John David Leigh

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John David Leigh was the fourth child of Samuel Leigh and Ann David. He married Sarah M. Chaffin. Sarah Chaffin was the first school teacher in Cedar City, and her home was the site of the first school. Their first child was Sophia Lydia Leigh.

Sarah Chaffin Leigh
Photograph courtesy Special Collections,
Sherratt Library, SUU
 

The Chaffin Home and First School in Cedar City
Photograph courtesy Special Collections,
Sherratt Library, SUU

The Chaffin family was active in Cedar City business with a water-powered mill on Coal Creek, which apparently was used for woolen milling, lumber sawing, and as a grist mill according to the book Mayors of Cedar City and Histories of Cedar City, Utah by York and Evelyn Jones (pp.48, 71,78,182). There were apparently several Chaffin brothers: Louis R. Chaffin and John R. Chaffin are now well-known but also an H. Chaffin was present in 1875 and George Chaffin in 1883. Louis R. Chaffin was Justice of the Peace in 1867 (p.34) and was again elected in August 1880 (p.64). J. R. Chaffin was the poundkeeper in 1891-96 (p.117). 

John David Leigh died on December 10, 1896. The following obituary was published. We do not know the source of the obituary, but the local paper in Cedar City at that time was the Iron County Record. 

Yesterday morning at about 5:15, John Leigh, who has been suffering from a cancer on his face for upwards of three years, passed away. Although his suffering during that period has been terrible, his last moments were peaceful, and he remained conscious to the last.

Bro. Leigh was born in Llanelli, South Wales, on the 28th of June 1847. When he was about 18 months old his parents joined the church and emigrated to America. After remaining at Council Bluffs, Iowa about three years, they moved to Utah, arriving at Cedar City in the fall of 1852 [note: his mother died on a boat heading toward St. Joseph, Missouri. His father remarried before the emigration to Utah]. On the 30th of November, 1874, he was married to Sarah M. Chaffin in Salt Lake City, and in 1882 he was called by the authorities of the church to assist in settling the city of Price, Emery County. In response to a call from the Presidency of the church, in the month of April, 1887, he started on a mission to the Southern States. Owing to poor health, at the expiration of 13 months, he was obliged to return home. In 1890, he returned to Cedar City where he resided until his death.

The affliction that finally developed into cancer and ultimately caused his death, originated some 25 years since with an injury sustained by being thrown from and dragged by a horse. The wound thus sustained on his face never entirely healed, and three years ago developed symptoms of cancer.

The deceased was an honest, upright man and beloved by all who knew him. He leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his departure, besides which he has buried three children, making ten in all. The funeral services convene in the tabernacle at 2 o’clock this afternoon.