Ohio History Journal

WELSH SETTLEMENTS IN OHIO.

 

 

WM. HARVEY JONES.

This article is not sufficiently broad in its scope to include

the history of every settlement in Ohio wherein the Welsh people

may have largely resided and must, therefore, be confined to

those communities which were originally settled by Welsh peo-

ple. Classified in this manner the leading Welsh settlements in

Ohio are Paddy's Run, Butler County; Radnor, Delaware Coun-

ty; Welsh Hills, Licking County; of Gallia and Jackson Coun-

ties, and Gomer, Allen County. Other communities in Ohio

were settled by the Welsh people, but these were probably the

earliest in the history of the State, and derived their pioneer

population from sources almost altogether outside of Ohio.

Clannishness is a marked characteristic of the Welsh people.

It is to be observed in their many attempts at establishing colo-

nies or settlements for their people, not necessarily to the ex-

clusion of other races, but for the accommodation of those who

spoke the Welsh language. The Welsh colonies under Penn

near Philadelphia, in New England, Georgia, North Carolina,

Virginia, New York and other places bear witness.

A second characteristic of the Welsh people which has con-

siderable bearing upon their history as American citizens was

their love of liberty, particularly religious liberty, freedom of

conscience, the right to think. About the close of the Revolu-

tionary War a very perceptible wave of religious dissension and

reform spread throughout Europe, a movement which afterwards

disclosed its most terrible aspect in the French Revolution. At

that time the freethinkers of Wales came athwart the wishes of

the government of Great Britain and were compelled to leave

the country. America was the Land of Promise and, consequent-

ly, between 1790 and 1820 many Welsh people immigrated to

America.1

"I endeavored to prove, before I left Britain, that all who dissented

from the established religion in that country, were persecuted by the

(194)

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Welsh Settlements in Ohio.                  195

 

In fact the leaders in the reform movement were compelled

to flee for their lives and in some cases did not depart soon

enough to escape imprisonment.2

This very religious fervor identified the race at an early

date with the movements to convert the Indians and long before

the Revolutionary War the Welsh missionary was pushing west-

ward through the forest to preach to the Indian by his own

campfire. In his efforts to save the Indian's soul, the good mis-

sionary was not unmindful of the beauty and fertility of his

lands and hunting-grounds, and it was not long until the Welsh

colonists were familiar with much of the western country. Per-

haps the most distinguished Welsh missionary was David Jones,

 

Higher Powers, and that it was their duty, unless they could obtain

equal liberty with the rest of their fellow citizens at home, to immigrate

to that country where they might enjoy their natural birthright without

fear of molestation. I am still of the same opinion: notwithstanding

the difficulties you have to encounter in the way for the sake of liberty

you should surmount them all; and embark for America where the per-

secuted Penn founded a city of refuge for the oppressed of all nations;

here religion has to demonstrate its efficacy from the 'force of argument

instead of the argument of force'." Letter of Morgan J. Rhys, 1794.

The church of Rev. Thomas Griffiths in Pembrokeshire, Wales, emi-

grated with him in a body in 1801 and formed the "Welsh Tract Church"

in Delaware.

In 1776 Rev. Richard Price, of London, a native of Glamorganshire,

Wales, published a pamphlet entitled "Observations on Civil Liberty and

the Justice and Policy of the War with America," which caused consid-

erable comment among the friends of the Colonists and made him a

recognized leader among them in England.

2Morgan J. Rhys, the founder of the Welsh colony at Beulah,

Penn., mentioned hereafter, was compelled to escape at great hazard.

In his "Reasons for Coming to America," he said: "We are not without

seeing their persecuting spirit already. Many of our fellow countrymen

say that hanging or burning is too good for us; that we should be tor-

tured and torn in pieces by wild animals. But what for? For nothing

in the world but for desiring their welfare, and for trying to open their

eyes to see their civil and religious rights, but thus far they love dark-

ness rather than light."

Rev. Thomas Evans, a Unitarian minister, was imprisoned in 1776,

at Carmarthen, Wales, for two years for advocating civil and religious

liberty.

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196        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

known as "Chaplain Jones," of Great Valley, Pennsylvania, who

journeyed through Ohio in 1772 and 1773.3

Prior to 1800 the Welsh settlement nearest to the North-

west Territory was that of Beulah, in what is now Cambria

County, then a part of Somerset County, in the western part of

Pennsylvania, about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh. This settle-

ment, together with Ebensburg which grew up beside it, was

a source of by far the greater part of immigration of the Welsh

people to Ohio prior to 1825, and particularly of Paddy's Run

and the Welsh Hills.      At that place a distinguished Welsh

preacher by the name of Morgan John Rhys had purchased

20,000 acres of land for the purpose of establishing a Welsh

colony and had founded a village for his people as early as

1796.

When originally laid out Beulah gave promise of becoming

a populous and prosperous settlement, and up until 1805 events

justified the promise, but about that time important economic

changes were wrought whereby the Welsh village was cut off

from the direct route of travel from Philadelphia westward, and

was left without resources and hope, began to decline, and finally

was completely abandoned.⁴

 

3Chaplain Jones was born May 12, 1736, near Newark, Delaware.

He was the son of Morgan and Eleanor Evans Jones, who came from

Cardiganshire, South Wales. He was baptized May 6, 1758, into the

Welsh Tract Church. He was educated at Hopewell Academy and was

ordained December 12, 1766, at Freehold, New Jersey. In 1775 he be-

came pastor of Great Valley, Pennsylvania, Baptist Church, and April

27, 1776, enlisted in the Fourth Pennsylvania Battallion, in which he

served until January 1, 1783, when he was transferred to the Third Penn-

sylvania under General Wayne. In 1786 he was pastor at Southampton

and in 1792 he returned to Great Valley. In 1794-96 he was chaplain

of General Wayne's troops in the Indian wars which terminated in the

treaty of Greenville in 1795. His name is signed to the treaty. In

1812-1814 he was again chaplain in the army and after the close of the

war returned to his charge where he died February 5, 1820. His diary

kept by him in his journeys through Ohio in 1772 and 1773 are published

in Cincinnati Miscellany, Vols. 1 and 2.

4 "In a valley on the headwaters of the south fork of Black Lick

Creek, in the midst of the Alleghany Mountains, about three miles west

of Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, a few heaps of stones,

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Welsh Settlements in Ohio.                 197

To this settlement in the fall of 1795 and in the winter of

1796 came the families of the following Welshmen: Thomas

Philipps, William Jenkins, Theophilus Rees, Rev. Rees Lloyd,

William Griffith, James Nichols, Daniel Griffith, John Jones,

David Thomas, Evans James, George Roberts, Thomas W.

Jones, John Jenkins, Isaac Griffiths, John Thomas, Rev. Morgan

J. Rees, John J. Evans, William Rees, Simon James, William

Williams (South), Thomas Griffith, John Thomas, John Robert

(Penbryn), John Roberts (shoemaker), David Rees, Robert

Williams, George Turner, Thomas Griffith (farmer), James

Evans, Griffith Rowland, David Edwards, Thomas Lewis and

David Davies.⁵

This colony formed the nucleus of the Welsh settlements in

Ohio. By far the greater portion of the Welsh settlers North-

west of the Ohio River prior to 1825, either came directly from

this colony or employed it as a temporary stopping-place on their

way from Wales.

Our Welsh pioneers did not long remain at Beulah, as indi-

cations pointed to a more fertile country further west.      The

Welsh settler was not satisfied with the hilly and somewhat un-

fertile regions about Beulah. Besides, about the year 1800 the

flood of emigration westward was at its height. The spirit of

emigration is contagious and as the Welshman saw the great

number of eager, enthusiastic travelers pushing past his very

door and heard the many stories of the bounteous lands beyond,

he concluded to go forward also. By the year 1825 Beulah

was practically abandoned by its original settlers.6

covered with moss, trees and ferns and here and there an excavation,

nearly filled with debris and vegetation, mark the site of the extinct

town of Beulah." J. F. Barnes History of the City of Beulah.

