12. | William Nash Thomas was born 24 Feb 1835, Haroldston West, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom; was christened 20 Mar 1835, Freystrop, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom (son of David Thomas and Elizabeth Nash); died 14 Feb 1923, Paradise, Cache, Utah, United States; was buried 17 Feb 1923, Paradise, Cache, Utah, United States. Notes:
1835 BIRTH: South Wales,Pembrokeshire,Haverfordwest-Merlin Bridge: William Nash Thomas was born 24 Feb 1835, son of David Thomas & Elizabeth Nash
c1841-1844 HIST: History of William Nash Thomas [autobiography], in his handwriting: Attended school, then quit to buy clothes and was then self-supporting.
c1847 HIST: At 12 yrs, job with billiards hall, working for Mrs Potter and worked for a year. After that, went back to school and worked for various people.
c1849 HIST: So. Wales,Glamorganshire-Neath: 14 yrs, to work 80 mi from home, billiards hall at Castle Hotel, worked 2 yrs.
c1851 HIST,RELIGION: So. Wales,Pembrokeshire,Haverfordwest: Some of Wm's family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wm investigated, found doctrine in harmony with scriptures, baptized 26 March 1851 by John Griffiths. Traveled with brethren in ministry.
1857 HIST: Wm's family moved to Neyland. Wm worked at a locomotive dept of Great Western Railroad Co & presided over Pembroke Branch of the Church 1857-1862; emigrated to America.
1857 MARRIAGE: S WALES,Pembrokeshire-Haverfordwest: William Nash Thomas md Elizabeth Lallis 26 Oct 1857, 3 children in Wales: John Edward, William Henry, Heber Charles [died, "buried Llanstadwell church yard March 17, 1862"]
1862 EMIGRATION: Wm emigrated to America on 9 May 1862, leaving Liverpool on William Tapscot 15 May 1862. (Very pleasant time most of way but had very heavy storms at times. Prayer, testimony meetings. Room 2nd deck - 800 people on ship, crew included. 2 deaths.
Landed at Castle Garden, NY Thursday June 26, 1862... left NY Friday eve over Hutson River RR, arrived Albany... took NY Central Train to Niagra Falls..., then Great Western Canada Train to Win...? traveled on boat to Detroit... took Michagan Central to Chicago-1st of July, then Quincy by the Chicago Burlington & Quincy... then by boat on Mississippi to Hanibal... left that eve for St Joe MO... steamboat to Florence, NEB...sun so hot, river water thick with mud, very warm; plenty of ice cold water for crew but none for Mormon Emigrants... 1 death on boat.
Landed Florence NEB, took bagage ashore in dark, lay around best cd on morning of 7th, moved abt 1 mile to camp, beautiful day, but before got campfire, rain poured in torrents, wind blew, thunder roared, lightning flashed. It blew 1 wagon over, killed Br Joseph W Young, blew down store fronts, 2 men were killed by lightning; all soaked, cleared after an hr, dried clothes, got tents pitched, soon comfortable. Stayed in Florence until 7 Aug, loaded into wagons-18 ea wagon, 12 ea tent. Wm & wife walked all way across plains, very pleasant in consideration; abt 12 deaths... buried as soon as died or at next stopping place. Very good caption, Orton Haight; able boys & men took turns guarding stock & camp. No murmurings or quareling to speak of - had a common purpose in gathering to Zion. Waded thru cold rivers of Elkhorn, Platt, also Green River...
Arrived Salt Lake City 19 Oct. Br John Isaac met & brought cake & milk-always remember with kindness... Salt Lake City nearly 3 wks, worked City Creek Canyon getting fire wood, sold for molasses.
Went to Paradise, Cache Co, arrived 11 Nov 1862; next day helped thrash; spring of 1863 Wm got a city lot & planted, also built good log house before winter; Nov 1864 our first daughter born, Sarah Jane (md JP James).
c1862 HIST: A History of Paradise,Cache Co UT 1860-1999, by Elizabeth Allen, pg 34: "As early as 1862, missionary calls were received to send teamsters back to Florence, Nebraska, to help bring immigrants across the plains. Many of the Paradise pioneers participated in these callings: ... William Nash Thomas... The person called was usually required to furnish the oxen or horses and wagon, and the community or ward provided the supplies. In some cases supplies were picked up in Salt Lake City, from Church headquarters."
