"James George Davis" by Esther Parker Robb

"James George Davis" 
by granddaughter Esther Parker Robb
from book "Together Again", edited by Sophia Parker Stapeley

James George DAVIES / DAVIS

Grandpa Davies was a Welshman, very sociable, a lover of music and had a very good voice and was always invited to sing whenever an occasion presented itself. The Welsh used to get together, often holding regular singing festivals (Wales). There were many good singers among them. Grandpa was always the leader. When Grandpa was leading the singing, he would always take off his hat and fold it three-cornered like and whip it back and forth across his leg, keeping time to the music, so the singers ould stay together and follow the beat of the music. One of everybody’s favorite songs that I remember him singing was the Mormon song. There were two versions. This is how they went: The Mormon Song (Sung by James George Davies) First Version:
First Verse Come Brethren and come sisters dear, I’ll sing a song your hearts to cheer; For I’m a Mormon to the bone, I’ll stick to Mormonism. Chorus For we are right and they are wrong, Truth and right to us belong; Let us all join in the song, For the Mormons shall be happy. Second Verse Sectarians say “We’ll go to Hell” And with the Devil we shall dwell; If that is so and all is well, We’ll make of Hell a Heaven. Third Verse The parson said the other day, That Miracles were done away; But poor old parson’s gone astray, So never mind the parson. Fourth Verse The hypocrits may grunt and groan, Because we sometimes sing a song; How can the Mormons hold their tongue, When we are all so happy. Second Version: First Verse Come Brethren and come sisters dear, I’ll sing a song your hearts to cheer; Though hypocrits may laugh and snear, But never mind their chanting. Chorus For we are right and they are wrong, Truth and right to us belong; Let us al join in the song, For the Mormons shall he happy. Second Verse According to sectarian creed, Of gifts and blessings there is no need; They’re satisfied on husks to feed, But ‘tis not so with the Mormons. Third Verse The parson said the other day, That miracles were done away; But poor old horse he’s gone astray; So never mind the parson. Fourth Verse Beyond the times of time and space, They think there is a Heavenly place; Where modern Christians run their race, But they never end their journey. Fifth Verse The gifts they can’t all endure, Because they are beyond their power; The grapes you know were very sour, When Reynord could not reach them. Sixth Verse Sectarians they may grunt and groan, And never cease to sigh and moan; But I’m a Mormon to the bone, And I’ll stick to Mormonism. Seventh Verse The people say we’ll go to Hell, And with the Devil we shall dwell; If that is true and all is well, We’ll make of Hell a Heaven. Another of his favorite songs was “To Zion We will Go.” I only have one verse of it. To Zion We will Go I was so very pious once, I scarce could take a joke; You see how pious I have been, By my religious coat. To Zion we will go, to Zion we will go, We’ll leave the old sectarian, And to Zion we will go. They were a happy group and it was a regular jubilee, with wine as the popular drink. Some liked it. Others drank but very little if any. Grandpa liked his wine. I recall once when I was a very small girl and Grandpa was feeling the effects of his favorite beverage, he called me to shingle his hair. I took the scissors and cut off a lock here and another there and he kept letting me cut it shorter. I kicked and gouged, obeying his orders as he called out ”Shorter! Shorter!,” So I cut it all over as short as I could. The next day when the effects of the wine had worn off and he looked at himself in the mirror, he was so ashamed of the way his head looked, he tied a red bandana handkerchief around to cover it and would not let anyone see his hair. Everybody had a good laugh. Grandpa was a missionary among the Indians. He visited with them to bring about friendly relations and learned to speak their language so he could converse with them quite friendly. They called him “Jim Davies” and were very fond of him. I remember poinkum, his squaw blind Mary, and his two Sons Wiley and Posy. When they came to town in the fall of the year they brought along their pine nuts (piñon) which they had harvested. They had the pine nuts and buckskin to sell. My father always bought a buckskin from them for use in his cobbler work, mending shoes for the family. Mary Squaw used to call at our house to ask for food, always a biscuit. Although she could not see, she recognized mother as “Jim Davies’ Papoose” and spoke of him being “Wino” (this was the Indian word meaning “Good”). Mother learned some of their language from Grandpa, and could converse with them some. “Wino” and “Tuwige-wino” were some of their expressions. I remember very well the day of my Baptism, when I was eight years old. My Grandpa was waiting there at the edge of the pool, with his team of horses all ready to take me to the ranch with him. Just as soon as I was baptized and dressed, and my extra clothes were hurriedly rolled up into a bundle (as I had no suitcase to pack them in), we took off. Grandpa didn’t have a wagon or buggy, just the team of horses and a running gear. That is where we rode, seated on the running gear behind the horses, with Grandpa singing to the top of his voice, all along the way up to the ranch. Just before we arrived, it poured down rain and we both got soaking wet, so I had my second dousing in one day. It was just like being baptized all aver again. Grandpa organized a quartet, in which he had the lead. The other three singers were Martha Williams, John D. Williams, and Henry Davis. They were very popular and almost every social occasion called for the “Welsh Quartet” to entertain the crowd. It pleased the singers to be active, as there was nothing they enjoyed better than using their voices to make harmonious music together. Later when John D. was called back to Wales on a mission, by co-incidence he met up with an elderly lady there who was a former friend of Grandpa’s. She asked John D. about “the little white curly-haired boy who was such a good child singer”. John told her that he was still living, but he was an old man with grey curly hair now, and still a Singer.
Grandpa and I used to get together for our own little singing sessions, which we both enjoyed. I played the organ e he sang, and then I would join in the singing too. Our favorite song was “A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight”. He wanted me to make a promise that I would sing that one at his funeral.

