Thomas, Edward, a prominent Elder in the Bountiful East Ward, Davis county, Utah, was born Jan. 26, 1842, near Cardiff, Wales, the son of Ebenezer Thomas and Elvira Jones. At the age of eight years he became a member of the Church and emigrated to Utah in 1856, crossing the Atlantic in the ship "Samuel Curling" and the plains in Edward Bunkers' handcart company. He lived with Capt. Dan Jones in the 14th Ward, Salt Lake City, for about two years and went south in 1858, at the time of "the move," but returned to the north the same year and settled at Bountiful.
He was ordained an Elder March 3, 1866, and on the same day married Sarah Frances Crosby, by whom he had eight children, namely, Edward, Francis, John K., Elvira J., Hannah C. and Mary J., two having died in infancy. In 1859 he received a special calling to haul rock for the Temple [p.722] in Salt Lake City, where he labored all winter. In 1862 he went to the Missouri river after emigrants; he met Amasa M. Lyman's company and helped them into the Valley.
He became a member of the 70th quorum of Seventy at the time of its organization July 1, 1865, being ordained a Seventy on that day by Samuel Bryson. In 1872 (July 1st) he married Emily Adelaide Rounds; later (Dec. 23, 1880) he married Sarah Hulda Stoddard, by whom he became the father of six children, namely, Matilda, Anna U., Orvall L., Melvin E., Emily V. and Rulon W. In 1885–86 he filled a mission to Great Britain, laboring in the Birmingham conference. For forty years he has been a member of the Bountiful choir and been the leader of the same for thirty-five years. In other respects Bro. Thomas has always been a faithful worker in the Church, both at home and abroad.
LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 2, pp.721-722 |
Biographies 