5 Egle's History of Pennsylvania, p. 470. Day's Pennsylvania His-

torical Collections, p. 181. "They were, in religion, Dissenters, or Welsh

Independents, and were men of strong religious conviction." Egle's Hist.

of Pennsylvania, p. 471.

6 Morgan J. Rhys, the founder of Beulah, was born December 8,

1760, in Glamorganshire, South Wales, and died in Somerset, Pennsyl-

vania, December 7, 1804. He was well born and well educated. His

parents were John and Elizabeth Rhys (English, Rees). He united with

the Baptist Church at Hengoed while very young. He entered Bristol

College in August, 1786, but remained there but one year. In 1787 he

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198        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

 

PADDY'S RUN.⁷

Paddy's Run is located about twenty-two miles northwest

of Cincinnati, on a small stream by that name. The present

name of the village is Shandon. It is situated in a level valley

bordered by hills of some considerable height, and is noted for

its productive farms and well-to-do people and general home-

like prosperity.⁸

The valley of Paddy's run varies in breadth from half a mile

to one or two miles, and in length from four to six miles, ter-

minating in the valley of the Great Miami.       It is one of the

most fertile localities in the Miami country. It is noted for its

production of cereals and its stock raising.

 

was ordained pastor of Penygarn Baptist Church, Pontypool. In 1792

he went to France but remained only a short time. About 1793 he

published several pamphlets and also a "Guide and Encouragement to

Establish Sunday Schools, etc." In 1794 he fell under the ban of the

English Government and fled to America. After landing at New York

he journeyed through the Southern States and Northwest Territory seek-

ing a suitable place for a Welsh colony. In 1796 he married the daughter

of Colonel Benjamin Loxley. In 1798 he purchased the land where

Beulah was located. He then took charge of his colony, became pastor

of the church, Associate Judge, Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills,

etc. He was buried in the cemetery of the First Baptist Church of

Philadelphia.

Rev. John T. Griffiths, of Edwardsdale, Penn., a prominent

divine and recognized as the most useful writer of Welsh history living

in America today, has compiled and published the facts to be obtained

concerning Morgan J. Rhys, including his letters, diary, and several ser-

mons and speeches. From this publication all the foregoing facts con-

cerning Morgan J. Rhys and Beulah, Penn., have been obtained.

7This article is based on the writings of B. W. Chidlaw, Hon.

Ed H. Jones, of Hamilton, and Miss Hannah Morris, of Shandon,

have furnished valuable additions.

8"The level valley, bordered by hills that gradually rise to quite

a pretentious height, little streams like silver threads winding their way

on toward large rivers, fine gravel roads, well tilled and highly productive

farms, large and inviting looking homes, commodious barns, lawns and

pastures of Kentucky blue grass and in summer and autumn fields of

abundant harvests and orchards of all kinds of fruits,- all these go to

make up a landscape worthy a place on the canvass of the painter."

Rev. C. A. Gleason, Hist. Paddy's Run Cong. Church.

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Welsh Settlements in Ohio.                 199

 

Its settlement dates from  1796, when a Welshman by the

name of Ezekiel Hughes arrived at Cincinnati from Wales, and

together with Edward Bebb and William Gwilym squatted on

the east bank of the Miami river near the mouth of Blue Rock

creek until the government should survey the west bank of the

river and open the country for settlement.⁹

In 1801 the land on the west side of the Miami was placed

on the market, and Ezekiel Hughes purchased sections 15 and 16

in what is now Whitewater township, Hamilton county, while

Edward Bebb purchased a half section in Morgan township, But-

ler county.¹⁰

The settlers for the most part occupied the lands in the

community in the following order: 1802, William Gwilym, An-

drew Scott, John Vaughn, David Francis; 1803, James Nicholas,

the Parkison family consisting of three brothers, Jacob Phyllis,

John and Samuel Hardin, Bryson Blackburn, George Drybread,

John Howard and Thomas Millholland; 1804 James Shields,

John Halstead, Abel and Thomas Appleton; from 1804 to

1812, William Evans, William Jenkins, King and Alexander De-

 

Ezekiel Hughes was the first Welsh settler in Ohio. He was born

in Llanbrynmair Montgomeryshire, North Wales, August 22, 1767. He

sailed for Philadelphia in April, 1795. He remained there until the

Spring of 1796 when he visited Washington, D. C. In the early summer

of 1796, accompanied by Edward Bebb he started on foot for the North-

west Territory. They remained a few weeks at Beulah and then took

passage on a flatboat down the Ohio, bound for Cincinnati. In 1803

Hughes visited Wales, married Margaret Bebb, and returned to the

banks of the Miami in 1804. In 1805 his wife died. In 1808 he married

Mary Ewing, a native of Pennsylvania. In 1806 he became Justice of

the Peace. In 1819 he was instrumental in incorporating "The Berea

Union Society." He was one of the charter members of the Paddy's

Run Congregational Church, and a faithful attendant though residing

13 miles away. In 1828 a Presbyterian Church was organized at his

house and he united with it. He died September 2, 1849.

10Edward Bebb, who was the first actual settler at Paddy's Run,

after locating his land, walked back to Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, took

unto himself a wife, Margaret Owens, and returned to take possession

of his new home. Their son, William Bebb, afterwards Governor of

Ohio, was born December 8, 1802, and was the first white child born

in Morgan Township, Butler County. William Bebb died June 18, 1840,

and Mrs. Bebb, December 3, 1851.

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200       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Armond, Rev. Michael Battenberg, John Merring, Robert Ma-

haffy, Rev. Hezekiah Shaw, William D. Jones, Peter Youmans,

Ephraim Carmack; 1817, Rev. Rees Lloyd and family.

In 1818 emigration directly from Wales was revived,

and the following families came from that place: John C.

Jones, Evan Morris, John Breese, Richard Jones, John and

William Davis, George Williams, Evan Humphreys, Griffith

Breese, Humphrey Evans, Francis Jones, John Evans, David

Jones, John Swancott, David Davies, Evan Evans and Tubal

Jones.

Between 1820 and 1830 the following families settled:

Deacon Hugh Williams, Joseph Griffiths, Henry Davis, Thomas

Watkins, David Roberts, Rowland Jones and John Jones.11

The early settlers passed through experiences similar to

those of other pioneers of their times. The opening of the public

road from Cincinnati to the Miami furnished a market for their

produce at Cincinnati, and the fact that that city was located

along a great artery of traffic made the market a good one. The

twenty-two miles to market had no terrors for the Welshman.

As a result, the earliest settlers became landowners, their lands

became more and more valuable with the increase of facilities and

the descendants of the pioneers are for the most part well-to-

do, if not wealthy.

It is to be observed that the first settlers came from the

vicinity of Llanbrynmair, North Wales, which is said to have

been one of the most moral and religious places in Wales. When

they came to America they did not leave behind their Bibles or

religious tenets, and with the ring of the ax they mingled the

11 William and Morgan Gwilym who came from Cevmaman, South

Wales, and reached this colony in 1802, resided for some time at Red

Stone, Pennsylvania, where they assisted in the manufacture of the first

iron made west of the Alleghanies. Rachel, the daughter of William

Gwilym, and Ann Rowlands, born May 28, 1800, was the first white

child born in Colerain Township, Hamilton County, Ohio. Morgan

Gwilym brought the first two-horse wagon and iron castings into the

neighborhood. William Gwilym died in 1838, aged 74 years. Morgan

Gwilym died in 1845, aged 76 years.

James Shields, who arrived in 1804, was a native of Ireland, educated

at Glascow University. He was a member of the Ohio Legislature for

nineteen years. In 1828 he was elected to Congress. He died in 1831.

