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Gwefan Cymru-Catalonia (pages
37-61) 24
The Colony from Jackson (Ohio) |
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History of the Welsh in
Minnesota, Foreston and Lime Springs, Iowa, gathered by the Old Settlers
Edited by the Reverends
Thomas E. Hughes and David Edwards, and Messrs. Hugh G. Roberts and Thomas
Hughes.
1895
(delw 4062) (tudalen 38)
(x38)
24 · THE COLONY FROM JACKSON (OHIO)
A few years prior to this time a number of Welsh
farmers in Jackson county, Ohio, had embarked in the iron industry and built a
furnace, called Jefferson Furnace. To make iron they found to be easy enough,
but to dispose of it when made was not so easy, and they soon had stacks of it
on hand. Financial embarrassment was the natural result. Many of them having
risked their all in the enterprise, began to be really scared, and determined
to sell out their shares at once before the crash came, and move in a colony to
some western county. The reading of Rev. Richard Davies' articles first
attracted their attention towards Minnesota. (See
Biographies section 0855, Rev. Richard Davies). Mr. Davies
had ministered a short time in Jackson, so they were acquainted with him, but
they had been acquainted more recently with Edward Thomas, Sr., whose private
letters finally induced them to a send a committee of six to view the country.
This committee, consisting of David P. Davis, Richard Morgan, James Morgan,
Thomas J. Jones (Cooper), John I. Jones and Evan Williams, came to South Bend
on the 8th of October, 1855, and having spent a month spying the land, and
having bought a few lots in the village, all save James Morgan returned to Ohio
well pleased, and great was the talk through the settlements that winter about
the big colony expected from Jackson in the spring.
On Christmas, 1855, occurred the first Christian marriage in the
Judson-Eureka settlement. The contracting parties were Wm. C. Williams and Miss
Hannah, daughter of David J. Williams (Bradford).
Among other events, which occurred during the year 1855, (x38) were: the organization of South Bend as a
school district, (No. 3,) on the fifth of January; the teaching of the first
school by Mrs. Joshua Barnard at her own house during the summer; the building
of the first school house in the fall, near where the residence of David P.
Davis stands, in South Bend village; the first "seiet" (church
meeting) held November 14th; the erection of a saw mill in the village by D. C:
Evans and William F. Price; the establishment of a postoffice with M. Thompson
as postmaster; the building of a bridge over the Blue Earth by the United
States government at a cost of $10,000; the laying out of the South Bend and
Judson highway on October 2d; and an election held October 9th, at which South
Bend cast 22 votes out of the 137 cast in the country. This fall, also, a
literary society was organized at D. C. Evans' house at South Bend, which held
weekly meetings regularly through the winter at the new school house. D. C.
Evans or Rev. R. Davis usually presided, and Edward Thomas, Sr., had charge of
the singing; and great was the interest taken in the meetings. The principal
speakers were Evan Evans (Pant) (farm name = (the)
hollow), D. C. Evans, Edward Thomas, Sr. and Edward Thomas, Jr. This
society continued in vigorous life for a number of years. All the live
questions of the day were discussed in it with plenty of Welsh fire, and the
people used to gather in their ox teams to these meetings from the country
round for a distance of 5 or 6 miles.
·····
Early in April, 1856, David and Edward Dackins, with their father, settled
in Judson. April 19, David Y. Davis returned to the settlement, bringing John
Llewellyn, John Phillips and Richard Thomas with him from Pomeroy, O., but none
of these made claims except Richard Thomas, who staked out the present David
Morris farm in Cambria. He, however, did not tarry long, for on the morrow,
going upon his place to work, he spied up in a large tree a rude box,
containing the remains of an Indian infant, which so terrified him that he ran
all the way to his boarding place in Judson, six miles away, and refusing even
to stay over night, made the best speed possible back to Ohio, not again to
return for ten years. As for the Indian coffin, a storm eventually blew it down
- the contents disappeared, and, finally the box was taken by Mr. Henry Hughes,
to make a window casing for his cabin.
