A Brief Sketch of the Life of John Evan Price: Written by Himself, Translated from the Welsh Language by Mary Deer Davis

A brief sketch of the life of John Evan Price from the time of this birth which was in March 3, 1817, in the parish of Llandeilorfan in the Calvin Methodist Chapel, Brecknockshire, South Wales. My father's name was Evan Price, Mother's, Esther, they were cousins. Grandfather's: Roger Price and Reese Price, Grandmother's: Elizabeth Williams and Margaret Williams. They were born in the same parish as myself. I was raised with the Methodists until I was 20 years old, then I left the religion of my father and joined the Calvin Baptists. I remained with them 10 years.

I was married to Ruth Williams, daughter of Daniel Williams and Ruth Jones Williams. The last day in May 1841 we moved to Aberysgyr Parish. We lived there 5 years and had our first daughter, born Hester, 30 October 1842. We moved from there to Llangsnyel. Monty Bran Parish and had Isaac, born 17 May 1845 and died May 1846. We moved from there to Brecknock town. I worked there with the farmers, moved from there to Llanelly Brecknock Shire and had David born 4 March 1847 and died the same year.

I heard the Latter-day Saints preach the first Bryn Maur, William Hughes of Merthyr Tydfil and Thomas Pugh of Cromavon, and I was convinced of the truth they preached. In this time I mvoed to Cwnamon Carmarthen Shire and had work sawing timber for the coal workers. Here there were two elders, Captain Dan Jones had sent on a mission, John Griffith and James Phillips. I went to them and bought a book, "THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH AND THE CHURCH." I went to hear them preach and was baptized by John Griffith, 26 of September 1847, at Cumamon Llansilorfan at 10 oçlock on Sunday morning. There were hundreds of people present. January 1848 I went to Myrther Conference and was called priest by Captain Dan Jones. I was ordained 3 of February 1848, by John Griffith. I preached in Cumamon scores of times. I baptized 5 people. I preached and sold book in Gaoterfaur many times where they were cursing and swearing at the Saints and we were persecuted very much. I preached in Waincregurwain. I preached in Cwrntorch Rystradgyralais, Cwmgorseand rosin and Llanbey, annd Gorselas, In Little Town, Myrther, Pistell, Groselas and Bnprenareth. Many times I preached in Llandilorfan, a very bad place to persecute the saints, throwing rocks and potatoes and rotten turnips after us, and telling all manner of lies by the religious men of Llandilorfan. I had to run on times with the mob after me. I preached Llevinherdican many times we had heard many discussions and persecutions by the clergy men of other religious sects. We baptized nine of their members in spite of their persecutions. I preached in Byrnyaceluceand Abugorleob and sold books.

David Williams and myself commenced our way to Brecknock Shire to testify the truth of the gospel to our relatives. After we crossed the Black Mountains we went to Pantarlbacha where brother Griffith Jones lived so that we could rest and eat our lunch we had with us. We were persecuted and David Williams was whipped and dragged through the mud and mud thrown on him with Griffith Jones' wife, for our being Latter-day Saints. We went from there on Saturday night to Gllynth to my aunt's place, my fathers sister. We preached on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. There were hundreds of people hearing us and at 6 in Gillingwearth in Thomas Davises house. The house was filled with people. On Monday we went to Llandilorfan to my father-in-law's house. We were there all day trying to convince them of the truth of Mormonism. We preached Monday night in David P. Davises house, and there were a great many of the old Methodists brethern present listening attentively. On Tuesday morning we baptized my mother-in-law and her son Daniel. We had thirty five miles to walk to his place. We gave and sold a great many books on our journey. We returned from this place to Tracastall to see brother Jonathan J. Thomas and family. We went from this place over the mountains offering books in every house we would see.

On the 16 of April, Ruth was born 1848 at 2 p.m. in Cwamman. I preached in Masgnara in a gentleman's house and we baptized his wife. I preached in Ben Evans house. He lived in the next house to the Reverend Davises house and while we were preaching Rev. Davises daughter threw chamber lye on us and making all manner of fun of us. In the meantime the president of the conforence came here and gave me permission to move with my family to Llanfatog to preach and establish a branch. I went for six months every Sunday morning at ten o'clock in Llangstog and returned home the same night 32 miles. I took my food with me every Sunday. All were afraid to let come into their houses because of our being LDS.