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Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            201 sound of thanksgiving and praise. The cabin preceded but a short interval the house of worship; indeed, from the beginning it served as a habitation and a house of worship as well. The most important item in the history of this community is the story of the Congregational church, which was organ- ized September 3, 1803. Among the earliest settlers was one J. W. Brown, an itinerant preacher. He traveled from settle- ment to settlement in Hamilton county, and in 1802 preached the

first sermon in Paddy's Run. The first meetings for the most part were held in the open. In July, 1803, a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and articles of faith. Sep- tember 3, 1803, the committee reported at a meeting held at the home of John Vaughn. The first members were Benjamin McCarthy, Asa Kitchel, John Comstock, Andrew Scott, Mar- garet Bebb, Ezekiel Hughes, William and Ann Gwilym, David and Mary Francis.

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202      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

In 1804 Rev. Brown was ordained. He filled the position

of pastor until 1812. Since 1817 the pastors have been: 1817-

1820, Rev. Rees Lloyd; 1820-1829, Rev. Thomas Thomas; 1828-

1831, Rev. Thomas G. Roberts; 1831-1834, Rev. Evan Roberts;

1836-1843, Rev. B. W. Chidlaw; 1843--  , Rev. Ellis Howell.

These were followed by Rev. Jos. H. Jones, Rev. James M.

Pryse, Rev. D. W. Wilson, Rev. J. M. Thompson, Rev. George

Candee and others. In ninety-five years the pastors numbered

eighteen. Beginning with a membership of thirteen in 1803, at

the end of the first quarter of a century, it numbered about ninety.

By 1850 the membership was over four hundred.

From the organization of the church until 1825 the meet-

ings were held at the cabin of the members, or in the wagon

shop of David Jones or in the open air. In 1823 a church

building was begun, but it was not ready for occupancy until

1825. In 1855 a new and more commodious church was erected

and occupied.

As John W. Brown, the first minister, was English and not

Welsh, and as several of the first members of the church were

not Welsh, the services were carried on for the most part in

the English language, yet services and communion were had

alternately in English and Welsh for a considerable period. In

1820 Thomas Thomas and Rees Lloyd were joint pastors, the

former preaching in English, the latter in Welsh. Preaching in

both languages was continued for many years. The last Welsh

pastor was Rev. Pryse, and the last Welsh sermon was preached

in 1886 by Rev. Rhys Lloyd, of Oakland, Cal. The Welsh people

clung to their language and traditions for many years and among

the old folk they are often tenderly referred to.

Miss Hannah Morris, a descendant of the first family of

that name, writes: "There is only a very little of the Welsh

or the Welsh influence here now. I think there is but one

person that can read Welsh, about a dozen that can talk it, and

about as many who can understand it."

A Sunday-school was organized in 1819 and has always been

an important factor in the religious life of the community.¹²

12"The members knew but little of Sunday-school work, and in

order to obtain some knowledge of method, Thomas Lloyd and William

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Welsh Settlements in Ohio.             203

It is recorded that the first school in the township was con-

ducted in a log schoolhouse erected in 1808. The teacher, Polly

Willey, had twenty pupils and drew a salary of seventy-five cents

a week and boarded around. She was succeeded by Mr. Jenkins

in 1808, who taught not only from the textbooks, but also from

a code of "morals and manners" of his own. In 1821 a board-

ing school was established for advanced scholars by Rev. Thomas

Thomas. The following are some of the more prominent persons

who received their early education at the Paddy's Run schools.

Charles Selden, Rev. T. E. Thomas, William Dennison, Gov-

ernor of Ohio in 1861; G. M. Shaw, of Indiana, and Hon. Daniel

Shaw, of Louisiana; Murat Halstead, Dr. Albert Shaw, editor

Review of Reviews; William Bebb, Governor of Ohio 1846-

1848; Dr. Knowles Shaw, evangelist; Rev. Mark Williams, mis-

sionary.

Indeed, the most remarkable fact in connection with the

history of this settlement is the great interest taken in the proper

education and religious instruction and training of the young.

This is true of all Welsh settlements, but it is truly remarkable

in the case of Paddy's Run. Scores of men have gone out from

this Welsh settlement to gain prominence in their chosen pro-

fession. It is estimated that the church alone has given to the

world ten ministers, five foreign missionaries, five teachers in the

American Missionary Work, two eminent journalists, one hun-

dred and five teachers, a score of physicians and several attorneys-

at-law.

WELSH HILLS.

The pioneers of this settlement were Theophilus Rees and

Thomas Philipps, who have been mentioned elsewhere as members

of the Welsh colony which settled Beulah, Cambria county, Penn-

sylvania, in 1795-6. Rees was probably among the earliest of

his race to leave the parent settlement in Pennsylvania with a

view to settling elsewhere. As early as 1800, he began to inquire

 

Bebb were appointed to visit Hamilton, the county seat, and then a town

of seven hundred people, and learn how other schools were conducted.

* * Reaching Hamilton they learned to their surprise that there was

not a school in any of the three of four churches." Gleason's Hist. Pad-

dy's Run Cong. Church.

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204        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

into the advantages of the country beyond the Ohio, and in

August, 1801, commissioned his son, John Rees, "Chaplain"

Jones, mentioned elsewhere, and Simon James, to explore a tract

of land in what is now Granville Township, Licking county,

Ohio.¹³

Upon their favorable report, on September 4, 1801, Theo-

philus Rees purchased approximately one thousand acres in the

Southwest corner of the Northwest quarter of Granville town-

ship, Licking county, Ohio, and Thomas Philipps purchased eight

hundred acres immediately north of the Rees purchase in the

same quarter. In the same quarter at the same time, the fol-

lowing purchases were made: Elizabeth Conroy, 200 acres;

Henry Jenkins, 100 acres; David Roberts, 400 acres; Walter

Griffith, 100 acres.

About one year after the above purchases were made, Theo-

philus Rees and family, his two sons-in-law, David Lewis and

David Thomas, with their families and Simon James started

from Cambria county, Pennsylvania, to take possession of their

lands. At Wheeling they were joined by James Johnson, an

Indian scout, and his family.¹⁴

Before the party reached its destination, Lewis and Thomas,

had stopped at Zanesville and Newark to work. Cabins were

erected for Rees and Johnson, the former about one mile north-

east of Granville, the latter about a mile further over the hills

to the north.

 

13 The facts leading up to the immigration of Rees and Philipps to

America are as follows: In 1787, a pamphlet containing a bold criticism

of the attitude of the British Government toward religious reform was

published in Wales. Its authorship was attributed to John Philipps, son

of Thomas Philipps, who was then a student in a college near the border

line between England and Wales. To avoid arrest Philipps escaped to

America, and repaired to Philadelphia. From there he appealed to his

father to come to America. His father prevailed upon his friend and

neighbor, Theophilus Rees, to come also. A colony of their neighbors

was made up and they arrived in New York May 14, 1795.

14This incident is peculiar. It introduced into a Welsh settlement

a strain of Virginia blood which refused to mix with the Welsh for

generations. The second wife of James Johnson was Martha Bazil Lee,

or Bazileel. Her first husband was Isaac Reily, an Irish minister of

considerable note at Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War.