Ancestry Chain: TR, Lark, Kirt DeMar WOOD, Laura Elizabeth PARKER, Elizabeth Ann DAVIS, James George DAVIS / DAVIES and Polly WILLIAMS.

Polly Williams Davies, By Esther Parker Robb

Polly Williams Davies, 
By granddaughter Esther Parker Robb

from book "Together Again", edited by Sophia Parker Stapele

Polly WILLIAMS DAVIS

Grandma Davies was born in Springfield, Illinois, May 28th 1838, the daughter of John Williams and Marcy Lucas. She was baptized July 10, 1857 by S. J. Holdaway and confirmed by I. C. Riddle. She and Grandpa had a large family of eleven children, six and five girls, mother being the second. Her first died at two years of age, the same year that mother was born (1859). Grandma was always ambitious, a hard worker all of her life. She ran a dairy business on her ranch on the Kanarra mountain where she made cheese and butter. Then Grandpa hauled the dairy products to Pioche, Nevada where he used to freight. I remember Grandpa and Grandma in the early days. He peddled produce of the ranch and farm to Pioche. This is the means by which they made living. Grandma left the ranch after her garden was planted. She also planted a summer garden of small vegetables as carrots, radishes, onions, peas, and pepper-cress. What vegetables they were, superior to any raised in the country. fall she always returned from the ranch with a rich supply of cheese and butter to be stored away for future use. It was such a pleasure when she opened up a section of the bedroom floor, which they used as the cellar door, and we were invited to go the storage cellar beneath their home. There she kept her cheese and butter which she stored in the big crock jars; also fat pigs which they had raised and killed themselves for their winter meat. It was such fun to see all that good food; also raspberries and gooseberries in the old glass jars, which she had worked so hard at preparing for the winter ahead. While she was living on the mountain she had many visitors dropping in on her to stay overnight. She always welcomed them with good meals and good beds to sleep in. She was always charitable and sociable. One very strong characteristic was her attentiveness toward the sick and her visits among them. It used to cheer me up when I was sick with severe sore throat and Grandma would come to see me. I always looked forward to her visits. Grandma did lots of walking over the mountain, picking berries and visiting her neighboring ranchers or sheep herders, also living on the mountain. Her worst weakness was profanity, as she was often heard swearing at the cattle and used pretty rough language at times. She had no tolerance for laziness nor immorality. She did all the work for the family, and was ambitious to the end. Until the last of her days she did her own laundry, before her last sickness. One of Grandma's big delights was to come over at dark, after her evening chores were done and scare us nearly to death with the most hair-raising stories. Some were true wild Indian stories. Others were made up ghost stories. Sometimes she got us children so upset that we were afraid to make our final trip to the outhouse before going to bed so we just ran out, with our hair standing on end, into the grass or behind the nearest bush we could find to hide behind, so we wouldn?t have to walk that long trip up by the garden in the dark. Many evenings were spent with her, listening to these stories while we sat crunching on big juicy apples while she, having very few teeth, sat scraping hers with a knife in order to eat it. Grandma didn't have the artistic talents that most women do, such as sewing, art, or music. Her talents, besides being an excellent cook, were her great ambition and her attention and generosity toward people. She made many friends during her lifetime and lived a full and happy life, with a successful and happy family.

