WILLIAM LEWIS –
BIOGRAPHY
Published by Alice
Morrey Bailey in Heirs to the Kingdom
Information compiled
by Jane Rawlinson Geertsen
William Lewis (Gwilym Ddu) was born in Manorowen, near
Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales,
25 April 1807. Here he attended the parish schools which were conducted in the
English language until 13 years of age, at which time he was apprenticed to the
mason’s trade. He made a thorough study of Welsh literature and became an
acknowledged scholar in his native language. He was a poet of considerable
ability and won many prizes and medals in the Eisteddfodau of Wales.
He embraced the gospel under the ministry of Captain Dan
Jones, in 1848, and sailed from Liverpool in the ship Buena Vista, 26 February
1849. This was the pioneer company of Welsh saints and considered of 249
persons under the direction of Captain Dan Jones. The started westward from Council Bluffs on July 4,
with George A. Smith captain. They arrived in Great Salt Lake City,
October 27, taking 155 days to make the journey of 1,034 miles. Their teams
were heavily laden, and they encountered rain and hail storms. Their cattle
also stampeded and at South Pass they were
overtaken by a heavy storm in which 70 animals were frozen.
Immediately upon his arrival in the Valley he entered the
building activities of the new city.
He worked on President Young’s White House, the stone wall enclosing his
property, the Lion House, the old Deseret News building, the wall enclosing the
Temple block and the foundation of the Salt Lake
Temple, the State House
in Fillmore and many other public buildings.
He was the promoter of the first Eisteddfodau held in Salt Lake.
Being educated in Welsh and English, he was much sought by the early arrivals
from his native land; he wrote their songs and love letters, performed their
marriages, drew up their wills, preached their funeral sermons, and wrote their
epitaphs.
He was a good citizen and a devoted member of the Church in
which he held the office of Seventy. He died September 1875.
This was a sketch written by his son Walter J. Lewis and
published in the Deseret News about 1910.
This company of 249 Welsh people were the first foreign
speaking immigrants to the LDS
Church. Sixty of their
number died of cholera between St. Louis and
Kanesville on the Missouri River.
Very little is known of William’s family life in Wales. He
married Ann Edward, and to them were born five children: Mary, Thomas, Henry
Edward, Ann and John. According to the records most of the children died young.
His wife died in 1847. Henry Edward, one of his sons came to Utah later.
After arriving in Great Salt Lake City William Lewis married
a widow, Charity Prows. Two children were born to them. Lemira was born 21
August 1851 in Salt Lake City,
and Joshua was born 25 March 1853 in Fillmore. Joshua died at birth.
William married Ann Evans in plural marriage, 9 August 1852.
They built a house at 740 South
Temple Street in the Sixteenth Ward. Six children
were born to them: William Joseph, Walter Joseph, Evan Joseph, Rachel Ann,
Eliza Maria, and Fortunatus Octavius, which meant he was fortunate to have had
eight sons. This last one was called Nate. William Joseph lived only five days.
Evan, Eliza and Nate all died within a week of scarlet fever in May 1865.
William was a very kind and loving father. All of his
children were very fond of him. He died very suddenly on 27 September 1875. He
had gone to the Stevenson farm, south of Salt
Lake City, to build a molasses mill. It seemed that he
had sat down to rest and passed away.
His children married as follows: Lemira married Charles Wm.
James Rawlinson and became the mother of 9 children. Walter J. married Emily
Elsmore. Six children were born to them. Rachel Ann married Eli A. Folland and
became the mother of 12 children. Henry Edward did not marry.
The following was copied from an article published in the Deseret News announcing the Welsh
celebration of St. David’s Day, March 1, 1950, to be held in the
Newhouse Hotel.
“The first Utah
celebration was in 1852 at the home of Daniel Daniels at 6th West
and South Temple Streets. Several score persons attended and Thomas E. Jeremy
was Mater of Ceremonies. A guest of honor was William Lewis (Gwilym Ddu) called
Poet Laureate of Wales. He read an original poem which was well received by the
audience.”
