Documenting This American Family

Morris, John Devinold

Morris, John Devinold[1]

Male 1856 - 1944  (87 years)

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  • Name Morris, John Devinold 
    Birth 9 Apr 1856  Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah Territory USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Death 25 Mar 1944  American Falls, Power, Idaho USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Burial Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Person ID I156  A367
    Last Modified 22 Feb 2023 

    Father Morris, John Newland,   b. 16 Feb 1823, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Jan 1905, Rockland, Power, Idaho USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years) 
    Mother Devinold, Phoebe,   b. 10 Nov 1830, Solva, Whitchurch, Pembrokeshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Aug 1891, Rockland, Power, Idaho USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 60 years) 
    Marriage 9 Dec 1853  Letterson, Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    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. [1]
    Family ID F774  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Morgan, Elizabeth,   b. 10 May 1863, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Oct 1901, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 38 years)  [1
    Marriage 18 Jan 1883  Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah Territory USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Children 
     1. Morris, Annie Elizabeth,   b. 26 Oct 1883, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 31 Oct 1975, Los Angeles County, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 92 years)
     2. Morris, David John,   b. 23 Aug 1885, Rockland, Power, Idaho USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Aug 1937, American Falls, Power, Idaho USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 51 years)
     3. Morris, Mabel,   b. 21 Jan 1888, Rockland, Power, Idaho USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 May 1973 (Age 85 years)
     4. Morris, Lloyd,   b. 4 Nov 1890, Mendon, Cache, Utah Territory USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Jan 1897 (Age 6 years)
     5. Morris, Harry Leon,   b. 18 Sep 1893, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Sep 1940, Rockland, Power, Idaho USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 46 years)
     6. Morris, Thomas Melvin,   b. 26 Jul 1896, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah Territory USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Mar 1973 (Age 76 years)
     7. Morris, Mary Geneva,   b. 23 Sep 1901, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Oct 1998, Wellsville, Cache, Utah USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 97 years)
    Family ID F13  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Feb 2019 

  • Photos
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    Documents
    Family of John Newland Morris and Phoebe Devonald Morris
    Family of John Newland Morris and Phoebe Devonald Morris

    Histories
    History of John Devonald Morris
    History of John Devonald Morris

  • 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.

  • Sources 
    1. [S230] Family Genealogies and Facts, LeeAnn (nee Murray) Clark .

    2. [S770] Find a Grave: John Devonald Morris, Brigham City Cemetery, Brigham City, Utah, ID: 14852718.
      Find a Grave , database and images ( https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14852718/john-devinold-morris : accessed 22 February 2023 ), memorial page for John Devinold Morris (9 Apr 1856–25 Mar 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14852718 , citing Brigham City Cemetery, Brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah, USA; Maintained by SMS (contributor 46491005 ).