Morris, John Devinold

Notes:

John Devonald MORRIS was the second child born to John Newland MORRIS and Phoebe Devonald in Brigham City, Utah he was born on 9 April 1856.

I knew Uncle John as an older man, but one Memorial Day, in Rockland, I was visiting with a cousin, Thomas Melvin MORRIS who was Uncle John's son and he said, "did you know, Julia, that dad and his father (John Devonald MORRIS) planted the first 1/2 bushel of wheat in this valley?" I was so happy to know that.

When our dear Uncle John was living with us, I asked mother, "where is his wife?;" and she told me the following. "In 1901 a little girl was born to them, and ten days later, Uncle John's wife (Elizabeth MORGAN) passed away." I thought, that is more sad than my grandmother's passing, because she left a tiny little baby, and my mother was three years old when her mother had died. I learned this when very young. It has been more than forty years since my mother told me this, and I still feel a sadness inside when I think of Uncle John.

He had married Elizabeth MORGAN on 18 January 1883 (this is on the same day my mother's parents were married.) He was twenty-seven years old and his wife was nineteen. Seven children were born, four boys and three girls. How happy those years must have been. When he found himself alone, he also found relatives who wanted to help. They took the children, and raised them, but these stories are to
others to tell.

I want to tell of the sweet little old men who was my Uncle John. His hair was white as snow, and he had very blue eyes. They twinkled when he talked. He was very bent, and walked with a cane. He worked or rested all the time. Mother said "a weed wouldn't dare show itself in the garden." He would work then go over to the apple tree that stood near the gate, slide down the trunk, lay his cane aside, and sitting against the base of the trunk, nod. Soon he would be in the garden
again.

He was quite a philosopher. One hot summer day my mother, Phoebe Alvaretta Johnson JACOBS, who was the 4-H leader for me, and my friends was hostess for the Power County Home Demonstration Agent. This lady had come over to demonstrate "home canning." Mother knew that the puffed sleeves in my 4-H dress had to come out, a second time. I had basted those gathers by hand twice, and she knew I would not take this news graciously. So she said "Julia Victoria, why don't you go get you 4-H dress, and show it to (I don't remember her name);" So I did, and very soon "the sky was falling". Pride in my dress was wiped away as she said, "it is very pretty but these sleeves are called "puffed" because they should be a gathered. I'm afraid when you basted them your stitches were just a little to long because the fabric lays in tiny pleats. Can you see right here, and here, etc.?"

I was crushed! I put the dress away, and was out in the orchard crying when Uncle John came over, and asked what had happened. I sobbed out the whole story. He patted me, then said, "you know Julia, they will ask 'who did it' not 'how long did it take';" All of these many years I have quoted that great lesson he taught me so long ago. And I will be
eternally grateful to Uncle John for it brought the quality of his life into my life.

He passed away on 24 March 1944

Story by Julia Victoria Jacobs BECK

Interred at Brigham City Cemetery, Brigham City, Utah.

John married Morgan, Elizabeth on 18 Jan 1883 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah Territory USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Morgan, Thomas Robert and Roberts, Ann) was born on 10 May 1863 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales; died on 1 Oct 1901 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA; was buried in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Morris, Annie Elizabeth was born on 26 Oct 1883 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA; died on 31 Oct 1975 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.
2. Morris, David John was born on 23 Aug 1885 in Rockland, Power, Idaho USA; died on 22 Aug 1937 in American Falls, Power, Idaho USA.
3. Morris, Mabel was born on 21 Jan 1888 in Rockland, Power, Idaho USA; died on 15 May 1973.
4. Morris, Lloyd was born on 4 Nov 1890 in Mendon, Cache, Utah Territory USA; died on 29 Jan 1897; was buried in Brigham City Cemetery, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA.
5. Morris, Harry Leon was born on 18 Sep 1893 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA; died on 1 Sep 1940 in Rockland, Power, Idaho USA.
6. Morris, Thomas Melvin was born on 26 Jul 1896 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah Territory USA; died on 4 Mar 1973.
7. Morris, Mary Geneva was born on 23 Sep 1901 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA; died on 20 Oct 1998 in Wellsville, Cache, Utah USA; was buried on 24 Oct 1998 in Wellsville, Cache, Utah USA.

Notes:

John Devonald Morris and his father, John, planted the first half bushel of weat in Rockland, Idaho.

John was a very dominant personality and when he ask for silent none of the children would dared whisper.

There was a big celebration in Rockland. I'm not sure what it was for, but the church was full of people. The closing number on the program was "POETRY" by John Morris. It was common thing in Rockland because he was such a creative entertainer. He took his place at the center stage, and the conregation called out the subjects. Usually it would be a name, and if so he would create a verse spontaneously, then another, and another. Sometimes places would be called out, or things. fruits or flowers etc. He would hold an audience's attention in pleasure, and happiness for many hours. And this he did on January 27 1905 when he was 82 years old. That night he passed away.