I was ordained elder 19 May 1849 by President Griffith. On the 25th of August I moved with my family to Dyfrin town where there were no LDS living nearer than fifteen miles and all looking on us as black sheep in that place. We were there a long time and no one would ask us in their houses they were afraid to speak to an L.D.S. for fear they would charm them. The Baptists were offering me work if I would leave the church and join them. I should go as their preacher to Cwinavor with them. I bore my testimony to them and told them I would not leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints even if they would give me the Kingdom of Great Britain. My wife and myself were praying daily, the Lord would give us strength to withstand every opposition and that He would open people's hearts to give me employment, that I may be able to get a little food for my wife and children, so that we could keep body and spirit together. Myself, my wife, and children kept meeting twice a week, no one else present and the Lord was blessing us with the gift of the Holy Ghost. My wife speaking in tongues and I interpreting and prophecying. The Lord showed to us plainly that there were honest people in this place that would come in His kingdom.

I was preaching on Sunday on the cross road where the Baptists and Independants met as they were coming out of their meetings. One of the Baptist deacon's prophecyed I would never baptize in this place, and I prophecyed in the name of the Lord I would baptize some that were in the assembly in less than three months and if I did not I was willing to have the name of false prophet, but if I did he was the false prophet. In a few days two of the assembly were baptized by me. So I was the true prophet and he was the false as he was called after that.

I baptized James Jones, a very learned man, the 26 of January 1850. He was the first baptized in DyIryntown, 12 of March I baptized Isaac Evans of Llwinfaran, a truelander and his son. 21 of March, I baptized Reese Jones, a taylor of Llangatog. April 3rd I baptized Joseph Jones and wife a miller of Valintown.

In this place I had been idle, no work and we were destitute for food. People had closed their hearts against us on account of us baptizing the people so fast. They kept us so poor we were nearly starved for the want of food. Living on a small piece of barley bread a day without anything with it but water. We lived this way for many months and during this time my wife was with child. I went to Llanville to a council meeting, I asked President Howell Williams' permission to be released for about a month to work in the hay, that I may earn a little money to get food for myself and family. He promised to put my case before the council. He told a couple of the brethern to take their hats around the assembly and gather me a little means, so that I may be able to stay at home and not go away. The brethern gathered one shilling and six pense, and not one of them ask me to come with him to sleep or offered me food to eat. It was eleven o'clock when the meeting let out and I had 23 miles to walk home. I commenced my journey home, I met a sister in the church she asked me if I was John E. Price of Llangatog? When I said I was she asked me into her home, gave me supper and a bed and breakfast the next morning and six pense in my pocket to go home with. I got by dinner to Granfoch to brother Lewis and sister Lewis gave me six pense.

I got home by evening, my wife was confined of a daughter, no person with her except two little girls, without anything to eat but a little barley bread. Brother Isaac Evans came into the house to see her and gave her two shillings and six pense for pity sake so by this time we had five shillings in all.

This baby which was named Mary was born 19 of June 1850. at 4 o'clock A.M. I went to Felintown mill to get some flour and Sister Jones gave me 17 pounds of flour without pay so I bought a lettle tea and sugar and butter and took it home with me and there was great rejoicing with my poor wife and little children and myself.

July the eighth I baptized David and Margaret and Esther Jones of Tavon Mill. On the 14 of July a branch of the church was organized at Llangathog, and I was put president. My wife in a few days after her confinement got cold and a blast fixed in her leg. She kept her bed for months. The affect of which she felt while she lived. I was administering the ordinances day and night to her, I had to attend to the baby and everything else in the house myself baking, washing. There was not a woman would come near her the house on account of the saints I preached and kept saints meeting every Sunday. I went to Llandyfar for elder Benjamin Jones to administer to my wife. While we were blessing the oil we heard the house make a noise as if it were going to fall and while we were anointing her one half of the house came down with a crash. Brother Jones took my wife in his arms and I took the little children. Brother Jones said the devil was trying to kill us. I was full of trouble without a house to go into. I went to Llangatog and got a house in Wainyotndus. I moved into it in September.

September 22 I baptized Elizabeth Jones of Ponddardwa, I preached by Abermilais gate and Pastgwinand Pentracauis and Porthead and a tavern named Feathers. September 29 I baptized David Price Llwin. Sixth of October, I baptized David Evans of the tavern, an old Baptist minister. November 3rd, I baptized Esther Price of Llangatog and Catherine Evans, the wife of the tavern owner. 24 of November, I baptized Mary Evans, daughter of the tavern 1850. I preached in Mythfa, and LLandesant and Gwinfar by Parson's Rogers house and he believed in the LDS work, but he died before he was baptized and he was very good to the saints.[1] 22 of Feb. 1851, I baptized Ann Jones of Llandwrdo. On the first of March I baptized David Evans a Blacksmith. I preached in Llangatog many times and sold books a very bad place against the saints.

