now covers that area. Mary's birthday was October 19, 1873.

They returned to St. John settlement in 1874, where Edward applied for citizenship papers on June 9 of that year. In 1876, on July 3rd, he received his citizenship certificate.

Still another daughter, Rebecca, was born in St. John, on September 23, 1876.

Edward became involved in community affairs and continued his musical career. On July 3, 1877, the county board orders laying out of the Upper St. John road, from Bannock Mountain to Samaria, and from St. John east to Devil Creek on petition of Edward Woozley and other St. John signatures. A brass band was organized in Malad and Samaria with Edward as leader.

The only son, Timothy Morgan Woozley, to live to adulthood, was born October 6, 1878, in St. John.

The 1880 Census lists the family as living in St. John and has Edward listed as a farmer.

May 16, 1880, the last child, Alice, was born in St. John, and by this time Edward and Joan had homesteaded land and on December 20, 1882, he recorded his deed at the county courthouse, in Malad. They had "proved up" their 160 acres.

In 1884, Edward and Joan made the journey to the Logan Temple, where they received their endowments and sealing.

Joan died September 24, 1887, having been an invalid for several years.

Her daughter wrote the following history:

"Mother was born in Treorky, Wales, in 1850, the daughter of Samuel and Catherine Morgan. There were eleven children in the family: David, Evan, Joan, Becca, William, Mary, Jane, Nettie, John, Gwendolyn and Catherine. In 1866, she married to Edward Woozley at Pont Pridd, Wales, in the Sardis Chapel, by David Powell. Two children were born to them there. David died, and when Lucy was six months old, they came to this country. They settled in Willard, Utah, for a short time, then came to Malad where Janey was born. Then they went back to Willard. In a short time they went to California, where Mary was born in the town of Morton Villa, then came back and settled in St. John, Idaho, where Becca, Tim and Alice were born. She had very poor health, and the last six years of her life were spent in bed, except when she went over to the Logan Temple.

One incident in her life was when her mother died in Wales. It took a letter one month to get here; and when Father read it, he kept it in his pocket for two days, afraid to let her read the news, on account of her weak condition. But when he gave it to her, she said she had been waiting for a letter to tell her of her mother's death. She said she had stood by her bed and talked to her. It never upset her at all. She died in September, 1887, of typhoid fever. Records show Joannah Morgan born Pentyrch, Glamorganshire, Wales.

Daughter Alice died in October that same year, just seven years old.

The 1900 Census, Oneida County, Idaho, Malad District, shows Edward Woozley, music teacher, living with his daughter, Rebecca, dressmaker, and Timothy M., a laborer; the family living in St. John.

Rebecca married Daniel James; Lucy married Edward Monson; Jane married John Hyrum James; Mary married Burnett Smith; Timothy married Mary Ellen Jones.

Edward Woozley's death on May 13, 1905, ended his adventure with life and his love for music. He was 63 years old, and he was buried beside his wife, Joan, and his daughter, Alice, in the St. John Cemetery.

(From St. John, Oneida County, Idaho: A collection of personal histories from the time of the first settlers to the present day, pp. 274-275.)