• 11
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            205   It was not until 1806 that Thomas Philipps, accompanied by his son, John, and family came to Ohio. They settled on their purchase a short distance north of the Rees settlement. In 1809 Samuel Joseph Philipps, another son of Thomas Philipps, came to the Hills, accompanied by his family, consisting of his wife and five children.15 The following list shows the date of the arrival of the princi- pal settlers in the Welsh Hills: 1802, Theophilus Rees, James Johnson, Simon James; 1803, David Lewis, David Thomas; 1804,

Thomas Cramer, Peter Cramer; 1805, John Price, Benjamin Jones, Thomas Powell ;16 1806, Thomas and John Philipps, James 15They traveled in the manner characteristic of the times. They had two horses and no wagon. One horse was used as a pack horse, while the wife rode the other with a child in each saddlebag and a babe in her arms. The father walked and led the way. The two boys aged seven and nine drove the cows. In this manner they made the journey of over three hundred miles. 16Born in Radnorshire, South Wales, January 12, 1760, settled at Beulah, Pennsylvania, 1801, ordained to the ministry and supplied the

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206        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

Evans; 1807, Jacob Riley;¹⁷ 1809, Samuel J. Phillips, David

Jones; 1810, David Thomas, Samuel White, Sr., Daniel Griffith;

1811, Thomas Owens; 1815, Nicodemus Griffith; 1816, David

Pittsford; 1821, Edward Price, Edward Glynn; 1822, Thomas

Hughes, Evan Davis, John Davis, etc.

It has been said that the first thing a Frenchman does in a

new country is to build a trading post; an Englishman builds a

blockhouse, but a Welshman builds a church. It will be observed

that a number of the Welsh families who settled in Welsh Hills

were also the pioneers of Beulah and Ebensburg, Penna. The

year following their settlement at Ebensburg they organized a

church which became the parent church of the Welsh Hills Bap-

tist Church. The Beulah Church was a Union Church for the

accommodation of all worshippers regardless of their denomin-

ation. The prevailing spirit in the church, however, was their

pastor and promoter of the colony, Morgan J. Rhys, who was

a Baptist minister. Accordingly the tone of the church soon be-

came Baptist and the church transplanted to Welsh Hills was

Baptist.  Nearly all the charter members of the Welsh Hills

Baptist Church were members of the Beulah Church, and from

the letters issued by the latter to members of the former, we find

that not less than thirty transplanted their religious as well as

their material possessions from Beulah to Welsh Hills.

church at Beulah and for a time at Welsh Hills. Had a remarkable

memory and is said to have committed to memory great portions of the

Scriptures. Was very eccentric and because of a grievance on the build-

ing of the Welsh Hills Church, declared he would never enter it again.

He kept his word, but seated on a stump outside he listened to the ser-

mons and joined in the services. He died July 6, 1848, and is buried in

Granville.

¹⁷ Riley was the husband of Sallie Tilton, who was born in 1782 at

old Fort Tilton, afterwards Tiltonville, in what is now Warren town-

ship, Jefferson county, Ohio. Her father, Joseph Tilton, was a member

of the settlement at Fort Tilton in 1774. Joseph Tilton's wife was Su-

sannah Jones said to have been a niece of Captain Paul Jones of Revolu-

tionary fame. She is buried at Indian Mound Cemetery at Tiltonville,

and her monument reads, "Departed this life October 15th, 1838, aged

88 years, 9 months and 20 days." Her graddaughter, Susannah Reily,

daughter of Jacob Reily, married Samuel G. Philipps, the son of Samuel

J. Philipps.

• 13
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            207   No sooner had the settlement reached any considerable num- ber than the church was organized. This event took place Sep- tember 4, 1808. The following were the constituent members: Theophilus Rees, David Thomas, Nathyn Allen, David Lobdell, Joshua Lobdell, Thomas Powell, Elizabeth Rees, Elizabeth Thomas, and Mary Thomas. The church worshipped at private houses until 1809, when a log church was erected. It was suc- ceeded by various structures until the present church was built in 1840.

The Welsh Hills Church has done a great deal toward keep- ing the people together in the faith of their fathers and has furn- ished a means by which the traditions of the race have to some extent been preserved. A very large per cent. of the population of the settlement have been church members and church goers, and the church has never failed of the active assistance of the best people of the community. Regarding education as the handmaid of religion the pioneer Welshman soon took steps to establish a school as early if not

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208      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. earlier than the organization of the church. John H. Philipps had been a school teacher in Pennsylvania and immediately upon his arrival in 1806 began to instruct the youth of the neighborhood at his cabin. He was the first teacher in the log school house erected in 1806. In 1825 "The Old Stone School House" was erected. This building is still standing, and is located about a mile and a half northeast of Granville. "The Old Stone School House" is as dear to the hearts of the people of Welsh Hills as Liberty Hall is to the American

people. The school conducted here was large for a country school, sometimes numbering as high as sixty in winter and forty in summer. The building was abandoned in 1858, when a mod- ern school house was built in another part of the settlement. Before leaving Wales nearly every adult who settled on Welsh Hills had learned a trade and few, if any, were farmers before settling on the Hills. As a result the Welsh pioneer was an awkward but ambitious farmer. His success is due not to his adaptability to farming, but to his economy and thrift. He

• 15
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            209   was a small farmer and few undertook to cultivate so much as 200 acres. He believed in reclaiming a small tract of ground and gradually extending his operations. Every grain was harvested and every garnered grain was saved. They were supporters of the temperance cause, and early in their denunciation of slavery.18 Welsh Hills school contributed twenty-nine soldiers for the Union Army. Six soldiers of the War of 1812 and five for the Mexican War went from the settlement. The Welsh Hills settlement comprises about 5,000 acres of land for the most part in the northeast quarter of Granville

Township, Licking County, Ohio, while a few hundred acres lie in McKean Township, in Newton Township, and still more in Newark Township. The land is very hilly, but not what could be called a rough country. The land is fertile for hilly land, and   18A letter from the church to the Association in 1836 contains the following: "Resolved that this Association utterly abhors the vile system of slavery as practiced in the Southern States and recommends to all Christians to use every lawful and consistent means for the immediate and total abolition thereof." Vol. XVI.-14.

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210        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

is well adapted to stock raising, particularly sheep. Grain raised

on the Welsh Hills is not so productive to the acre, but is of

superior quality.

The population has preserved its character as a distinctively

Welsh settlement until very recent years, but in later years it

has been gradually losing its distinguishing traits.    The Welsh

language was used generally throughout the community during

the first generations, and in the church until about 1830, and after

that but little. It is seldom heard today.

The fact that the Welsh Hills was but a few miles from

Granville and Denison University gave the Welsh boys an oppor-

tunity to satisfy their pronounced ambitions to secure an educa-

tion. The great majority of the youth from the Hills have at-

tended Denison University and a large number are graduates of

that institution.

RADNOR.19

This Welsh settlement is situated in Radnor Township, Dela-

 

19 This article is based very largely upon "The History of Radnor,"

by B. W. Chidlaw.

Benjamin W. Chidlaw was born at the Village of Bala, in North

Wales, July 14, 1811, and was the son of Benjamin and Mary (Williams)

Chidlaw. In 1821 his parents immigrated to America and arrived at Dela-

ware, Ohio, the same year, where his father died a few weeks after their

arrival. His mother purchased a small farm a few miles north of

Radnor, where B. W. spent his boyhood days. In 1827 he attended an

academy kept by Bishop Chase at Worthington. In 1828 he attended

Kenyon College at Gambier. In 1829 he studied Latin and Greek under

Rev. Jacob Little at Granville, preparatory to entering Ohio University

at Athens. In November of that year he enrolled at that school and

spent two years there, completing his junior year. In 1832 he entered

Miami University at Oxford, where he graduated in 1833. He preached

for some time and then took charge of the missionary work of the

American Sunday School Union in Ohio and Indiana at which work he

was engaged for over forty years. He was chaplain during the Civil

War. After the war he continued his labor with the American Sunday

School Union and traveled throughout the country. He made several

visits to Wales. He wrote "The History of the Welsh Settlement at

Paddy's Run," "The History of the Welsh Settlement at Radnor," "The

Story of My Life," and contributed very largely to current periodicals.

He has made many valuable contributions to Welsh History in Ohio.

He died on the 14th day of July, 1892, in Wales, at Dolgelly, a few miles

from Bala, his birthplace.