1865-1873 HIST: History of Wm N Thomas cont'd pg 11: "1865 son James Richard born. Sept 1866 Wm's father David Thomas arrived Paradise, mother died March 1866 at Neyland, Pembroke, S Wales, buried at... burying ground. Father in good health, worked hard until spring of 1873 - fell & burst blood vessel - died Nov 4, 1874, buried Paradise.
Oct 1866 grasshoppers came in millions, ate everything green; laid eggs in ground; spring, grain up; they hatched, ate, cont'd 3 yrs; scarce time with many poor, but Wm's home had plenty of food. Nov 1867 dau Elizabeth Ann born (md H. A. Shaw). In fall settlers of old Paradise, since called Avon, moved as a body abt 3-1/2 mi north of old site - get more room.
Summer of 1868... Wm's sister Jane Jones & family came to Paradise; stayed with them winter. Nov 11, 1868 Wm, wife & sev others to SLC - endowments, with ox teams, very wet trip. Some worked when CPRR built.
1869 Wm got ties & timbers for construction of UT Central RR - from Ogden to Salt Lake City. Nov 20 son David Hyrum born.
1870 & 1871 Wm worked in canyon & farming.
1870 CENSUS: UT,Cache-Paradise: Anc.com Im 243 pg 121, Dw# 34/33:
THOMAS, William 35/Eng-farmer; Elizabeth 32/Eng; John E 12/Wales-at home;
William H 10/Wales-at home; Sarah J 6/Wales-at home; James R 4/UT
at school; Elizabeth 2/UT; David 7/12-UT
1872 MARRIAGE #2: Hist of Wm N Thomas cont'd pg 14: "On Jan 1, 1872, I married Mary Jane Obray, dau of George & Marcia Obray, born Pembroke So Wales. Sealed by I Havills ?? at Endowmnt House in Salt Lake City July 1..."
1872-1876 HIST: Hist of Wm N Thomas pg 14: Wm ran engine sawmilling in mtns abt 30 mi east of Paradise. Aug 2 son Joseph Parly born. Same fall Wm bought shingle mill at Paradise, began making shingles April 1873.
Nov 25, 1873 son Alma Phillip born. Aug 17, 1873, son Willard Evan born. In June Wm took charge of building a saw mill for people of Paradise, also running same until fall of 1876... "
1874 CITIZENSHIP: Certificate of Citizenship, copy in possession Robert P Wagner: "Be it remembered that on the 22nd day of April, 1874, William Thomas late of Wales, in the Kingdom of Great Britain at present of Cache County in the Territory [of Utah at top] aforesaid...applied to become a citizen of the United States of America.... And the said William N Thomas, having... produced to the Court such evidence... said William N Thomas be admitted... to be a citizen of the United States of America. In Testimony whereof, the Seal of the said Court [3rd Dist Court] is hereunto affixed this 22nd day of April 1874, and in the year of our Independence the Ninety-eighth, signed Jos. F Novanan, Clerk."
1874-1882 HIST: A Hist of Paradise...pg 35: "On May 16, 1874, Elder Brigham Young, Jr., President of Cache Stake, visited Paradise and organized a branch of the United Order with Bishop David James, President... William Nash Thomas, Director. Nothing was ever done under the organization. In 1878, instructions were received from the Church authorities that all the people of the ward over the age of eight were to be re-baptized into the United Order...all the members were re-baptized in the Little Bear River."
Pg 170: "On March 1, 1875... [after] the people of Paradise petitioned Cache County Commissioners for the establishment of an Irrigating District [in 1874]... the petition... was granted. On August 7, 1876, the following Irrigating Trustees were elected: ... William Nash Thomas... Trustees were empowered to issue water rights for new city lots...
