Biography of Ruth (Price) Thomas

Ruth Price Thomas was born in Cumammon, Carmarthenshire, South Wales on April 16, 1848. She was the daughter of John Evan Price and Ruth Williams Price. There were eight brothers and sisters: Esther, Ruth, Mary, David, Jacob, Daniel, John and Annie.

She attended school until she was 13 then she went to work in different homes. At one place she worked, the lady of the house would put money around in different places to see if she would take any of it. When she found out that Ruth didn't take any of it the lady said, "You are honest. You can work here as long as you like."

Ruth's father and mother were very religious and went to Church, said prayers every night and morning, and always the blessing on the food. They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Mary was a young girl. After that the family suffered much persecution and hardships.

When Ruth was 16 years old and her sister, Mary, was 14, her father put money with a company that was coming to America for her and Mary to come. It was very hard to leave the family and come by themselves. When they were on the ship a storm came up and it made the sea very rough. Ruth and Mary lay on the bed, put their arms around each other, thinking that would be the last of them. Then they began to pray, asking the Lord to bless them that they could reach Utah safely. They would pray and then it would quiet down. They were very sad leaving all their family not knowing if they would ever see them again. People on the ship were very good to them.

When they reached America, they went with the ones that were going to Utah. They first came to New York and then joined a company and started for Utah with a team of horses and a wagon. They would stop to rest and hold meetings and pray at night. Ruth walked all the way. When the company stopped for the night she, along with other children, would have to gather sagebrush and buffalo 'chips' to cook their meals. Mary broke her leg so she had to ride. Ruth did their washing by hand and prepared the meals for herself and her sister. She had an Uncle, John J. Wililams, and when they arrived in Salt Lake City, he met them and took them to his home. Ruth did all kinds of work. This was in 1864. In 1865 her father, mother, and brothers came to America.

Ruth met Fred Thomas. At the time, he was not too religious but soon took his place in the Church and worked very hard in it. They were living in Brigham City at this time. In 1865 in the month of December Ruth married Fred. They were married by William Watkins in Brigham City, Utah. Then in 1875 she was sealed to her husband and her children at the Endowment House in Salt Lake.

She was the mother of eleven children: five boys and six girls. They were Joseph, Fred W., John D., Jacob, Ruth, Mary J., Esther, Eliza, Janet, Lillie and Dave. Jacob only lived a few hours and John died in 1907.

Ruth and Fred moved to Malad shortly after they were married. Their first home was on Main Street. Then they took a farm at Elkhorn, Idaho which is west of Malad. They lived on the farm in the summer. Ruth worked hard milking cows, making butter and cheese, gardening, cooking for her family, caring for her children, and sewing clothes for all the family. She would sit up working until one o-clock in the morning and then get up early. They would move in to Malad in the winter so the children could go to school and Church.

She worked in the Relief Society. One time the Church was having a Christmas party in the First Ward and Santa Claus would be there. So Ruth took her daughters Janet and Lillie and her so Dave. She didn't have anything to put on the tree for them and every time Santa would call a name for the gift, the children would think it would be for them. Santa didn't give them anything. They felt bad and couldn't see why Santa didn't give them a gift. Ruth felt awful and cried and told them all about Christmas and Santa Claus. She said never again would she do that.

At the age of 42, Ruth became ill with rheumatism and arthritis and it crippled her hands and feet for the rest of her life becoming worse each year. She had to use crutches and then a wheelchair. Fred was very good to her and took good care of her. But in spite of this, she had such a good personality that it made very one glad to see her and talk to her. Her daughters Janet and Lillie stayed most of the time to help their father take care of her.

Ruth would take her children to visit the Aunts and Uncles in Samaria for two or three days at a time. She enjoyed being with her family and the children loved it too. She loved her grandchildren very much especially Ruth Davies, Mary Parry, Irene Richards and Elizabeth Reynolds as they would take turns staying with her to help her.

Ruth and Fred celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1916. Ruth died on May 12, 1925. Fred died the next year June 12, 1926. Ruth was 77 years old at her death. She was a courageous pioneer and a valiant member of the Church. Her family all loved her dearly.