Ancestry Chain: TR, Lark, Kirt DeMar WOOD, Laura Elizabeth PARKER, Elizabeth Ann DAVIS, James George DAVIS / DAVIES and Polly WILLIAMS.

"My Grandparents, James George Davies and Polly Williams"

"My Grandparents, 
James George Davies and 
Polly Williams" 
from book "Together Again", 
edited by Sophia Parker Stapeley

James George Davies [Davis]

Born:November 6, 1831

Place: Llanelly, Carmarthen Co., South Wales

Died:April 3, 1909

Place:Kanarraville, Iron Co., Utah

Baptized: January 6, 1845

Endowed: October 21, 1880

Polly Williams

Born: May 28, 1831

Place: Springfield, Illinois

Died: August 12, 1914

Place: Kanarraville, Iron Co., Utah

Baptized: July 10, 1851-7?

Endowed: October 21, 1880

Sealed to Husband: October 21, 1880

Events:

-Ordained teacher and Elder October 5, 1880
-Filled a Mission among the Indians

Together 

Married: 1855 or 1856
Place: Not Known
Children: 11, all born in Utah; the first three in Old Fort Harmony, the last eight In Kanarraville.

[Note: because the name "Davis" had been spelled Davies in Wales and mispronounced in America James changed the spelling of his last name to Davis so it would not be mispronounced.]

        As with our other grandparents, we have different stories about each of Grandfather and Grandmother Davies. Let me tell you my story of the both of them first, much which came from my mother and sisters, and then let you hear Esther’s story of them separately. Bear with us if some of the comments are repetitious. Esther and I shared many of the same feelings and experiences.

        James and Polly were among the first settlers in southern Utah, settling first at Kan Creek. Later, Brigham Young, President of the Church and leader of the settlers, had the people move to a settlement of Old Fort Harmony. The Navajo Indians often attacked them there, so they built a fort to defend themselves. The walls were several feet thick. The homes inside were built close together and along the walls. All the settlers were Mormons and they got along well together. The building material for the walls was sun-dried clay brick. They lived there for several years but in 1861 the rains were so heavy that the clay got wet and soft and the walls began caving-in. This forced people to move away from Old Fort Harmony. Some went to New Harmony; others, including James and Polly, went north to the town known as Kanarra.

        James and Polly were dairy farmers. Polly became the manager of the ranch, in effect, running it with her children, and producing the food products. James developed a freighting business, carting the food products by wagon to various mining camps in Utah and Nevada. They worked long and hard. Polly and the children had to hand-milk 50 cows twice a day, for milk, cheese and butter. They raised chickens for meat and eggs; pork for fresh meats, headcheese and scrapple; vegetables; and animal feed. James was on the road quite a bit, going back and forth, delivering supplies and returning for more.

        In those days, all merchandise was paid for in gold coins, and James often carried a great deal of money on his way home from his trips. Travel by wagon and team was not very fast either, and there was always the danger of being way-laid by robbers or bandits. One notorious gang leader of stage-robbers in the area, at the time, was one Ben Taster. James believed that Ben was close on his tail, on one trip. But somehow, by being very careful and using out-of-the-way trails and places to rest, he never was held up.

        They were very charitable people, and came to be known by every one as ‘Uncle Jim” and “Aunt Polly.” Many, many people stopped at their home on their travels through Kanarra, getting hot delicious meals with biscuits and butter and coffee, and staying the night. Polly was an expert at preparing jams and jellies, and she always had “bricks” of head-cheese and scrapple packed in crocks for quick cold lunches. No wonder people loved to stop in and visit! James and Polly developed a ranch in the “Upper Basin” part of the Kanarra Mountains, where they stayed and worked during the summers, and even there they had callers by the dozen. Polly, in particular, had a good sense of humor, and much genuine empathy for helping others with their sorrows and problems. They loved being around her and “Uncle Jim” as well. If wealth was measured in friends, James and Polly were very wealthy people.

