RUTH WILLIAMS PRICE
Ruth Williams Price, my grandmother, was born April 14, 1816 at Llandeilforfan,
Breconshire, South Wales. She
was the daughter of Daniel and Ruth Jones Williams. Her brothers and sisters
were Roderick, William, Reese, Daniel, Mary, John, and Samuel.
Grandmother was five feet three inches tall with brown
hair which she parted in the middle and combed straight down on both sides and
pinned in a bob at the nape of the neck. She was heavy set. She was very
patient and had a kind and loving disposition.
She was married to John Evan Price in May, 1841. They
started life together at Aberygyr where they lived
until 1845. They then moved to Llanelly, Mertyban Parish where Isaac was born on May 7, 1845 and died in 1846. Another
son, David, was born to them on April
16, 1848.
On May 1, 1850,
another daughter, Mary, was born. Grandmother was alone at the time. The only
food they had was dry barley bread and water for her and her two small girls. A
few days later she did her washing and caught cold and was confined to her bed
for many months.
They were the only Latter-day Saints in that community
and none of the people would go near them. My grandfather cared for her and
took care of the baby. She was a firm believer in prayer. She and her husband
prayed continually for her recovery and acknowledged the hand of the Lord in
her life being spared.
Another instance when her prayers were answered was when
she had no food in the house and prayed for help. She had a prompting to go
into the street. She laid her baby down and walked out into the street, not
knowing what to expect. She saw nothing and was turning to go back into thehouse when a small whirlwind rose a few feet in front of
her and when it ceased, it had uncovered a pound
sovereign. She was filled with joy and thanksgiving.
Grandmother was blessed with the gift of tongues, both in
speech and song.
She always wore the traditional Welsh hood and clothing.
She did not believe in having pictures taken. She likened them to worship of
idols and wanted no pictures of people.
One day while standing on a chair or stool to wind her
clock, she fell and broke several bones in her feet. Not having proper medical
care, she was left with a crippled foot and leg the remainder of her life.
Three
other children blessed their home: Daniel Evan, who was born 17
November 1852;
John Evan on January 18, 1855 and Ann Maria, who was born
June 14, 1859.
Grandmother
was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was
baptized October 17, 1847 by John Griffith. She had a
desire to come to this country and raise her children in a land where there was
freedom to worship.
They
left Liverpool, England May, 1865, on the ship Bridge Water. They were five weeks and
two days sailing from Liverpool to New York. From New York they went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to join other Welsh
emigrants. They stayed in Pittsburgh eleven months and went from
there to Detroit to join other Mormon converts and to migrate
West. They left Wyoming, Nebraska on July
19, 1866
and made the long trek westward by ox team in Captain John D. Holladay's
Company.
On September
25, 1866
they arrived in Salt lake City and were treated very
kindly by the Saints. President Brigham Young shook hands and welcomed them
all. They stayed in Salt Lake City three days and then started on their way to
Brigham City, Utah where Grandfather and Grandmother were stricken with
mountain fever and Grandmother was confined to bed for two months. They came to
Malad and stayed with Ruth until they were able to
build a home of their own.
They
sold their home for a wagon and team of oxen and grandmother moved to what is
now known as Samaria, Idaho where Grandfather had taken
160 acres of land. Her first home was a dugout near a spring of water. She was
the only white woman there. In two months, other pioneers came here to make
their homes and were truly welcomed by Grandmother and her family.
She
was a very hard worker. Although she was on crutches and had poor health, she
corded wool, spun yarn, and knit clothing for her family. Through all the
hardships she suffered, and with poor health, she always maintained her
patience, a jovial disposition and outstanding courage.
She
passed away September 20, 1873, and was buried the next day
at Samaria, Idaho. She contributed much to
this valley in the posterity she left behind through the following daughters
and sons: Mrs. David (Esther) Edwards, Mrs. John (Mary) Jones, Mrs. Frederick
(Ruth) Thomas, Mrs. William (Ann Maria) Roderick, Daniel E. and John E. Price.
-
Edith Evans, Granddaughter