• 17
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            211   ware County, Ohio, and lies just east of the Scioto River, near the northwest corner of Delaware County, about five miles north of the city of Delaware. The pioneer of this settlement was a young Welshman by the name of David Pugh, who purchased land warrants for 4,000 acres of land, being the southwest quar- ter of Township 6, Range 20, of the United States Survey, from Dr. Samuel Jones, of Philadelphia, in 1802.20

In 1802 Pugh rode from Philadelphia on horseback to visit his purchase. Upon his return to Philadelphia he arranged with Henry Perry, of Angelsea, South Wales, to make a settlement upon the tract. In the fall of 1803 Perry and his two sons, aged fifteen and thirteen, built a cabin on the land and occupied it dur- ing the following winter. In the early summer of 1804 Perry left   20 David Pugh was from Radnorshire, South Wales, and landed at Baltimore in 1801. He is the ancestor of the numerous Pugh family of Columbus and vicinity.

• 18
 

212       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. the boys in possession of the cabin and returned to Baltimore after his wife and other children. In 1804 David Pugh again visited the tract and divided his land into lots of one hundred acres each and sold them to the following: Richard Tibbett, John Watkins, John Jones (from Wales), and Hugh Kyle and David Marks, from Pennsylvania. In 1805 the following families arrived from Wales: Evan Jenk- ins, David Davids, Richard Hoskins and David Davies. John

Muller also came from Pennsylvania. In 1807 came David Penry and John Philips, brothers-in-law of David Pugh, Elenor Lodwig and children, Thomas, John and Lititia. In 1808 came Benjamin Kepler, Elijah Adams, Thomas Warren and John Foos. During the war of 1812, Radnor was a frontier settlement, and immigration was suspended. After the close of the war it was renewed again briskly and the following families arrived: Joseph Dunlap, Samuel Cooper, Robert and John McKinney, Obed Taylor, James and Matthew Fleming from Pennsylvania

• 19
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            213 and Maryland; Thomas Jones, Ellis Jones, David E. Jones, Ed- ward Evans, John Owens, Roger Watkins, Watkin Watkins, William Watkins, John Humphreys, Humphrey Humphreys, Benjamin Herbert, Morgan D. Morgans, J. R. Jones, J. Jones, John Cadwallader, David Cadwallader, David Lloyd, John Da- vies, Mary Chidlaw, Robert and Stephen Thomas, from Wales. By the year 1821, nearly all the land in Radnor Township was taken up. Elijah Adams was the first Justice of the Peace in Radnor and held the office for many years. Thomas Warren opened the first tavern in 1811, in a log building 20 x 32 feet and two stories high. The first child born in the settlement was David Penry, Jr., and the second Mary Jones (Warren) in the spring of 1807.

As in all Welsh settlements, the history of the settlements is the story of their religious and educational growth. The history of the family is one with that of the school and church. So it is in Radnor. Nothing in the story of this settlement attains the promi- nence of the story of the school-house and the church. From the earliest schools were conducted and the youth in-

structed in the means available. In 1821 there were three log school-houses within the township, on the farms of John Philips, Ralph Dildine and Benjamin Kepler. In later years the number grew to fourteen, while the number of children enrolled became approximately three hundred. The first church organized in the township was of Baptist denomination. It was constituted May 4, 1816, with the follow- ing members: John Philips, Hannah Philips, William David, Thomas Walling, David Penry, Mary Penry, James Gallant, Elenor Lodwig, Daniel Bell, Reuben Stephens and Elizabeth Stevens. For two years they had no pastor. The earlier pastors were: 1818-1824, Elder Drake; 1827-1829, Jesse Jones; 1830-

• 20
 

214       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. 1836, Thomas Stephen; 1836-1842, Elias George. The first church edifice was of logs and stood near the graveyard. In 1833 a stone church was erected on the same site. In 1867 a brick church was erected and in 1903 the present beautiful brick church was built. This church has always been strong, and during its career has numbered close to 200, besides sending out several ministers and missionaries to other lands. At the present time it has a membership of about 150 and supports a vigorous Sunday School. Probably as early as 1808 the Methodist Church was repre- sented by an itinerant minister, who preached at the cabins of

Henry Perry and Elijah Adams. A society of the church was effected in 1812 at the cabin of Henry Perry. It became con- nected with the Delaware circuit of the Ohio Conference. In 1838 a frame church was erected and the church organization perfected. In 1858 a brick structure was erected. The present membership is about seventy-five. In 1820 the Welsh Congregational Church was organized at the cabin of John Jones (Penlan), with the following charter members: William Penry, Mary Penry, John Jones, Mary Jones, Margaret Morgan, D. Morgans, John A. Jones and wife. The first pastor was Rev. James Davies. He was succeeded by James

• 21
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.             215

 

Perregrin, 1825; Thomas Stevens, 1827; Rees Powell, 1838;

Evan Evans, 1853; Rees Powell, 1858; James Davies, 1863;

Thomas Jenkins, 1870; D. A. Evans, John B. Davis, J. V. Steph-

ens, and Benjamin Harris, the present pastor. The church was

remodeled and refurnished in 1904. The present membership is

about 200 and includes the majority of the descendants of the old

pioneer families.

The first Presbyterian Church organized in Radnor Town-

ship was established in 181₉ on the farm of James Dunlap, some

distance from the Village of Radnor, near the Scioto River. How-

ever, the Presbyterian Church was organized in the Village of

Radnor in 1848 by the withdrawal of a number of persons from

the Congregational Church. The church has not been very

strong and at the present time numbers about seventy-five mem-

bers. Rev. Henry Shedd was the first pastor and he was suc-

ceeded by M. Jones, John Thompson, H. McVey, D. Wilson, J.

Crous and others.

The Welsh Presbyterian Church was organized by recruits

from those of the Calvinistic and Presbyterian faith, and in 1850

a house of worship was erected. The pastors were Welsh-speak-

ing ministers and the language was long employed in the services,

especially in the Sunday School. In 1877 a brick church was

erected.

A review of the commercial history of Radnor settlement

reveals nothing but the most substantial thrift, industry and

prosperity. Radnor township is a beautiful farming district,

unsurpassed for fertility, and is largely devoted to the cultiva-

tion of grain. There is evidence of thrift and prosperity on

every hand. Radnor village is but a small collection of homes

about the school and churches. It is located amid a little cluster

of elevated knolls, hardly rising to the dignity of hills, and is

surrounded by broad fields and beautiful farms. No more cozy

and home-like place exists. The farmers in the community have

grown wealthy upon the products of their fertile fields and almost

all the inhabitants of the village either own farms in the sur-

rounding country or have sold their farms and are living in com-

fort in the village from the proceeds of their sale.

The township has no poor. All seem to be happy and pros-

• 22
 

216      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

perous. The Welsh language has about disappeared, although

the Congregational Sunday-school has a class for the old people

which is conducted in the Welsh language.

Before leaving Radnor, mention should be made of the re-

markably large number of soldiers who enlisted from this place

in the Civil War. A list carefully compiled from the official

Roster shows that they number no less than one hundred and

sixty-one. When it is observed that with the present popula-

tion, which is not less, and, no doubt, more than the township

had in 1861, is not over 1,500 and the total number of electors

is only between three hundred and four hundred, the fact ap-

pears still the more remarkable.

 

 

SETTLEMENT OF GALLIA AND JACKSON COUNTIES.*

About the first of April, 1818, six families left their home

in Kilkinin, Cardiganshire, South Wales, bound for Paddy's

Run, Butler county, Ohio. The heads of these families were

John Jones (Tirbach), John Evans (Penlanlas), Evan Evans

(Tynmawr), Lewis Davis (Rhiwlas), William Williams (Pant-

fallen), and Thomas Evans. After a perilous voyage of seven

weeks across the great Atlantic, they arrived in Baltimore, Md.,

on the first day of July, 1818. Immediately after their arrival

they arranged for two covered wagons drawn by four horses to

convey them across the mountains as far as Pittsburg. When

they reached Pittsburg they purchased a flat or push boat built

for moving families, and embarked for Cincinnati. They under-

took to manage the boats themselves, consequently their journey

was beset with more than the usual dangers of such a voyage.

