John Davies

John Davies

• Father: Ellis Davies b. circa 1840, d. between 1866 and 1871
• Mother: Mary Morris b. circa 1843

• John Davies was born in April 1869 in Parish of Ruabon, Denbighshire, North Wales.
• Mary Morris appeared in the British census of 2 April 1871 in Ruabon, Rhosllannerchrugog, Denbighshire, North Wales, at 163 Market Street. Other members of the household included John Davies, Ellis Davies and Daniel Davies.
• William Parry and Mary Morris appeared in the British census of 3 April 1881 in Ruabon, Denbighshire, Wales, at Pen Rhos. Other members of the household included John Davies, Ellis Davies, William Parry, Messick Parry and Daniel Davies. Also in the household was William Parry's son Elias (age 12) from his earlier marriage.
• According to a 2x great granddaughter of Elizabeth Morris, following the death in Wales of her sister Mary Morris Davies, Elizabeth went to the bank and borrowed money to bring Mary's sons (Ellis, John and Daniel Davies, and William and Messick Parry) over to the United States to live with her in Lead.
• John Davies arrived in the United States circa 1890.
• He married Mary Ellis in 1890 in Ruabon, Denbighshire, North Wales.
• He filed a declaration of intent to become a US citizen on 12 January 1893 at Lawrence County, South Dakota.
• John Davies and Mary Ellis appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota. Other members of the household included Ellis E. Davies and John Edward Davies.
• He was a timberman, according to the 1900 census.
• The following appeared on 25 July 1905 in the Lead Daily Call: This morning, William Parry, Mart Callahan and John Davis left for the valleys, and will stop at Spearfish for a short time, and from there go up into the Hills in the country around Sand creek. They have gone prepared to make a stay out in the open and will get near to nature for the next two weeks. They will fish, hunt berries and wild flowers and for the time they are away forget that there was ever anything that looked like a mine or a power drill. This is the first vacation that the boys have taken for a long time, and they propose to have a lot of fun while on it, and to add to their pleasure will take in the carnival before entering seriously upon their fishing program.
• The following appeared on 27 December 1905 in The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times: The marriage of William Parry and Miss Olive Reckman took place Christmas at the home of John Davis in West Lead. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Murray of the Methodist church, and was witnessed by a large number of friends of the young people. Daniel Davis acted as best man and Mrs. Davis as matron of honor.
       Immediately after the ceremony the young people and their guests of the evening proceeded to the dining room, where they were treated to an elegant supper. The remainder of the evening was spent in a social way and the guests departed at a late hour, wishing Mr. and Mrs. Parry all the good things of life.
       The newly married couple were the recipients of many handsome and useful presents. They have gone to housekeeping in the Davis home, where they will remain for the present.
       Both are well known and popular in Lead. Mr. Perry is one of the trusted employes of the Homestake and the bride who has been a resident of this city for a long time has a large circle of friends.
• He officially witnessed the death of Daniel Davies on 24 April 1906 at 212 Miners Avenue in Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota.
• The following appeared on 27 April 1906 in the Lead Daily Call: Mrs. Daniel Davies and family, John and Ellis Davies, William Parry and the other relatives in this city of the late Daniel Davies, wishes to return thanks to the kind friends who assisted them during the last illness of their beloved husband, father and brother, and especially are they thankful to the Knights of Pythias, the different bands of the city, the Musicians' union, and the Workmen and Miners' union, who contributed so much toward lessening the sorrow which they feel and the burden of grief which they must bear.
• He was naturalized on 27 August 1906 at South Dakota.
• The following appeared on 25 April 1908 in the Lead Daily Call: Last evening Joseph Meade and John Davies returned from Belle Fourche with the remains of Messick Perry, who died there on Thursday. Yesterday morning a coroneer's jury held an inquest and the verdict was as follows: "We, the jury, find that Messick Perry came to his death by an overdose of morphine, intent not known, and we, the jury, advise great care in the sale of poisonous drugs, especially cocaine and morphine.
       Signed H. T. Adams, F. A. Gammos, E. B. Giles, Jury.
• John Davies and Mary Ellis appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota, at 236 Arlington Street. Other members of the household included Ellis E. Davies, John Edward Davies, Mary Davies and Elizabeth Davies.
• He was a gold miner, according to the 1910 census.
• The following appeared on 13 January 1915 in The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times: The Daily Sketch, a paper published in the old Welsh home of Jack and Ellis Davies of this city contains a photograph of Dan Davies, a cousin who is fighting in the ranks of the Welsh Fusileers along the French line, and also gives an account of the three conspicuous acts of bravery performed by him. Following is what the paper has to say concering young Davies, and both of his cousins here are exceedingly proud of his record:
       The story of the heroism of a Welsh boy, Private Davies, is told in a letter written to the boy's parents by a man who saw him woulded.
       "You may well be proud of your noble boy", he says. "On the 14th of September, at Chiog, where the Welsh have fought so bravely, after holding the position all day we were suddenly shelled by the Germans. It was suicide to stay where we were; it was, in fact, every man for himself, but in spite of this your son, utterly disregarding danger to himself, came to me where I lay woulded under terrible shell fire, and picking mu up, carried me back to cover.
       "Then he went off again and fetched my brother out of danger. We were in a gang; there was no doctor, and your boy stayed by us and waited on us all.
       "For 76 hours he worked without rest; then he went out again, tired and almost asleep, and brought back with him a wounded German. We all owe him debts of gratitude which we can never repay".
• John Davies died on 24 October 1918 at age 49 in Lead, South Dakota.
• Mary Ellis became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at West Lead Cemetery, Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota.
• The following appeared on 26 October 1918 in The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times: The first death at the Recreation building emergency hospital occurred last night when Jack Davies passed away. He was 49 years of age and had been a resident of Lead for many years, for the greater part of the time in the employ of the Homestake company. He was a brother of Ellis Davies, a member of the Lead fire department. He is survived by his wife, who has been on the ranch near Spearfish, but returned to Lead to care for her husband in his illness. He also leaves a son who is a member of the Lead lodge Woodmen of the World and of the Knights of Pythias. The date of the funeral has not been announced but interment will be made at the K. P. part of West Lead cemetery. The remains are at the Rounsevell undertaking rooms.
• The following appeared on 1 November 1918 in The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times: John Davies was born in North Wales, England, in April 1869. He was united on marriage ot Mary Ellis in Raubon, North Wales, in 1890. He came to Lead twenty-eight years ago where he has since made his home.
       He died in the Recreation Hospital Thursday, October 24, 1918.
       Deceased is survived by his wife, two sons, Ellis who is at Camp Grant, and John who is at home; two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. The family live on Redwater, seven miles southwest of Belle Fourche; his two aunts, Mrs. Elizabeth Williams on South Mill street and Mrs. Sarah Dorman of West Lead.
       Mr[s]. Williams had been a resident of lead for 32 years and Mrs. Dorman for 30 years. His brother Ellis of the Lead Fire Department is his only living brother. A half brother, William Parry resides in Butte, Montana. All of the above named were at the funeral, except the two daughters who because of sickness were unable to attend; also his half brother, due to distance was not present.
       Mr. Davies was a member of the Homestake Veterans' Society and had been constantly in the employ of the company for 28 years. He was also a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Knights of Pythias. Pall bearers from the above societies accompanied the remains to the last resting place. Funeral services were held from the Rounsevelt Undertaking parlors at 4 p. m. October 30. Interment was made in the K. P. Cemetery, West Lead. J. Maurice Hupp of the Lead Baptist church conducted brief services at the grave.

• Last Edited: 28 Dec 2015