H I S T O R I C A L S K E T C H O F M Y LIFE John Johnson
Davies1
I am a very poor speller And also very poor writer I know but little about grammar Then please excuse all my blunders. I was born the 28th of December, 1831, in the City of Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. My father's name was John and my mother's maiden name was Sarah Lewis. My father was born in the year 1797, and died in the month of December, 1839. My mother was born in the year of 1798, died in the month of November, 1856. They were buried in Carmarthen, South Wales. My parents had ten children. My father was a stone cutter by trade, and by lifting too hard, and inhaling the dust of the stone, he bled to death. My sister Sarah Jane, died a few days before father died. My mother was then left with four children to provide for in that hard country. This was a gloomy time for mother. The names of the children that were left with mother, were David, Phillip, John and Louis. When I was nine years old, I had to work to help mother get the comforts of life. I worked in a weaver's shop, guiling for the weavers, and I learned that trade. After I served my apprenticeship, I thought I would take a trip from home to see the towns and cities in other parts of the country. It was in the month of January, 1850, that I started from home on foot, because there were no railroads in that part of the country at that time. The first place I came to was the City of Jlanellhe. This 'was twenty miles from home. I felt a little homesick because I did not get work here. I stayed with my Aunt a few days in this city. I felt quite lonesome here. W h y ? Because I was among strangers and was very young and had but little experience in the world. The next place I came to was Caslocker. I was lucky this time. I got work with a man named David Thomas. I worked for him three months and made good wages. I went to meeting with him on Sunday. He was the leader of the choir of the Baptist Church. He introduced me to the singers and I joined them in their singing. I made many friends in this place. I left the place feeling good because I had some money. I started again in a rain storm. I traveled a few miles and got to Swanze City, Glanmor Ganshire. This is a great seaport. I did not get work in this place and now I began to be homesick again. I met a friend in this city who introduced me to a gen: This autobiography was obtained from Mr. Ivan J. Davies, Kanarraville, Utah, grandson of the subject.