One Sunday Thomas Martell and James Flied preached in Llangatog when the ministers wife was making all manner of game of them in order to draw the people's attention from them. Brother Flied rose his hand up and said from that day forth that woman would have the judgment of the Lord upon her. In a few days she was struck crazy from which she never recovered. We were here two years by the request of the President Howell Williams who promised me I should go to Salt Lake after I had established a branch, which promise he never fulfilled. Instead of going there I was counciled by brother Phillips, president of Wales, to go to Trafynog Brecknockshire, so farewell to Carmarthenshire with all of its poverty.

On the 25 of August 1851, I went to Trafynog to look for a house and work. I got a house in Trafynog and work in Cwmcamlars on the harvest, one shilling a day.

On the 31 of August I preached first Trafynog and many people were present. On the 21 of September I preached in Llandilorfan, on the 28 of September, I preached at Breckon town conference. On September 30 we moved from Lantog to Tranfynog. I preached in Pantafalyn and Pontsani and Tarestall. I went through the country selling books and preaching. In the meantime my wife took very sick. we did not expect her to live. All the neighborhood looked for her death. I brought some oil and administered the ordinance to her and she received the blessing and her health was restored, which made the people of the place astonished, it was in 1852.

I lived with my family a year in this place and I earned in this time 16 lbs and 3 shillings to support my wife and three children and I gave out of that means to every call of the church.

I was counciled by President Robers to move from Tragynof to Talgarth. On the 22 of September we moved to Talgarth. I preached in Tradomen and in Llangors and Glasberg and Talgarth and distributed books in every house in town. This was a poor place for the LDS. They were so religious and proud and they thought the L.D.S. beneath their notion.

On 17 of Nov. 1852 Daniel was born at 1 a.m. I went to seek a house and work to the Bulch. January 30, 1853 we moved. On the previous Sunday Mrs. Powell sent for me to make a settlement on the rent. I had no money. I offered her anything I had, but she wanted money or our pig. So I offered her my coat I had on and she took it. So I went home without one. I preached many times in the Bulch and Cyriavel, Llangynyd. April 6 we moved from the Bulch to Talbout in Blober. I baptized John Jones the shoemaker. I went to Llanelly many times to preach and to council meetings and to Braymaus, Tradagar, and Breckon, And Brymor and Llanfymarciome and I baptized John Jones Graiglas.

January 9, 1854 I was made President of the branch at Taylbout, I preached in Talybout and TherwinGross.

October 10 I went to John Prices House and brother Daniels, a preacher from Salt Lake City was there. Brother Price and myself preached Chapalycha and Llachafanand Star. 20 of October 1855, I went to Llanelly to pay the Talybout branch debt. I sold my fat pig to pay the old debt, that was on the branch after David Yharther, President promised me and my family permission to go to Zion, so I paid these pounds all that was oweing. I was greatly deceived by the president taking their money of them, many leaving the church because of the wickedness of the elders and presidents. 18 of January 1855 John was born at Llanfegan at 4 p.m.

I baptized Ruth Price 15 of June 1856 in Rebau. I preached in Aberdare and Hwlyfalin and Tainewith and Abermant and George town. The president of the George town branch, Henry Jones, putting myself and his first counselor to rebaptize a great many of the saints in the reformation. On the 26 of March 1856 I baptized three. After this time President Daniel's, president of Wales released me to go where ever I pleased to earn money to take myself and family to Salt Lake. We moved to Cafencoadlyma. I got work with the farmers.

In 1858 Mary was baptized by Thomas Powell on the Gafan. I was here preaching and baptizing for some time, we moved again to Cwmback Aberdare. I worked there sawing timber for Mr. Powell, coal agent... I worked here for years with my little boys to make money to come to America. I attended meetings and baptized many and preached a great deal in Cwmback and Mountain Ash and Capcoch and Aberaman.

