Richard Jones
was born 5 March. 1819 in Llangoranog.
Cardiganshire, South Wales
to William Jones and Mary Thomas Jones. The residence of the family was
at Llanybyther. His parents kept a Tavern, which was
called "Cross Hands". He was always known as Richard Cross Hands.
Richard became a member of the Latter-day
Saints Church while a very young man. He was baptized in March, 1846. He was
not a gifted speaker, but was an exceptionally good singer and often
accompanied the Elders of the Church on their missionary travels contributing
his efforts in song.
He was a stately man with large blue eyes. At the age of nineteen,
his hair was as white and wavy as at the time of his death. All his life, he
was a man who had very little to say and as he did not enjoy very good health,
he did very little hard labor, but he had the ability to take care of the means
he had acquired.
Mary
Hughes Evans Jones was born 8 November, 1825 in Llanybyther,
South Wales. She was the daughter of William
Evans and Elinor Hughes. Three children were born to
this couple but only Mary and her sister Rachel lived. The two girls were
baptized into the church in August of 1849. Their mother was very much opposed
to this as she was very prejudiced against Mormonism, as early converts were
urged to come to America and
Zion.
Mary met
and fell in love with Richard T. Jones. They were married 20 August, 1848.
Their first child, Alexander, was born in Wales and died there. Their second
child Ellen, was born 29 August, 1 850
in Wales.
She was only 5 weeks old when the family left Wales
for America.
They took passage on the ship "Joseph Badger", leaving
Liverpool, England
17 October 1850. Baby Ellen cried day and night during the entire trip. Mary
often said this was the most trying time of her entire life. This was
accompanied with sea-sickness and the thought of leaving her Mother, alone and
brokenhearted over the loss of her two daughters and families. The
encouragement from her devoted husband and her faith in God and the new Gospel
sustained her. They arrived in New Orleans,
22 November, 1850. They left Kanesville,
Iowa, in the spring of 1851, beginning the tedious
and perilous journey across the plains for Utah, arriving there 27 September, 1851.
Thev
remained in Salt Lake a little over three years with no
permanent home. Richard worked for Heber C. Kimball most of the time. He looked
upon Heber as a father and he later named a grand-child after him. While in Salt Lake City their third
child, Mary Jane was born 19 January, 1853.
In October, 1853,
they moved to Brigham City, Utah. While living in Brigham City other children came to bless
their home. Rachel Ann. born 30 May 1855 and Richard E. born
10 November, 1857. William T. born 18 March, 1860, Hannah, born 17 June, 1862, and
Margaret Hettie, born 24 October, 1864.
During the
sojourn at Brigham City, the order came from
President Brigham Young to move south as Johnston's
army was coming and threats had been made to completely annihilate the Mormons.
At this time, Mary also learned of the death of her mother in Wales, who died of a broken heart soon after her
daughters left for America.
To add to her loneliness, her sister Rachel and family, hearing of the gold
rush in California, moved their family to California, where they
remained a few years. The father Benjamin Jones died. Only two months later, his
wife gave birth to a baby girl and both she and the baby died, leaving four
young children alone in California.
The oldest boy, William, only seventeen years old, assumed full responsibility
of father and mother and putting their few belongings into a wagon drawn by two
span of fine horses, he and his two brothers,
Benjamin and Jedd and his little sister, Mary, began
their long journey back across the hot desert
to Utah. He promised his dying mother he would take the children back to his
Aunt Mary. By the
time they reached Utah,
Richard was planning a move further north, yet when this family arrived, they
welcomed them into the family and they became one large and happy family. Mary
did not show any
partiality to any of the children, but did as much for one child as another.
In June, 1865,
this double family entered the valley
of Malad, Idaho, accompanied by
the Thomas Daniels and Daniel Thomas families and a few others. When they
arrived, their were only five families, all settling on what is known now as
Bannock Street, this being done for protection from the Indians. Here in Malad, Idaho, their last child, David E. was born 8
April, 1867.
Richard was a weaver by trade. Land was plentiful
when they first settled in Malad and while part of
the boys assisted in farming, the others considerable freighting. Soon the
family was in a position to erect what at the time was a modem large home. It
was built of red brick. That was about 1880. Their home was always open to
friends and strangers, as they lived next to the church square. Always at stake
conferences, their home would be crowded to the fullest. Beds were made all
over the floors. The Jones family provided food for both the people and their teams.
Many visiting Apostles stayed at their home. Mary was especially generous to
everyone.
Richard and Mary were good people. They were
very affectionate to each other and Richard always desired that their journey
through life would end about the same time. His wish was granted, for Mary died
28 August, 1897 at the age of 72 and he lived but one month longer. He died 30 September,
1897, at the age of 78. They were both buried in the Malad City Cemetery.
Submitted bv: Judy Jones
Pre-1870 Page 69
