Memory of Father
Given from memory by his only daughter, Mary E. Stoddard Hill
For 20 years Wellsville was David’s permanent home, during which time he became very useful. He owned the first furniture shop here and manufactured it from the rough lumber. Many pieces of his furniture adorn the homes of Cache Valley today (as relics).
He made lumber lathe and shingles at his sawmill, being one of the first in the valet. He was a member of the first band organized at Wellsville, and was an excellent surveyor.
In the year 1877 David bought an interest in a sawmill with Robert B. Hill 30 miles east of Wellsville in Blacksmith Fork Canyon. In 1879 he purchased this mill and moved it to Beaver Canyon, Idaho, some 200 miles north of Wellsville. Again he was called to pioneer this place, 1879-1908. David with his wife and family lived in this country and operated sawmills furnishing good employment to many men. They stayed in the Beaver Canyon area during the summers lumbering, and the winters in Wellsville. David suffered many losses during these few years. His sawmills burned to the ground six times, but with renewed courage he would rebuild and continue work. At no time in his life were his mills or property insured.
In 1908, David sold his home in Wellsville and built a large home in Burton, Idaho, six miles west of Rexburg. He and his wife lived here during the winter months, and in the spring he started the mill again.
In 1909 David moved the mill from Spencer, Idaho and located it at Rea, Idaho, 20 miles from West Yellowstone, Montana. The first year was successful. The second year, while he was away on business, the sawmill and everything belonging to him burned to the ground. Again he rebuilt, and although 79 years old he still kept his own books and tended to all the business, hiring and paying the men, doing all the traveling and part of the sale of the ready lumber.
In 1911 David’s heath failed and he became so ill that it was considered wise to part with his two sawmills providing his sons would buy them. This they agreed to do.
In August of the same year David was taken to the hospital in Logan, Utah where he suffered untold misery from asthma. After two weeks in the hospital he spent the winter months in Wellsville and Logan until he recovered sufficiently to return to his home. The following two summers he took great pride in his gardening. He kept a diary every day and on Jun 19th he has written, “I transplanted 56 head of cabbage plants and weeded my garden.”
On July 1, 1913 David took very ill and continued so until his death. He suffered with asthma, two ruptures and other complications. Many nights he slept standing with a crutch under each arm. He died on Thursday morning, August28, 1913 at 3:30 A.M. He was 83 years old.
A funeral was held at Burton, Idaho, August 29th. David’s body was then shipped to Wellsville, Utah where funeral services were held on Sunday, August 31, 1913. Burial was in the Wellsville cemetery. David was the father of ten sons and one daughter, 46 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.
