DAVID PRICE DAVIS
David Price Davis was born October 11, 1825 in Tyryrabad Parish, Breconshire, Wales. He was baptized in
Tir Abbot Church,
Breconshire, South Wales. He
was one of six children born to David Davis and Catherine Price. He was of
average size and had dark brown hair and blue eyes.
His first wife was Mary Williams, sister to Samuel D.
Williams. They lived in Breconshire, Wales.
They had two children, the eldest of whom was Daniel W. Davis. David Price
Davis's occupation in Wales
was that of a school teacher and station master. There is very little
information about his wife Mary, who refused to join the Latter-day Saint
Church and come to America
with him. He, therefore, left her and came alone. She died October 20, 1888 in Brecknock, Wales.
He sailed from Liverpool,
England, 17 April 1855, on the ship Chimborazo,
arriving in New York. In those
days it took from five to six weeks for a ship to make the crossing. From New
York he crossed the plains with some of the pioneers
and came to Salt Lake City, Utah.
While in Salt Lake City, he worked
at odd jobs and at the depot.
His second wife was Alice Stuart of Salt
Lake City. They had one son David Joseph Davis. They
were divorced because of a difference of religion.
He was married to Hannah Treharne for a short time, and
they had one son David Davis.
He then married Elizabeth Griffith. She had also
emigrated from Wales
and had crossed the plains with her parents and other pioneers. She was sixteen
years younger than her husband. They were married in the Endowment House. They
lived in Salt Lake City a short
time before moving to Samaria, Idaho
in Malad Valley.
Their first home was a two-room log cabin. They had seven children: twins, Lucy
and Maggie (Maggie died at birth). They were followed by
three boys: Edward Henry, Owen Thomas, and William Price.
Then came another girl, Elizabeth. Their last child
was a son, David Griffith (the Griffith
after his mother).
Their log cabin was by the cold springs near Sam Thorpe's
place. When David G. was one year old they moved to Gwenford,
Idaho near the old grist mill. The house
was a two-room lumber cabin bought from John Jensen of Brigham
City, Utah. They carried water
from the spring in buckets. Later they bought a barrel, made a sleigh for it
and hauled the water that way.
David Price Davis filed on a homestead of 160 acres in
Pleasant View, five miles from Gwenford. He was a pioneer of Malad
Valley. He was the first school teacher in Samaria,
Idaho. He was also Justice of the Peace in
Malad and had the privilege of marrying many people. He was active in community
and church affairs. He had great faith in the Gospel and the gift of healing,
and was often called to administer to the sick. He wrote the blessings given by
Patriarch John Stephen Morris. He was quick-spoken but considered a good public
speaker.
He was a widower for fifteen years before his death at
the age of seventy-nine. He died 12
November 1904 and is buried in the Samaria
Cemetery.
--Della Davis Orem