In 1864 I sent Ruth and Mary, aged 16 and 14 years to Salt Lake City. It cost 30 pounds. In this year Daniel had his leg broken in the coal pit. We saved enough money to come to America. In May 1865, we sailed on the ship Bridgewater. We were five weeks and two days sailing from Liverpool to New York. We went from there to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. By this time our money was all gone. We received great kindness in Pittsburgh from the Welsh, they found me work. We were here 11 months. I worked 7 months and two weeks and in this time I gathered together about fifty old Mormons. With the permission of President Miles, I established a branch in Saw Mill Revine.

About the first of July, I was counciled by President Miles with 45 others to go to Detroit and meet the emigrants there and go with them to Salt Lake City, which council we obeyed. On the 18 of July we left coming through the prairie with ox team in Captain Holidays party. On the 15 of September we arrived in Salt Lake City, 1866. The next morning President Brigham Young with several others visited us in the tithing office yard and shook hands with all of us. And Bishop Hunter ordered food for all of us. The people were very liberal toward us. We left Salt Lake in a few days and went to Brigham City. Myself and wife took sick with mountain fever and were sick for two months. In February 1867 we moved to Malad, and lived with my daughter Ruth who was married to Fredrick Thomas. After which Brother Peck gave me two lots to build a house on. We were rebaptized by Brother Daniels, myself and family and I was ordained a High Priest under the hands of President Daniels, John Williams and Brother Peck.

February the 10th, 1868, I took a 160 acres of land, 8 miles west of Malad. Which place is now called Samaria. I came with my sons and built a dugout on the claim. I sold my place in Malad for a wagon and yoke of oxen. April of 1867 I moved my family over and we were the only white residents. Our neighbors were Indians.

November 16 I went with my wife to Salt Lake City and had our endowments in the Endowment house and on the 26 of December 1870, Eliza Bowen was sealed to me for time and eternity, and Mary Deer Davis of the second ward of Salt Lake City was sealed to me for time. On the 9 of June 1872 Mary gave birth to a daughter, which was named Margaret Ann. Elizabeth Bowen Price went to her sons in Ogden, took sick and died September 2, 1873 and on the 22 of September, my first wife Ruth died after a long illness of many years and was buried on the 23.

On the 23 of December I was baptized for 36 of my ancestors and dead relatives. Evan Price, my father, Evan Price, my brother, Jeffery Price, Roger Price, brother, brother Roderick Price, brother David Price, Brother Isaac, Roger Price father brother Roderick Price, my cousin Daniel, cousin, Ebenezer, David Morgan, Cousin, Daniel Thomas, Cousin, Roger Williams, uncle, David Price, uncle, John Price, uncle, Evan Price, cousin, Roger Price, cousin, John Price cousin, David Williams, uncle, John Williams uncle, Thomas Williams uncle, Edward Williams uncle, William Williams, uncle, Evan Williams, uncle, Edward Williams second cousin, David Williams Second cousin, Thomas Williams second cousin, Thomas Williams 2 second cousin parson of the Church of England. Thomas Rogers, a friend.

The 15 of December Margaret Williams Powell was sealed to me for time. On the 16 I was baptized for 26 of the dead, 1873. Evan Pugh, uncle, Evan Pugh cousin, John Pugh uncle, Roger Pugh uncle, John Jones uncle. John Davis Uncle, Daniel Morgan uncle, John Williams, uncle, William Thomas uncle, Owen Davis, uncle, Reese Price uncle, Thomas Price uncle, Thomas Jones, sister's husband, Evan Evans, Peter Lewis, Friend David Williams, William Howard friend, Owen Williams, James Jones, William Jones, David Thomas, Cilon Davis, Thomas Williams, William Williams, Evan Pugh and Pauly Lilin a friend.

Margaret Williams Powell Price was baptized for the following females and was sealed proxy to me. Catherine Jenkins, Ann Powell and Eleanor Powell. Daniel H. Wells officiating.

17 March 1875 Mary had her second daughter born who was named Elizabeth Jane. In the fall of 1875 I was convicted of polygamy. President Daniels counciled me to leave the Idaho territory and go to Utah, so that they may not find me so easily, so I spent the winter in Utah. In the spring I came home. In June I went to Malad and was eating dinner in my daughter Ruth Thomas' house when the deputy sheriff, Caleb Jones arrested me and took me to prison for polygamy. On Saturday. On Monday following Henry Peck and John Williams bailed me out for one thousand dollars, I was to appear in November, at which time I appeared and the trial was put off until the following July, at which time I appeared. There was none of the witnesses who could swear they saw me go through the ceremony of marriage, therefore Judge Preckatt said I was free and district attorney said there was not evidence enough against me.