History of John Newland and Phoebe Devonald.

John Newland MORRIS and Pheobe DEVONALD (OR DEVINOLD) were converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wales. He could quote passages from the bible by the hundreds (This information is from a grandson Ed MORRIS). Mary Hannah MORRIS gives some information after returning from a trip to Wales.

John Newland MORRIS was born on February 16, 1823 in Llandysul, Cardiganshire, South Wales. He was Christened on the 23 March 1823. His wife, Phoebe (Phebe) DEVONALD, was born November 10, 1830 in Solva, Whitchurch, Pembroke, South Wales. They were married December 9, 1853 at Saron Chapel, Letterson, Pembrokeshire (Dist. Haverfordwest). On April 17, 1855 John and Phoebe's first child was born, a baby girl, Isabella Newland MORRIS. They then sailed from Wales to America. They crossed the plains in 1855 leaving from Philadelpha PA.

This little family settled in Brigham City, Utah. Ten more children were born while there, and three passed away in infancy. John Newland MORRIS was a shoe and bootmaker. He made boots for Brigham YOUNG who ordered them a dozen at a time. About 1881 the family moved to Rockland, Onieda County, Idaho.

In their later years, Pheobe was almost helpless. She suffered from "Dropsy", and was terribly bloated from the water in her tissues. John had a big chair for Phoebe, and they lifted her from bed to the chair. She passed away at the Robinsons (friends of the family). The funeral was held outside in their yard. The funeral was by a friend of family
and their bishop Issac Thorne, Sr.

Ed MORRIS, a grandson (his father was Samual Newland MORRIS), referred to the hardships of pioneers, "Like most pioneers, they suffered from hunger, existing one winter almost entirely on squash." Melvin MORRIS (grandson, father John Devonald MORRIS) tells of a story that John Devonald and John Newland MORRIS "planted the first half
bushel of wheat in this valley (I think their talking about Rockland)".

Esther MORRIS (grandchild, father Henry Devonald MORRIS). Her father said of John Newland MORRIS, (that he) was a very dominant personality, and brooked no back-talk or foolishness from the children. When he said "silence" none dared whisper. However, when he tried to insist my dad learn shoemaking, he failed because dad purposely drove the nails in crooked, etc.

(The) Last thing told of John Newland MORRIS was on Janurary 27, 1905 in Rockland, Oneida, Idaho by Mary Hannah Alvaretta Johnson (mother was Mary Hannah Morris JOHNSON). Mother did not know the occasion but it was at the church which was full of people. The closing number on the program was "Poetry" by John Newland MORRIS. Mary's mother said that it was a common thing in Rockland to have John do his poetry, he was such a creative entertainer. He took his place at the center stage, and the congregation called out the subjects. Usually it would be a name.
and if so, he would create a "verse" spontaneously, then another, and another. Sometimes places would be called out, or things - fruits or flowers, etc. He could hold an audience's attention in pleasure, and happiness for many hours. And this he did on January 7, 1905 when he was 82 years old. His mind was sharp, and full of wit and wisdom. That night he passed away.

Story given to me by Julia Victoria Jacobs BECK

John married Devinold, Phoebe on 9 Dec 1853 in Letterson, Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest, Wales. Phoebe (daughter of Devinold, Henry and Sorhevile, Mary) was born on 10 Nov 1830 in Solva, Whitchurch, Pembrokeshire, Wales; died on 24 Aug 1891 in Rockland, Power, Idaho USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Newland MORRIS and Phoebe DEVONALD were converted to the gospel,and
jointed the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints in Wales.
He preached in every country in Wales. He could quote passages from
the Boble by the hundreds (From Grandson Ed Morris).

John Newland MORRIS was born on February 16 1823 Llandysul Cardinganshire,
South Wales. The story said christened March 23 1923 (I think it meant
March 23, 1823).

The family lived in Brigham City and they moved to Rockland Idaho.

In her later years Phoebe was almost helpless. She suffered from
"Dropsy", and was terribly bloated from the water in her tissues.

John Newland MORRIS and his father planted the first half bushel of
wheat in Rockland.

JNM was a very dominant personality and when he ask for silent none
of the children would dared whisper.

There was a big celebration in Rockland not sure what it was for, but
the chuch was full of people. The closing number on the program was
"POETRY" BY JOHN MORRIS. It was common thing in Rockland because
he was such a creative entertainer. He took his place at the center
stage, and the conregation called out the subjects. Usually it would be a name, and if so, he would create a verse spontaneously, then another, and
another. Sometimes places would be called out, or things fruits or flowers,
etc. He would hold an audience's attention in pleasure, and happiness for
many hours. And this he did on January 27 1905 when he was 82 years old.
That night he passed away.

Samuel married Davies, Hannah on 14 Jun 1818 in Llangler parish, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Hannah was born in 1793 in Llangerler, Carmarthenshire, Wales; died on 30 Jan 1884 in Llangerler, Carmarthenshire, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Henry married Sorhevile, Mary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]