Pg 210: "In 1875, William Nash Thomas operated a water-powered sawmill in the Paradise City limits. The water was supplied for the sawmill from the Hyrum Canal. This sawmill was located in the hollow just south of the old Johnnie Thomas home on the north edge of Paradise. A new sawmill was built in 1890 near the old site and was operated with the same waterpower as the old one. He also operated a shingle mill where shingles were made from balsam trees for the first Paradise church building. The shingle mill was located west and north of the sawmill. The shingle mill also used water from the Hyrum Canal. Robert Baxter of Hyrum purchased the sawmill and moved it to the old gristmill site where the Hyrum Dam now stands and began operating it in 1895.
In 1880, William Nash Thomas went to Beaver Canyon, Idaho, where he purchased a steam sawmill and supplied the Union Pacific Railroad with lumber, and in 1882 he erected another sawmill to meet the greatly expanded demand for building materials."
1876- HIST: Hist of Wm N Thomas pg 15: Summer 1876 Wm built a sawmill in connection with making shingles in Paradise, also purchased quarter section of land; at home sawing lumber, RR ties & shingles.
June 9, 1878 dau Dorothy Minnie born (md Fred Whittle). Dec 4 son Orson born.
1880 CENSUS: UT,Cache-Paradise: FHL film 1255335 pg 172c,4 June,ED 10, Dw# 82/87:
THOMAS, William N-self 44/Wales (Wales,Wales) md farmer; Elizabeth-wife 41/Wales
(Wales,Wales) keep house; E. John-son 22/Wales (Wales,Wales) single-work
saw mill; H. William-son 19/Wales-single, at home; J Sarah-dau 16/UT-single
school; R James-son 14/UT-school; A Elizabeth-dau 12/UT-school; H Daniel-son
10/UT; Joseph-son 8/UT; Alma-son 6/UT; Nathan-son 4/UT; Minnie-dau 2/UT;
J. Mary THOMAS-wife 40/Wales (Wales,Wales) keep house;
Willard-son 6/UT; Orson-son 1/UT
1880-1887 HIST: Hist of W Nash Thomas pg 15: "June 1, 1880 Wm purchased steam saw mill at Beaver Cannin, ID, sawing with 2 steam mills until 1886. On Aug 13, 1880 I had a son born but died without being named. It was buried at Paradise. On Nov 2 1881 my son Evan was born and died Jan 11, 1882 was buried at Paradise. On March 8, 1883, my daughter Sarah Jane was married to John P James (son of David and Annie P James) at Salt Lake City by Daniel H Wells... On April 4, 1884 my son John Edward was married to Annie Obray and same day and place, my son Wm Henry was married to Rosezarra Obray at Salt Lake City by J H Wells. On March 30, 1887 my daughter Elize Ann was md at Logan Temple, by N C Edlofson, to Harry Albert Shaw of Paradise..."
1887 HIST: A History of Paradise... pg 199: "The Mormon practice of plural marriage, commonly polygamy, was publicly accounced by the Church in 1852 and was practiced by many of the Paradise pioneers... They believed with all their hearts that this principle was true and correct so they participated in plural marriage with a willing mind and heart. From a wordly standpoint plural marriage must of necessity be a trial. To live it one must sacrifice much of life's real romance and face the sharing of love and affection...
On March 3, 1887, Congress passed the Edmonds Act, which put more pressure on the Church to give up the practice of polygamy... Prosecutions began in 1887... many served time in prison for unlawful cohabitation... Others who practiced polygamy but were not arrested were: ... William Nash Thomas."
1888-1897 HIST: Hist of W Nash Thomas pg 16: "On Oct 10,1888 my son James Richard was md at Logan Temple, by M W Merrik, to Martha M Bickmore of Paradise.
[p 17] On Oct 3, 1888 I went to Salt Lake Conference, took sick next day with pneumonia. They did not expect me to live on the fifth day & sent for Brothers L E Jeremy & Wm White to administer to me. So great was my faith that I got healed, got out of bed, put on my clothes & next day took a carriage ride...