They finally went ashore at Gallipolis to get provision and to

enjoy the hospitality of the French settlers at that place, who,

perhaps, on account of race affinity and sympathy, treated these

British Celts very kindly. When they awoke in the morning they

found that their boats had broken loose as a result of a storm

that had arisen during the night. At this juncture the women

rebelled and flatly refused to move on any further, and being at-

tached to the Gallians, they were persuaded to abandon all hope

*By Rev. W. R. Evans, Gallia, Ohio.

• 23
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.             217

of reaching Paddy's Run, and effect a settlement in a more con-

venient point. Without delay these undaunted Welshmen went

out to where Rodney now stands, to get work on the State road

then being built from Chillicothe to Gallipolis. While thus em-

ployed they were told of a fertile and healthy region a few miles

further west, and were thus led to settle near the village of Cen-

terville, now a part of Jackson county. The topography of the

country resembled that of their native land, so each purchased

land at $1.25 per acre. Immediately they began to hew out

homes for their families in the midst of wild forests. Being un-

accustomed and unskilled in the use of the ax, they found the

work extremely irksome. They first built rude houses of round

logs to dwell in, then with brave hearts they whacked away to

clear a "patch" for the spring crop. It is impossible for their

descendants to-day to even imagine the hardships and privations

these sturdy pioneers endured. In 1829 David Thomas arrived

from Wales, and in 1831 Lewis Hughes and Edward Jones came

to the settlement. Thus about 15 years passed before there was

any material addition to this colony, save a chance visitor from

some other Welsh settlement. About 1833 Rev. Edward Jones

arrived and preached to these Welsh pioneers in their native

tongue, which was much relished. He soon returned to Wales

and wrote and published a pamphlet in which he described in

glowing language the land and resources of Gallia and Jackson

counties. As a consequence about the year 1835, and then on for

ten years immigrants, principally from Cardiganshire, South

Wales, came pouring into the neighborhood. They began to lo-

cate at different points in all directions of the compass, over an

area perhaps twenty miles in diameter, until the whole of Jeffer-

son and Madison townships were taken up, and extending to Rac-

coon, Perry and Greenfield townships, in Gallia county, after-

wards into Bloomfield, Lick and Coal townships, Jackson county.

About this time, decade between 1840 and 1850, times were very

hard. Because of the lack of knowledge of the use of the im-

plements of husbandry, and because the soil was not very fertile,

their crops were necessarily poor, and the market even poorer

than the crops. Wages were extremely low -16 cents per

day - and farm produce scarcely worth hauling to market. Oats

• 24
 

218       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

were worth but 8 cents per bushel and corn 25 cents. About

1843 the father of the writer hauled shelled corn from near Cen-

terville to Buckhorn furnace, a distance of 15 miles, and received

for the same 25 cents per bushel in trade. How they managed

to support their families is inexplicable to us now.  Hogs

brought at one time only one and a half cents per pound, after

being driven about 20 miles to Gallipolis. But by undaunted per-

sistency and frugality-every member of the family, from a 6-

year-old child to the octogenarian-at work, they managed to

drive the wolf away, and despite all obstacles, soon owned farms

and stocks, and laid money away for the rainy day. And as the

county is rich in limestone and iron ore, they began to invest

their money in blast furnaces for the manufacture of pig iron,

Jefferson and Cambrian furnaces being exclusively owned by

Welshmen. The owners of Jefferson never allowed the furnace

to be operated on the Sabbath day, and it was and is the most

prosperous furnace in Southern Ohio. Its principal stockholders

became the wealthiest citizens of Jackson county. The Welsh

community in general was thrifty and well-to-do. Rarely do

we find one of these immigrants and their immediate descendants

in prison or the poor house. These early pioneers also appre-

ciated the value of education, strived to obtain it, and urged their

children to seek it. Evan Evans, one of the first settlers, had

four sons, all of whom taught school in the winter season for

quite a number of years. At one time - about forty years ago -

twenty-one of the young men of Horeb Church were school

teachers. At an early day the school houses were few and far

between, and children had to wend their way often two or three

miles, through thick forests, over rugged steeps and dashing

streams, to these halls of learning. The school houses were of a

rude, primitive style, built of round logs about 16x18 feet, with

stick and mud chimney built outside, and a fireplace for burning

logs six or seven feet long. The door had wooden latch and

hinges, and sometimes it was made of clapboards. At the end

was a row of window glass, or, oftener, oiled paper, to admit the

light. It contained a puncheon floor, made of sapplings hewed

upon the upper side. The benches were made of slabs or split

logs, and, generally, too high for the feet of the little urchins to

• 25
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            219

 

reach the floor, and nothing to lean the back against. The writer

has a distinct recollection of these barbarous seats. Here in

these small, dusty, prison-like rooms the school master (they were

not called teachers then) stood, and with rod in hand, savage

looks, and gruff voice, crammed the three R's into our hollow

craniums.

Historians are generally agreed that one of the peculiar na-

tional characteristics of the Welsh as a people is religiosity. Even

the ancient Druids possessed strong religious instincts, and were

fond of poetry and music. These were the marked characteris-

tics of the early Welsh settlers of Gallia and Jackson counties.

The major portion of them came from near Aberystwyth, and

had witnessed wonderful religious awakenings in their native land.

They were mostly members of the Presbyterian, or, as it was

called, Calvinistic Methodist church. Upon their arrival in this

country they immediately erected a house of worship. If no

minister could be procured they conducted prayer meetings and

Sabbath schools in the chapel. In nearly every family there was

an altar, and the parents as a rule spared no time nor pains in

training their children in the way they should go, and in instill-

ing into their minds the doctrinal tenets of the Presbyterian creed.

They did this chiefly by the use of two catechism, viz., the

"Mother Gift" (for juveniles) and the Instructor (Hyfforddwr).

The last, written by the eminent Christian scholar and founder of

the British Bible Society-the Rev. Thomas Charles, D. D.,

Bala, Wales. The first chapel that was built in the settlement

was Moriah in the year 1836. It is situated about midway be-

tween Oak Hill and Centerville, and about the center of the Welsh

settlement. The church is in a flourishing condition to-day, and

the Welsh language almost exclusively used. As the emigrants

were pouring in from Wales, and spreading in all directions, new

church buildings went up on all sides. The dates of the organi-

zation of these churches are as follows: Horeb 1838, Centerville

1840, Zoar 1841, Bethel 1841, Sardis 1843, Bethania 1846, Oak

Hill 1850, Peniel 1874, Jackson 1880. Dates of organization and

dissolution of extinct churches:  Tabor 1848-1866, Bethesda

1856-1880, Salem 1862-1879, Coalton 1881-1906.

Several Congregational churches also were organized at an

• 26
 

220       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

early date of which we have no record. We think Oak Hill was

the first, about 1840, Tyn Rhos 1841, then Nebo, Carmel, Saloam,

Centerville, and recently Mount Pleasant. The Baptists erected

four chapels - Oak Hill, Centerville, Bethlehem and Ebenezer.

In the year 1836 Rev. Robert Williams arrived in the settle-

ment and located near Moriah. He was a man of rare talent

and strong personality. For fifty years he labored with assiduity

and exercised the function of a prophet, priest and king to the

cluster of the Calvinistic churches of the settlement. He was

a counsellor and guide, and his word was almost regarded as

law. He doubtless exerted more influence than anyone else to-

ward the intellectual, moral and spiritual elevation of his coun-

trymen in the community in which he resided. The two other

preachers that deserve special notice, on account of their abilities

and long, faithful services, were Revs. J. W. Evans, Oak Hill,

and E. S. Jones, Centerville. Each served the churches of the

settlement for about half of a century. Other able and faithful

ministers served the churches for shorter periods of time than

those above mentioned.

