HISTORY OF JOHN [G]
JONES
By “J” Petty Jones,
Grandson
23 March 1987
John [G] Jones was one
of eight children born to David Jones and his wife Ann Laurence. The children
are: (1) John Jones, abode, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire,
South Wales, buried in Llanelly, Brecon [Brecknockshire], South
Wales, 2 August 1829, age 12 days. (2) John [G] Jones, born 27 November 1830, Llanelly, Brecknockshire, South
Wales. (3) Shadrach Jones, born 17 November 1832, Llanelly, Brecknockshire, South
Wales. Shadrach while on a mission (returning to his native Wales)
died 24 June 1883 at Ravenhill Swansea-Higher,
Glamorganshire, age 50 years. (4) Adelaide
Jones, died 22 February 1838 at Garndiffaith, Trevethin, England, age 2 years 6 months. (5) Eleazar or Eleazer Jones, died 13 July 1840 at Dowlais,
Glamorganshire, age 3 years. (6) Eleazar Jones
died 18 March 1843, Cwmcelyn [Aberystwth], Monmouthshire, England,
age 3 years 5 months. (7) Ann Jones, christened 11 September 1843,
age 3 months, Rhymney Ironworks, Parish of Bedwellty,Monmouthshire, England. (8) Eleazer Jones, born 27 July
1848 at Blaina, Monmouthshire, England. A
male no first name died as an infant not listed above.
John [G] Jones was
christened in the Wesleyan Methodist circuit in Llanelly parish
of Llanelly, County of Brecon the 28th day of January
1831. His father was a miner and John as a young boy of seven years of age
worked with his father “under the earth”, he said. The family moved many times
following the work from place to place. Young John learned the trade of his
father and made it his occupation in his young life.
While working as a
collier he became acquainted with Henry John [Jones] in Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, England.
Young John [and perhaps all the family] were taught the gospel. John Jones was
baptized the 9th of June 1849 by Henry John [Jones] atCoalbrookvale, Nantyglo Branch,
and he became a member of the Nantyglo Branch
where Henry Jones was residing at the time.
John Jones was
ordained a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood in July 1849 by Henry
Jones. In January 1850 he was ordained to the office of teacher in that
priesthood by William Williams. On the 3rd of May 1851 he
was ordained to the office of priest by Elder Thomas Rees. He served faithfully
in each office. He received the Melchizedek Priesthood after he, his wife and
daughter emigrated to America with
the Saints.
He became acquainted
with the daughter of Henry John [Jones] and the 12 December 1851 asked Mary
John [Jones] to be his wife for time and all eternity. The marriage took place
at the Libanus Chapel in Brynmawr, district of Crickhowell, County ofBrecon [Brecknockshire], South
Wales. They made their first home with Mary’s father whose 3rd wife Ann Jones passed away the 16th of December 1851 at Yellow Row, Sirhowy, Monmouthshire, England.
It was here at Yellow
Row, Sirhowy, their first child, a daughter, was
born 28 April 1853 and was named Adelaide.
John and Mary were
both faithful defenders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They bore testimony to many in Wales land England until
they emigrated with a company of Saints to America in
1854. There is recorded in other histories many of the experiences which they
had. I will not include them in this brief history of their lives while in Wales and England.
Mary’s father Henry
Jones and her half brother by Ann Jones, Daniel, came
to America in 1853. John [G], Mary and their eleven-month-old
daughter Adelaide sailed the 8th of April 1854 on
the ship Marshfield for America through the Port New
Orleans, Louisiana. They landed at St. Louis, Missouri, the 13th of June 1854. They were met by Mary’s father Henry Jones
and taken in a buggy to a place he had prepared for them called “Top of the
Hill” near the Gravois (river) at the outskirts of town.
Here at St. Louis, Missouri, a
second child [named John] was born 6 August 1855. He died 3 October 1856 and
was buried there at the County Farm burial grounds.
John [G] worked as a coal miner in St.
Louis until the spring of 1857. He then moved his family to Colchester, Illinois.
Here the third child [a daughter Mary Ann] was born 30 August 1857.
On the 20th of April 1856 John [G] Jones received the Melchizedek
Priesthood and was ordained to the office of Elder by Richard Evans at Gravois, St.
Louis, Missouri. He presided over a district of Saints until he moved to Colchester,
Illinois. He was instructed by President Orson Eldridge of the St. Louis Stake
to organize a branch of the Church at Colchester and preside over it until he, with his family, moved to Utah in 1859. He
joined the Edward Stephenson Company and arrived the 16th of September in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He worked for Brigham Young a month on the
stone wall on the east side of the temple. He then moved the family and they
made their home in Provo, Utah. He bought a quarter of a block (city
block) of land for a home from George Giles. There he built his home at 200
North 100 East.
John [G] Jones was
ordained to the office of Seventy in the
Melchizedek Priesthood under the hands of David Curtis 6 December 1859.
He worked as a stone mason helping to build
many of the main buildings in Provo at that time. He also worked on
the construction of roads and irrigation canals in the area. He learned to till
the soil and raise the produce that was needed to sustain life. He taught his
children his skills and above all how to work so they could, if the
circumstance required, produce and life from mother earth. He, according to his
short history, “had a total of eleven children”.
He was called to
return to his native Wales on a mission. He left 5 May 1878. He said,
“I bore my testimony to thousands and had the privilege of leading many down
into the waters of baptism.” During his last year of his mission he was
President of the Welsh Conference. On returning home in 1880 he was made
President of a company of Saints emigrating to Utah on
board ship.
The 24 August 1883 he
was set apart as one of the Presidents of the 45th Quorum of Seventy and worked in that capacity until 1902. He wrote these thoughts: “There is no
flock, however watched and tended, but one dead lamb is there! There is no
fireside, howsoe’er defended, but has one
vacant chair”.
Some of his children
passed to the great beyond before he did. On 27 September 1886 he said, “came the greatest trial of my life when I was forced to
lay to rest my dear wife and companion”. He then wrote in his journal:
In all our sorrow and trouble
We look to the great beyond for consolation
And receive it only thru the Holy Ghost.
Why should we morn
[mourn] for death is sweet
To the soul that dies in Jesus love.
Though called to part we soon shall meet
In holier happier
realms above.
John [G] Jones was
ordained a High Priest by David John the 6th of July 1902. On
the 13th of July 1902 he was called and ordained
a Patriarch by President Joseph F. Smith, President of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. He gave many patriarchal blessings to members of
the Church as well as to those of his family. He said, “For many years I have
desired this latter gift, that before I was laid to rest I might have the
privilege of blessing my children. This wish being granted my soul is filled
with great joy, and when I look upon my past labors it reflects light and
happiness unexpressible.”
He was called to the next step of eternal
progression, the Spirit Paradise of God, and completed his work here in
mortality. He died 14 March 1914 and was laid to rest at the side of his
beloved wife in the family plot in the Provo City Cemetery.