On Sept 10, 1891, my son David Hyrum was md at Logan Temple by... to Catherine Thatcher of Logan.
During the money panic of 1892-1893, the lumber business was forced to go to a receiver and I lost $20,000 in that concern... losing every dollar I owned... had to assign all of my property... merchandise...myself and wife run the store in J E Thomas name... successful in the store, kept one son on a mishen for 27 months...
On Feb 13, 1895, my son Joseph Parley md at Logan Temple by... to Sarah Ann Davis of Logan... Nov 1895 I was elected a member of the city counsel... 1st prec of Logan for 2 yrs... following Nov elected Justice of the Peace for Logan Prec, commencing Jan 1 1897 for 2 yrs.
15 Apr 1897, taken sick with same viris [as 1888]... was healed in same manner.
Nov 1899 elected Justice of Peace for Logan, commensing Jan 4, 1900 for 2 yrs.
1900 DEATH of wife: Hist of Wm N Thomas pg 20: "Mary Jane Obray died on Jan 23, 1900... buried at Paradise."
1900 CENSUS: UT,Cache Co-Logan, N.A. film T623 film 1682 Bk 1, pg 254 THOMAS, William N 65/Wales-Feb 1835, general merchant; Elizabeth L-wife 62/Wales-
Dec 1837; Nathan 24/UT-Feb 1876, Student-College; Dorothy M 21/UT-June
1878, Clerk in Store
1900- HIST: Hist of W Nash Thomas pt 17: "On March 22, 1900 my son Orson was md at Logan Temple by... to Elizabeth James of Paradise. On June 10, 1902, my daughter Dorothy Minnie was md at Logan Temple by... to Frederick Whittles of Richmond. On Dec 10. 1902, my son Nathan Albert was md at SLTemple by... to Beatrice Cristman of Salt Lake City.
1901 DEATH of wife: Hist of Wm N Thomas pg 20: "On the 19th of May 1901, my wife El;iza Lallas died at Logan and was buried at Paradice May 21..."
1902 HIST: Hist of Wm N Thomas pg 20: "On 15 Aug 1902 I sold out my mercantile business... preparing to go to Wales to get genealogy of parents and their ancestors.
1907 HIST: A History of Paradise... pg 39: "A prayer circle was organized in the ward on May 12, 1907... The following brethren composed the circle:... William Nash Thomas... The room on the south side of the building was dedicated for the purpose... The organization was disbanded on Jan 1, 1911..."
1920 CENSUS: UT,Cache-Paradise: Anc.com Im 5/12, ED 17, page 3A, Jan 13-14, Dw# 48/54:
JAMES, John P-head 57/UT (Eng,Eng); Sarah J-wife 56/UT (Wales,Wales); Annie
dau 21/UT; Clara-dau 18/UT; THOMAS, William N-wife's father 84/Wales
(Wales,Wales) widowed*
1923 DEATH,BURIAL: UT,Cache Co-Paradise: William Nash Thomas died on 14 Feb 1923; buried 17 Feb at Paradise.
ACTION - CK OUT - William Nash Thomas:
1. Born Haverford West, Martin Bridge?
2. Early LDS Church Wd/Br rcds #6940163, Call 104168, pr/out ?-no parents listed: B:4 apr 1857,
E: 23 Aug 1974 SL, SP: uncleared.
3. BIRTH,MARRIAGE,DEATH: Fam rcds of Thomas O Call [who Thomas O Call?], Robert P Wagner
--------from Pat Holling: censuses *
William N. Thomas was refered to in his wife's obituary as "Justice W. N.Thomas".
William married Elizabeth Lallis 26 Oct 1857, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard Lallis and Dorothy Thomas) was born 26 Dec 1838, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom; was christened 13 Feb 1839, St Marys Parish,Haverfordwest,Pembrokeshire,S. Wales; died 19 May 1901, Logan, Cache, Utah, United States; was buried 21 May 1901, Paradise Cem, Paradise,Cache, Utah, USA. [Group Sheet]
|