John Haines Williams and Sarah Jane Davis
John Haines William was born February 1, 1829, at Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, Wales, a son of John Williams and Frances Henneys. He was the fourth child of ten children, Frances, Elizabeth, Catherine, John H., Mary, David, Sarah, Richard and Joseph. His father was a collier by trade and worked hard to sustain a large family. John H. married Sarah Jane Davis, daughter of William and Margaret Davis of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales. She was born 5 July 1830 at Kidwelly, and was the youngest of nine children: Margaret, Mary, Ann, William, Eliza, John, David, Lewis and Sarah Jane.
This young couple made their home in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales, where he worked in the coal mines. Here two sons were born, William and David. Upon hearing the Gospel and the advantages of life in America, they worked and saved and made plans for a new home there. His father, now a widower, John and Sarah Jane and two sons, William and David, and his brothers David and wife, and Richard, took passage from Liverpool, England with a group of Saints in the year 1855. They were eight weeks on the water.
Landing in New York, they went to Scranton, Pennsylvania to make their home. While there they worked in the coal mines. At Scranton two more children were born, Thomas John and Ann. They lived in Scranton until 1859 and then came west, making their home in Ogden, Utah for several years. Here Eliza Bell, Sarah, John and Mary were born.
When a group of Saints were leaving for southeastern Idaho, John and Sarah Jane and eight children came to Malad Valley. They settled first in Woodruff, where George and Frances were born; then to Malad and took up a homestead of three hundred twenty acres at Gwenford. They worked hard clearing the land of sage by hand ready for crop planting. He was a lover of fine horses and cattle. Many people of the valley bought animals from him. They built a three-room log house and were happy in their new home. Here Joseph was born, the eleventh child.
Desiring the best for their children in education and having a desire to share their happiness in the truths of the Gospel, Thomas was sent to Europe and labored as an LDS missionary in England and Wales. After his return home he attended school and taught school many years. This privilege couldn't be afforded the others after the death of their father.
Sarah Jane was a very proud, cultured and refined woman, a wonderful homemaker, seamstress and cook. Many enjoyed her delicious home cooked meals. She had to make bread nearly every day. The Indians were prowlers at that time. They came to her home often, but she believed in the admonition of President Brigham Young, "It is better to feed them than fight them." This she did.
John Haines died on January 20, 1882, at the age of fifty-three. Sarah Jane worked very hard caring for her family. Her daughter Frances lived with her until her mother's death August 4, 1892. She and her husband were buried in the Malad City Cemetery.
- Mabel Davis, Granddaughter