        There was another fascinating part of Polly. She had a very deep appreciation for beautiful articles. China was her special interest, but she also had a keen eye for oil paintings, glass dishes and ornaments, and tea sets. Her only brother, William George Williams, was the owner of the Kanarra Co-op Store. Whenever salesmen, or “drummers” as they were called, came to the Store to wholesale supplies to George, as he was called, either he or they learned to call Polly to the Store to get her advice on the type of products to buy, and their quality. She had an eye for the finer things and for knowing what people wanted. There were lots of stories about how she would order the finer things, while her brother would order the heavier “more practical” appliances, and the shelves would soon be sold clean of her orders while his “collected dust.” They say that when the ordered, crated goods would arrive at The Store, Polly would get word to her friends to get there early in order to get the best choices, and that often her orders would be sold or spoken for before George could finish uncrating. When big orders were sold to the Store, the drummers would give Polly complimentary articles or gift sets. Her pantry shelves at home were filled with the beautiful china, glassware, and other gifts that had been given to her! Many years later, when she had passed away, her beautiful sets were divided among her children.

        Spending time with them on the Kanarra Mountain ranch, at “Upper Basin,” was a special treat for those of us who, as “grandchildren” of James and Polly, got the chance. My sister, Laura Parker Wood, enjoyed telling of how they would invite one a grandchild at a time to spend a couple of weeks with them during the summer. One event that everyone looked forward to was going with “Grandpa” on his trips up into the timber to get logs that he sometimes needed to fill orders. He drove his team with just the “running-gears” for this purpose. The children took their turns sitting on the running-gear as the teams hauled the logs along the long stretches of narrow dugways through the tall timbers -- with Grandpa singing at the top of his voice all the way! He was Welsh, remember, and just loved to sing. And when they got back to the ranch, Grandma was always there to give them a hearty welcome! How they loved it, when it was their turn to “go to the ranch.”

        One autumn in 1884 after the summers work had been completed at Upper Basin, James and Polly were on their way back to their home in Kanarra for the winter, with their wagon loaded with the harvested supplies and food. Polly was pregnant at the time, and went into labor while they were still on the trail. They delivered their own baby in the wagon, making the best of the situation. Everything turned out well. The baby was a beautiful, lovely girl. They named her Alice May and she was their last child. Alice May lived a full life and married Henry Pollock.

        There are many other stories which could be told about Grandfather Davies. He was called on to help protect the settlers against many of the Indian raids that were common in those days, but refused to participate in destructive, vengeful attacks against the Indians. Later, he was sent on a mission to work among the Navajos, in order to promote better relationships between the Indians and the settlers. He learned to speak Navajo and developed some close friends among them. Esther had some stories about this, so I won’t go into them here. James built a brick yard in Kanarra and produced the bricks that were used to build the homes in that day; and his sons Lorenzo and George took over the business when he retired. He is credited with having built the first bridge across the creek at Kanarra, and built one of the first homes. It was built in 1863 and still stands in Kanarra!

        The same with Polly -- many other stories to tell. She was a great story-teller, and never seemed to run out of interesting tales. She called faithfully on the homebound, usually taking a dish of their favorite food to them to make them feel better. In her last days, she was bedridden most of the time, but even then refused to have anyone help her with her washing -- which she liked doing. My sister Zina Ett Parker Pollock tried to help her, to no avail, and said, “I think no one could wash her clothes to look so white and clean as she could.”

Their children, and dates of birth, were: 1.Rachel Davies, April, 1857 2.Elizabeth Ann Davies, my mother, January 8, 1859 3.James Lorenzo Davies, February 14, 1861 4.William Rees Davies, March 2, 1863 5.George Alma Davies, February 14, 1866 6.Myron Thomas Davies, March 17, 1868 7.Rees Davies, February 4, 1874 8.Nora Davies, December 24, 1874 9.Eleanor Matilda Davies, January 26, 1877 10.Albert Davies, May 13, 1880 11.Alice May Davies, August 18, 1884

Ancestry Chain: TR, Lark, Kirt DeMar WOOD, Laura Elizabeth PARKER, Elizabeth Ann DAVIS, James George DAVIS / DAVIES and Polly WILLIAMS.

Together Again - John Davis PARKER

Together Again an Autobiographical History by Sophia Parker Stapley, 1976

Note: John Davis PARKER was member of Zions Camp and a member of the First Quorum of Seventy. John D. PARKER  joined the Council of Fifty prior to June 27, 1844, under the leadership of Joseph Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (as named in 1844). 