As to Congregational preachers, priority belongs to Rev.

John A. Davis, on account of ability, influence and long service.

Rev. Evan Davis, Tyn Rhos, stands next on the roll.

We think that we can confidently affirm without fear of con-

tradiction that no other settlement of Welsh or any other nation-

ality have contributed so largely to the ministry, according to

population, as the Welsh settlement of Gallia and Jackson. Here

is the list: Daniel Evans, Richard Davis, J. W. Evans, J. T. Wil-

liams, E. S. Jones, David Harris, D. D., John Rogers, R. H.

Evans, J. P. Morgan, John M. Jones, W. Reese, D. J. Jenkins,

David Thomas, M. A., John Lloyd, D. Jewitt Davis, M. A., W. R.

Evans, Isaac Edwards, B. F. Thomas, Rowland Jones, D. Luther

Edwards, S. Handel Jones, R. H. Evans, Jr., Alban Alban, Thos.

D. Hughes, M. A., D. D., W. T. Lewis, D. D., John Davis, M. A.,

D. Ellis Evans, John L. Jones, Thomas Thomas, Evan Lloyd,

Daniel Lloyd, Daniel Jones, Richard Davis, Thomas Davis, M A.,

Edward I. Jones, Dan I. Jones, John L. Davis, M. A. Columbus,

O., Evan Rees, M. A., W. O. Jones, M. A., W. Isaac, Dr. Griffiths

and others perhaps. Allow us here to give the names of a few

• 27
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            221

 

of the physicians reared in the settlement: Dr. Jenkins, Dr.

Jenkens of Lima, Dr. Griffiths, Dr. E. J. Jones, Dr. Gomer Jones,

Dr. Moses Jones, Dr. Dan Jones (Dec.), Dr. Lewis, Cincinnati;

Dr. Morgan, Coalton; Dr. Morgan, Jackson; Dr. Williams Jack-

son, Dr. Davis, Venedocia; Dr. Alban, Columbus; Dr. Austin

Edards, Dr. Evans (Dec.), Dr. E. Hughes (Dec.), Dr. J. W.

Jones (Dec.).

The most prominent among the educators are Prof. S. Mor-

gan, W. T. Morgan, David Evans, instructor in Athens univer-

sity, and Prof. J. H. Phillips, superintendent of schools, Birming-

ham, Ala. He, no doubt, is one of the leading educators of the

South. In the list of lawyers we may name David Alban (Dec.),

John L. Jones (Dec.), R. H. Jones, Judge D. Davis, Cincinnati;

Lot Davis, Ironton; Daniel Phillips (Dec.), Evan Davis, Gallipo-

lis; John A. Thomas, Judge Benner Jones, John A. Jones, Cir-

cuit Judge; Judge Everett Evans, Virginia, and Daniel Williams,

editor of the Standard Journal and our consul to Cardiff, Wales.

The Welsh also have figured quite prominent in the political

arena. The following is the list of Representatives: Capt.

Evans, Dr. Williams, T. Lloyd Hughes, Robert Jones, Samuel

Llewellyn, Lot Davis and Evans. Hon. Stephen Morgan was

elected to Congress for three consecutive terms. Gallia county

sent J. H. Evans to the State Senate. In both counties the Welsh

have had their full share of county offices. The Welsh also by

their vim, enterprising spirit and executive abilities, have been

potent factors in the material development of Jackson county.

In managing iron furnaces, coal mines and brick plants they have

achieved great success. Quite a number that are now dead left

quite a fortune, viz., Thomas Jones (agent), J. C. Jones and

John Davis, and among the wealthiest men of the county to-day

are David Davis and J. J. Thomas of Oak Hill, and Moses Mor-

gan, Ed. Jones, Eben Jones and Ezekiel Jones of Jackson, and

T. J. Morgan of Wellston. Thus we see that the few hundred

Welshmen who came to the poor, hilly counties of Gallia and

Jackson, needy and penniless, and strangers to the language, cus-

toms and institutions of the country, have accomplished great

work, and have contributed marvelously to the material, intellect-

ual, moral and civic development of the above named counties.

• 28
 

222        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

Thousands of the descendants of these brave pioneers have scat-

tered abroad into ever state in the Union, among them many

teachers, doctors and lawyers and a score of preachers, and their

influence is beyond human calculation.

 

 

GOMER.21

The first settlers of Gomer were the families of Thomas

Watkins, James Nicholas and David Roberts, fourteen in all, who

traveled in the fall of the year 1833 in wagons a distance of one

hundred and forty miles from Paddy's Run, Butler County, Ohio,

and settled near where the village of Gomer now stands. At that

time there was no road but the trails of the Indian run-

ning zig-zag through the woods. Delphos was not in exist-

ence and there were but a few small houses in Lima. A few

American families had settled at Gomer previously, but these were

the pioneers of the Welsh settlement.    It was eighty miles to

the nearest market, Sandusky. It took six days to go and return.

A load of corn could be traded for a barrel of salt and a few

groceries. In the year 1834 and the following year, came John

Watkins, Evan Jones, John R. Jones and their families, and

Joseph Griffiths, Thomas G. Jones, John D. Jones, David Evans,

Rowland Jones, David Morgans, John Evans and John Stephens

and their families soon followed. David Roberts and family left

for Iowa soon after settling at Gomer.²²

 

21 This article is taken very largely from the manuscript "History

of the Welsh Church and Settlement," by Josiah Jones, (Brynmair) sup-

plemented by his son, Thomas H. Jones, (Ordnant) of Lima.

22 Thomas Watkins, who is entitled to be called the Father of the

Gomer settlement, was born at Dalan Llanerfy1, North Wales, March 5,

1804, and immigrated to America in 1826. He located at Ebensburg, Penn-

sylvania for a short time and then went to Paddy's Run where he married

Jane Evans in 1831. In 1833 he removed to Allen County. He purchased

160 acres of land at one dollar and a quarter per acre and very good

land it was.  At the time of his death he and his children owned 1,100

acres of land in the Gomer settlement. Although a liberal supporter of

the church from the first, he did not become a member until 1868. He

died December 6, 1891, at the age of eighty-seven.

Jane Evans Watkins, the wife of Thomas Watkins, was born at

Paddy's Run in 1812. She became a member of the Congregational

• 29
 

Welsh Settlements in Ohio.             223

 

In the year 1835 the first public religious services in the

Welsh language were held in the neighborhood before an audi-

ence of seven. In this meeting it was resolved to meet and hold

prayer meetings on Sunday mornings at Thomas Watkins' log

house and Sunday School Sunday afternoons at Rowland Jones

log house. Meetings were held regularly in this manner for four

years. Beginning in the year 1839, John W. Thomas, of Lima,

formerly of Llanidloes, North Wales, would occasionally preach

at Gomer.

The first log church was built in the year 1839. Joseph

Griffiths, his wife, his son Thomas, his two daughters--Mrs.

Thomas G. Jones and Mrs. John Watkins - and Mrs. Thomas

Watkins and Mrs. John Stephens were among the earliest mem-

bers.

In the year 1839, services were held by the two brothers,

Revs. John and Rees Powell, and also Rev. Morris M. Jones, of

Radnor. In the year 1841 a log church was built in Gomer upon

land given by James Nicholas, and the old pioneers worked faith-

fully to complete the log church which, for the times, was con-

sidered a well furnished building. Membership was increased by

arrivals from Cincinnati, Pittsburg and Wales, so that at this

time there were 15 members in the church and about 30 in

the Sunday School.