[Wives: 

1- Harriet SHERWOOD married before 1834 divorced before 1846. They had  4 children all died young.  Harriet was born 31 Jan 1806 and died 1881 IL.  She was deaf.  See: Church History. She was the daughter of Henry Garlic SHERWOOD. See: familysearch.org 

2 - Almeda Sophia ROUNDY married 3 Feb 1846 in the Nauvoo Temple, IL. Sophia was the daughter of Shadrack ROUNDY and Betsey QUIMBY.  They had 10 children.  Sophia was born 7 Mar 1829 NY and died 25 Sep 1912 UT.

3- Samantha ROUNDY married 3 Feb 1846 in the Nauvoo Temple, IL.  Samantha was the daughter of Shadrach ROUNDY and Betsey QUIMBY.  They had no children.  Samantha was born 2 Jun 1824 in NY and died 12 Jul 1906 in UT.

John D. PARKER, Sophia and Samantha all buried in Kanarraville, UT]

John Davis Parker
By Sophia Parker Stapley
As you can tell from all of the events credited to him, Grandfather Parker was an active and responsible man. He lived a full and exciting life. As has already been noted, he was born in Saratoga, New York as the first of 15 children. Because the family was so large, he was raised by a "German Aunt" (we're not sure who this was) and received a good education. He learned to speak seven different languages, four of which he mastered. This education was to serve him well in the years to come.

But he was restless, even as a youngster. At the age of only 13, he enlisted in the Army and became a soldier in the War of 1812! And served a full term, to boot. He was still restless after that, even though his aunt wanted him to stay with her. She was even willing to leave him her property and a large library of valuable books, if he would stay. But it wasn't what he wanted. He left home and at 17 years of age was working in a lumber business near Montreal, moving later to Nauvoo, Illinois. He became skilled in making wagons. The Latter Day Saints were located at Nauvoo at the time, and he came to know their leaders and their mission well. He embraced the Gospel and was baptized on May 1, 1832, by Shadrach Roundy and Steven Burnett. He was a member of the first Seventy Quorum in March, 1835; received the Patriarchal Blessing from the father of Prophet Joseph Smith in 1836; became an Elder on January 3, 1841; filled a Mission; and became a High Priest of the Church.

At Nauvoo, he met and married a Harriet Sherwood, who was deaf and dumb. They had four children, all of whom died in infancy -- named Dorcus, Moroni, Nephi, and Samuel. They later divorced.

Also at this time he became a commissioned officer, a Captain of the Militia of the State of Illinois, Nauvoo Legion, in 1842; and was elected a constable in Nauvoo in 1843. It was during this time that he began to play his important role of being a bodyguard for the Prophet. There are many stories about his deeds, doing this. I already told you about how he had gained the confidence of Sheriff John Williams, my great-grandfather, to learn of the plans the mobs had for threatening harm to the Latter Day Saints. He did this unbeknownst to the Sheriff, and used this secret information to help move the Prophet from one safe place to another. One night in particular, when danger seemed greatest, he "borrowed" a horse from a neighbor, silently crossed a river, moved the Prophet and his brother Hyrum to a safer place, came back across the river, and returned the horse to its proper place. The mob didn't find the Prophet when they made their raid that night and the family never knew that their horse had taken part in such an adventure.

Brigham Young appointed him to watch the Movements of the mob, and to stay the violence in Ward Carthage. Both he and Shadrach Roundy were selected by the Council to help move families and their goods from there into Nauvoo, for safer haven. It was daring and dangerous work and they responded to their mission. As you know, the Prophet and his brother were both killed by the mob, anyway, despite the efforts to protect them. The Prophet came out of hiding when he felt his people needed him, was jailed, and then killed while in jail. It was a terrible deed.

It was at Nauvoo that Grandfather Parker met two of the Roundy sisters, Almeda Sophia and Samantha, daughters of Shadrach. Following a courtship, he married them both in the Nauvoo Temple on February 3, 1846. It was a polygamous marriage, which was practiced in the Church at that time (the practice ended with the Manifesto in 1885).

When the decision was made in 1847 for the Latter Day Saints to move from Nauvoo to Utah, he and his wives were ready to join the first Company. But because he had become such a good wagon-maker, he was asked by Brigham Young to make wagons for others to use in crossing the Plains. They moved to a safer place -- the "Winter Camp" in Kanesville, Pottowami County, Iowa -- for this purpose, ending up spending about five years there. While he was there, the first three of his children were born. The first one died at birth, which brought great sorrow to them. He also served a term as County Sheriff. In all, he made 13 wagons that crossed the Plains. Then his shop caught fire, destroying two other wagons and his tools. Shortly afterwards, they decided it was time for them to make the journey to Utah also. Shortly afterwards, they decided it was time for them to make the journey to Utah Also.

To make the trip, they joined the Company of Captain Abraham D. Smoot. It was a terrible journey, because of a "scourge" (cholera) which struck many members of the Company. In all, 68 became sick and 14 died. Those who were stricken with it got it suddenly and were very ill. Those who didn't get it tried to take care of those who were sick. The weather was hot, and for those who died there was no time to make coffins. They were wrapped in their blankets and buried on the prairie. Every known method of combating the disease was tried. One method that seemed to work best was this. The afflicted person was either dipped in cool water or had it poured over the body. Then a starch-like mixture was made of whiskey and flour, and administered by mouth. Most of them made it through. Heading the list of those credited with doing their utmost to care for the sick was Grandfather Parker. The list also included Brigham Young, John Tanner, Nathan Tanner, and Heber C. Kimball. They arrived in Utah on August 28, 1852, with the five members of their family, a wagon, four oxen and two cows. They first settled in Centerville, Morgan County, and my father Charles was born there the following year, on December 30, 1853.

Grandfather's good education helped him become a leader among the early settlers of Utah. While living in Centerville, he was elected to two terms in the State Legislature, and one as a Probate Judge. His family and others were then called on to help settle Kanab, Cane County, Utah; and then later they moved to Kanarra in Iron County.

His fighting days were not over though. He fought during the Civil War of 1861-1965, when he was in his 60's, with a sword no less! It may have been the same sword he owned that had been a relic of the Revolutionary War. He cherished that sword. Anyway, after that he served in the Madisonian War to gain the right to naturalize.

Esther had a nice closing to grandfather's story. Here is how she tells it:
My grandparents lived in Kanab and from there they moved to Kanarra (North), the original location of the town, then to the new town after it was moved and rebuilt. They built a log cabin on the N.E. corner lot, of the block which stands N.E. corner lot, of the block which stands N.E. from the Church square, where Brother Platt's garden now stands. The family was raised in the log cabin. Later they bought a new home from Doc Brown.

They were a devoted family. Grandpa displayed many acts of kindness to both of his wives; also to his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, to whom he was very devoted, after his son Charles was married. Their warm affection and devotion lasted throughout their lives. At the time when the Marshals came on their rounds in search for Polygamists, grandpa talked with them but never was taken.

Because grandpa was quite old when he began raising his family (48) most of the responsibility of caring for the family fell on Charles' shoulders. Grandpa was 54 when Charles was born and 73 when his last daughter, Samantha was born. Charles then was nineteen years old. Grandpa did all he could to carry his load, such as chopping wood, shucking corn, feeding the stock, etc. But Grandma did the gardening. Charles did all the farming and hauling wood.

Grandpa was not too thrifty, that is, he didn't save very much money; however, he always managed to pay his full amount of tithing to the Church and was forever a very faithful member, always helping the other less fortunate families, especially the needy widowed families.
His lifelong habit of snuffing and chewing tobacco was broken during the last years of his life. He was often seen cracking and eating the pits from the Pottowomi plums, which could have been his means of substituting something else to help himself break his tobacco habit. I was only five years old when grandpa died but I do often remember seeing him sitting in his chair by the stove, enjoying the warm wood fire that heated the house. By his side was a little stool, on which his cat sat, sharing this comfortable place. They looked so contented warming themselves and napping there together. During that last cold winter, Grandpa developed pneumonia. He was then ninety-two. He went outside to cut his last armful of wood and as he entered the house he said that he would not ever be cutting any more wood. He went to his chair by the fire, and it was there where he took his final nap. He died in his favorite chair, with Kitty curled at his side.