In the year 1844 Rev. D. W. Jones was installed as minister

of the church. His ministry was successful and the membership

increased in 1845 to 51. In the year 1848, William Jones and

his family came from Tawelfan, North Wales, and Richard

Breese and his family from North Wales, and in the following

year Robert Griffiths came to the neighborhood. Before this time

the Sunday School classes studied the English Bible, but after

these families came the children studied the Word of God in the

Welsh language.

About the middle of the year 1850, Rev. D. W. Jones gave

up charge of the church and it was without a pastor for two

 

Church at that place April 14, 1834, and was married the same year.

She was one of the fourteen constituent members of the Congregational

Church at Gomer. She was the mother of thirteen children and died

August 15, 1884.

• 30
 

224       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

years. In October, 1850, Josiah Jones (Brynmair), father

of Thomas Henry Jones (the present Treasurer of Allen Coun-

ty), and Llewellyn and Martha Jones, of Gomer, came into the

neighborhood from North Wales. Mr. Jones was a man of

many talents and a good Welsh scholar, of considerable literary

ability and an able poet. Many of his poems and hymns are

found in the Welsh hymn books and are sung in the Welsh

churches throughout the land. He was secretary of the church for

many years and his careful records of the church have preserved

its full history. He was the author of a complete "History of the

Welsh Church and Settlement" (written in the Welsh language)

from the first settlers down to the time of his death in the year

1887, and it is from this history that the facts and dates con-

tained in this sketch have been taken.

During the years 1850 and 1851 the church increased rapidly

so that at the end of the latter year there were 150 members. In

the year 1852 Rev. James Davies, of Cincinnati, was called, and

he began his ministry in June, 1852. During his ministry, which

continued for eight years, a new brick church was built and

50 new members were added. In this year (1852) a Sunday

School was started in Leatherwood, about three and a half miles

west of Gomer, a branch of the Gomer church.

In the year 1860, Rev. James Davies surrendered the church

and in 1861 a call was extended to Rev. John Parry, of Big Rock,

Illinois. In this year a new frame church was built at Leather-

wood. Mr. Parry was very successful in his two years' ministry

and the church was increased in numbers by the addition of 67

members. After the death of Rev. John Parry in 1862 the

church had supplies for about two years and in 1865 gave a call

to Rev. John M. Thomas, of Paddy's Run, Ohio. Two new

Sunday Schools were organized during the first year of his min-

istry - one in the eastern part of the settlement and one north of

Gomer-and ninety members were added to the church. The

church had 300 members in 1868.

Other ministers of the church were: Rev. John Jones, of

Shrewsbury, England; Rev. David Jones, D. D.; Rev. Mawddwy

Jones, from North Wales; Rev. William Meirion Davies, of

Caermarthen, South Wales; Rev. R. Lloyd Roberts, D. D.

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Welsh Settlements in Ohio.            225

 

The present minister is Rev. William Surdival, who is an

excellent preacher and a fine scholar. The services Sunday

mornings are in the Welsh language; for the sake of the young

people of the church the services on Sunday evenings are in Eng-

lish. The younger generations seem to cling faithfully to the

teachings of their parents and are very devoted to the church.

From all appearances, when the old Welsh pioneers are gone to

their rest, the services of the church will be all in English.

"In one way it is a sorrowful thought that the pure Welsh

language, has to die in this country. It is a fine, original, poetic

language, as old as Gomer of the Old Testament; every word has

its own meaning and there is no need of hunting lexicons for

words as one has to do with the English language and I am glad

that the colleges and universities of Wales are studying the old,

pure, sweet language. Far be the day when the old Welsh lan-

guage will be forgotten !"23

Other permanent members of the Welsh Congregational

Church and of recognized standing in the community were Cad-

walder Jones, William J. Jones, Richard W. Jones, Richard

Price, Edward Peate, Sr., Joseph Watkins, Edward Jones, Rich-

ard J. Morgans, John P. Morgans, Evan Williams, Zachariah

Evans, Daniel Evans, Evan J. Davis, William J. Williams, Hum-

phrey Tudor, John Bebb, Rowland Whittington, Thomas R.

Jones, John E. Jones, Evan W. Jones, Israel Jones.

In 19O1, the Methodist church called "Hedding" was moved

to Gomer and remodeled. Preaching is held at this church every

other Sunday. In 1902, the Presbyterians bought a lot and built

a neat modern frame church at a cost of about $5,000. Rev. John

Roberts (Welsh), an energetic man, is their pastor.

The village is well supplied with places of worship and the

residences are all comparatively new and well finished in modern

style. The people are nearly all members of the church, the

majority still clinging to the first church established in the neigh-

borhood. Here as in all Welsh communities they have grand

church singing and the community supplies the neighboring cities

with their leading singers and musicians.

The Welsh people are located in all parts of Allen County,

23Joseph Jones (Brynmair.)

Vol. XVI.-15.

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226       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

and wherever found they are good citizens and prosperous, what-

ever be their business or calling. They own their own land, their

farms ranging from fifty to one hundred and sixty acres. They

are more fortunate than some of their fellow-countrymen, for

their seed fell among fertile soil and the lands which they occu-

pied in pioneer days have proved to be the most fertile and valu-

able in the neighboring country. Gomer and its neighboring

settlement, Venedocia, are probably the wealthiest and most pros-

perous Welsh settlements in Ohio. Gomer is a beautiful little

village and is considered one of the neatest and cleanest in the

State. It has three churches, two stores, a fine modern school

building, township house, a blacksmith shop and many fine homes.

Many retired farmers have erected beautiful and substantial

homes in the village in order to be near the church.

A number of prominent men have gone from the settlement,

including the following: Hon. R. Edward Jones, Mayor of

Shrewsbury, England; Rev. Thos. A. Humphreys, B. A.,

Scranton, Pa.; Rev. B. A. Williams, Cleveland, Ohio; Judge

Ed. H. Jones, Hamilton, O.; Hon. J. C. Jones, Ottawa, O.

This settlement has furnished a Representative to the Gen-

eral Assembly, Hon. R. E. Jones, M. D., who is also one of the

leading physicians of the county, and has served as President of

the large Pioneer Association from its first organization; also

the following county officers, all of whom served or are serving

two terms: A County Auditor, John W. Thomas; two Com-

missioners, Joseph Griffiths and W. W. Williams; County Sur-

veyor, D. D. Nicholas; County Clerk, Thos. J. Edwards; County

Treasurer, Thos. H. Jones, who was also member and President

of the Board of Education, Lima, 0., for several years.

This sketch would not be complete without some mention of

the noted singers of this settlement who have helped to make their

village famous for its song. We name the following: Ebenezer

Davies and his two sons, Dr. John Davies and E. F. Davies;

Wm. L. Jones and his musical family; Robert Peate and his mu-

sical family; Miss Bessie Tudor, Miss Anna Bussert, Miss Leah

Arthur, John F. Jones, Evan A. Evans, John G. Roberts, Miss

Annie Roberts, Edith Jones, Wm. R. Jones, Thos. W. Jones, and

a host of others.

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Welsh Settlements in Ohio.             227   In addition to the foregoing, Welsh settlements were made at Newburg, Cuyahoga County, Youngstown, Niles, Shawnee, Marietta and Venedocia, Van Wert County. The settlement at the latter place, was made shortly after that at Gomer and is next in importance to the settlement at Gomer. It has become prom- inent because of the refinement and musical attainments of its population and has preserved from the first the Welsh language and its traditions. In addition to the settlements mentioned, the Welsh people have contributed very largely to the population of different cities, such as Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Cleveland. Several of the Welsh settlements, so called, have bordered upon and have merged into differnt villages. For illus- tration, the settlement of Welsh Hills has become identified with the Welsh population in Granville, where the Welsh people still maintain churches in which the Welsh language is used ex- clusively. COLUMBUS, OHIO.

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