John Davis Parker General Authority

[Narrative history by Sophia Parker Stapley (1882-1962) and Esther Parker Robb (1886-1975) were daughter of Charles Parker (1853-1935) and Elizabeth Ann Davis (1859-1927)]

History from: Together Again, An Autobiographical History by Sophia Parker Stapley

Page 63 plus additions

THE THIRTEENTH GENERATION: MY GRANDPARENTS

1. John Davis Parker and Almeda Sophia Roundy

John Davis PARKER, son of Able PARKER (1780-1842) and Mary DAVIS (1777-1842)
Born: 22 Nov 1799
Place: Saratoga, New York
Baptized: 1 May 1832
Endowed: 16 Dec 1845 NAUVO - Nauvoo (original)

1. Married: Harriet SHERWOOD (Abt 1818-Abt 1856), before 1834 In Nauvoo, Hancock, IL (divorced) 2-5 children-all died in childhood.
Sealed: 6 Jul 1874 EHOUS - Endowment House
2. Married: Almeda Sophia ROUNDY (1829-1912), 3 Feb 1846 Nauvoo, Hancock, IL
daughter of Shadrach ROUNDY (1789-1872) and Bestey QUIMBY (1795-1880)
10 children - (3 born in Iowa, 7 born in Utah)
Sealed: 3 Feb 1846 NAUVO - Nauvoo (original)
3. Married: Samantha ROUNDY (1824-1906), 3 Feb 1846 Nauvoo, Hancock, IL
daughter of Shadrach ROUNDY (1789-1872) and Bestey QUIMBY (1795-1880)
No children
Sealed: 3 Feb 1846 NAUVO - Nauvoo (original)

Sealed: to Lucy Sherwood 6 Jul 1874 EHOUS - Endowment House (not married in life)

John Died: 27 Feb 1891
Place: Kanarraville, Iron, Utah
Buried: Kanarraville, Iron, Utah

Life Events:
Oldest of 15 children
Raised by German Aunt
Learned 7 languages, mastered 4
Served in War of 1812 at age 13
Baptized by Shadrach Roundy and Steven Burnett 1832
Member of Zions Camp in 1834
Named member of Original First Quorum of Seventy 1835
Ordained a Member the First Quorum of Seventy by Joseph Smith Jr. March 1936
Received Patriarchal Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr. 1836
Made an Elder
High Priest ordained 3 Jan 1841
Filled a Mission 1841 New Orleans, Louisiana
Elected Nauvoo Constable 1843
Body guard for Prophet Joseph Smith
Captain, Illinois State Militia, Nauvoo Legion 1841
Sheriff, Pottowomi County, Iowa, 2 years
Wheelwright / Wagonwright - builder of 13 wagons to cross the Plains
Utah Pioneer 1852
Sheriff, Salt Lake County, Utah, 8 years
Two terms, State Legislature, Utah
Two terms, Assessor and Collector, Utah
Owned a sword used in the Revolutionary War
Fought in the Civil War 1861-1865
Farmer - 1880 Census

Places Lived:
New York
near Montreal - worked in Lumber business
Kirtland, Ohio
Nauvoo, Illinios - Property Owned - (Tenant) BLK 120 Lot 1, E/2 between Munson and Kimball streets and Partridge and Durphy Streets, BLK 106 Lot 4, E/2, corner of Munson and Durphy Streets, and BLK134 Lot 1 near Mississippi River on Parley Street
Kanesville, Pottawattamie, Iowa
Centerville, Davis, UT
Weber Valley, Morgan, UT
Chicken Creek, Juab, UT
Kanab, Kane, UT
Kanarraville, Iron, UT

[ Winter Quarters Fifth Ward.
Bishop: Shardrach Roundy, Assistant: John d. Parker, Assistant: Elisas Gardner, Clerk: James Sloan]

[Link to narrative history by Sophia Parker Stapley]

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History found on Internet. Some corrections have been added here.
John Davis Parker
1799 - 1846
* Born 1799 Saratoga, New York
* Baptized in or before 1834
* Zions Camp 1834
* Named to First Quorum of the Seventy 1835
* Married [2.] Almed Sophia Roundy 1846; ten children [also married 1. Harriet SHERWOOD and 3. Samantha ROUNDY]
* Trekked west with Saints as Captain of the eleventh company
* Died 1891 Kanara, Utah

John D. Parker was born November 22, 1799 at Saratoga, New York to Abe L. Parker (AFN: 4QJP-WT) and Mary Davis (AFN: 4QJP-X1)

Although we find no record of his baptism [1832], Parker must have been an early convert to the Church for by 1834 he was a member of the Zion's Camp mission to relieve the suffering saints in Missouri. The History of the Church records: "Among the most active of those who were engaged in taking care of the sick at the [Zion's] Camp, burying the dead, etc., were John D. Parker, John Tanner, Nathan Tanner, Joseph B. Noble, Brigham Young, Joseph Young, Heber C. Kimball, Luke S. Johnson and Eleazar Miller."

Possibly because of the faithfulness demonstrated by Elder Parker during Zion's Camp he was named a year later in 1835 as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy placing him among the ranks of the General Authorities.

In 1841, he was named in a special conference as a missionary to serve in New Orleans, Louisiana.

By 1842 he was back in Nauvoo, Illinois where the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote: These are not the only ones who have administered to my necessity and whom the Lord will bless. There is Brother John D. Parker ... My heart feels to reciprocate the unwearied kindnesses that have been bestowed upon me by these men. They are men of noble stature, of noble hands, and of noble deeds; possessing noble, and daring, and giant hearts and souls.

Elder Parker seems to have been close to the prophet. He served as one of the Prophet's bodyguards and often accompanied him on trips seeking refuge. He was also a lawman, serving as a Deputy Sheriff in Hancock County, Illinois during the Nauvoo era and as Sheriff in Pottawattamie County, Iowa during the exodus west. In September 1842, the Prophet wrote: " I accompanied the brethren and Emma to my house, remaining there a few minutes to offer a blessing upon the heads of my sleeping children; then called a few minutes at the house of my cousin George A. Smith, on my way to my retreat at Edward Hunter's. John D. Parker accompanied me as guard.

He also served as an officer in the Nauvoo Legion, at the time the largest single military unit in the United Stated and at its peak numbering a force almost half as large as the entire regular United States Army. He was, in fact, one of the organizers. From the History of the Church Vol.4, Ch.15, page 295: "Minutes of the Meeting which Organized the Nauvoo Legion. "Pursuant to an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, entitled, "An ordinance organizing the Nauvoo Legion," passed February 3, 1841, a court-martial, composed of the commissioned officers of the militia of the state of Illinois, within the city of Nauvoo, assembled at the office of Joseph Smith, on Thursday at 10 o'clock a.m., the 4th day of February, 1841: present--John C. Bennett, quarter-master general of the state of Illinois; Lieutenant-Colonel Don Carlos Smith; Captains Charles C. Rich, Wilson Law, Albert P. Rockwood, William Law, Titus Billings, Stephen Markham; first lieutenants, Francis M. Higbee, John T. Barnett, John D. Parker." Also read the following: "Saturday, 24.SEP 1842--The legion was called out for general parade, and reviewed by General Law. In the evening, Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Markham was elected Colonel of the 1st Regiment, 1st Cohort, to fill the place of Colonel George Miller, promoted; and Captain John D. Parker elected to fill his place; and Captain Thomas Rich to fill the place of Major Wightman, deceased.

In researching Elder Parker...The International Genealogical Index (IGI) states that he was married on February 3, 1846 to Almeda Sophia Roundy, by whom he fathered ten children, yet the Prophet recorded on January 8, 1844, "At eleven went to my office to investigate a difficulty between John D. Parker and his wife. After laboring with them about two hours, brought about a reconciliation." ...Parker [did] remarried after death or divorce [from first wife Harriet Sherwood]...

As a lawman, Elder Parker on at least one occasion had to arrest the Prophet himself. Whether this was a ploy to keep mobocrat lawmen from arresting the Prophet or merely enforcing a legally issued but ultimately bogus writ of arrest is not certain. The verbiage makes the second seem more likely. On. Monday, May 6, 1844, the Prophet wrote: "I had a warrant served on me by John D. Parker, issued by the clerk of the circuit court of Carthage, on the complaint of Francis M. Higbee, who had laid his damages at $5,000. but for what the writ does not state. I petitioned the municipal court for a writ of habeas corpus which I obtained."

After the prophet's martyrdom, Elder Parker was on October 11, 1845 appointed captain of the eleventh company for the trek west.

Elder Parker maintained a closeness with the presiding brethren of the Church after the saints west west. As the saints faced increasing difficulties over the practice of plural marriage. Brigham Young determined to meet the legal challenges. He started a winter trip to face a Federal Magistrate. It is recorded: "December 1872, The second day's journey brought them to Kanarra, in Iron county. Here they met the veteran life guard of the Prophet Joseph Smith, John D. Parker, "who wept like a child because President Young was going back to face his enemies in the court room, which he considered an act of madness."

A final record of Elder Parker occurs in the year 1891: John D. Parker, another member of Zion's Camp, died at Kanarra, Iron Co.