Early in May, John Shields and family arrived from Pomeroy, O. and settled
in Cambria. On the 10th of May, 1856, the much talked of colony from Jackson,
O., landed at South Bend,
(delw 4062) (tudalen 38)
(x39)
after a tedious journey of four weeks. There were 121 souls in all, and they
came with their baggage in one large boat, which was much too large for the
narrow winding stream of the Minnesota. At St. Paul they had been joined by
David E. Evans and David Lloyd and families from Pomeroy, O. Rev. John
Williams, also, met them there, and it was expected and planned that he should
go with the colony as their minister, but having lost courage he turned back to
Illinois, to the great disappointment of the colonists. On their arrival in the
village the hospitality of South Bend was taxed to the utmost to accommodate so
large a number. Some were provided for at a hotel kept by John Griffiths (Added from page v, Errata: read “John Francis” instead
of John Griffiths.). A few families took possession of the old school
house, while others were quartered at private houses. On the first Sunday after
their arrival, a prayer meeting was held in the open air near Llyn Tegid, (Ll˙n Tegid is the name of a
lake by the town of Y Bala in North Wales – and a lake by South Bend, though
the name seems to be no longer current. Another section of the book 0879 mentions a musican called Edward Thomas. “He taught school at South
Bend, Cambria and other places in the county... At times Mr. Thomas attempted
composition, and one of the old Cyfaill contains a musical composition of his which he states in
a foot-note was composed by him while looking upon the beauties of Llyn Tegid
in South Bend, Minn” Cyfaill, full name Y Cyfaill o’r Hen Wlad - ‘the friend from the old country’ was an
American magazine in Welsh for emigrants from Wales and their descendants)
in the morning, and a Sabbath school in the afternoon in Evans & Prices's
mill. Rev. Richard Davis was to preach in South Bend that day, but it happened
that David J. Williams with his pony came after him to preach at John E.
Davis's house to the few settlers scattered over the Cottonwood settlement, and
this, by the way, was the first sermon and religious service in the present
town of Cambria. On the second Sunday our colonists held all their meetings at
Evans & Prices's mill, and this time Rev. Richard Davis preached to them.
·····
The colony had intended to settle together, but the lands along the timber
belts having been mostly taken up, their plans were greatly disconcerted. The
great prairie country which today is thickly settled was in those days
considered uninhabitable, and our colonists spent two or three weeks walking
the country over, looking in vain for unoccupied claims adjoining the timber.
·····
David E. Evans, who came with the Jackson colony, was an old acquaintance
of Thos. Davis, who had settled in Le Sueur county the year previous, coming
from the same place in Ohio; and in company with Lewis P. Jones, he went to pay
him a visit. While there they were fully persuaded by Davis that the proper
place to locate the colony was in the Big Woods, and so returned to their
companions at South Bend saying that they had found the promised land. About a
dozen families after viewing the place were favorably impressed with it, and,
locating claims, moved their families upon them during the last week in May. This
settlement, known as Big Woods or Le Sueur, is about three miles broad and
extends about five miles in length
(delw 4068) (tudalen 40)
(x40) along the boundary line, east and west,
between the towns of Sharon and Cleveland. Among those of the colony, who
settled there, were: Edward Morris, Thos. J. Jones, John D. Jones (saddler),
David E. Evans, David Jones, David and Lewis Hughes, David Lloyd, Wm. E Jones,
Evan T. Jones, David and Evan Morgan and Evan Griffiths. Edward Morris, who had
been the Moses of this Jackson exodus, remained in the new settlement, however,
only a few weeks, when, hurriedly packing his baggage, he returned with his
family post haste to their old home in Oak Hill, O. The cause of his sudden
departure, it is said, were the mosquitos, which, though, they belonged not to
the sons of Arak, were to the early settler fully as formidable.
·····
Another portion of the colony located in the Cottonwood neighborhood, among
whom were: Rev. David Davis, David P. Davis, David Price, John Walters, Wm. P.
Jones, Richard Morgan, James Morgan and Thos. Lloyd. This, as well as another
fraction of the colony which settled near Minneopa creek, had to purchase
claims. The Jackson emigrants were well able to do this, as they were for the
most part liberally supplied with money from the sale of their farms and
property in Ohio. The Jackson families, who selected homes near Minneopa creek,
were: Evan Williams, Thos. J. Jones (cooper), Isaac Woods, And John I. Jones.
·····
About the 12th of May, J. T. Williams, Esq., landed at South Bend and opened a
surveyor's office in the village. About the last of June, Rev. Jenkin Jenkins,
David Morris and Thos. Evans (Creek), with their families came from Big Rock,
Ill., and settled in Cottonwood neighborhood. Many others came this year, far
too numerous to mention. Most of the Welsh immigrants had been more or less
influenced to come to Minnesota by the articles of Rev. R. Davies in the papers
and magazines. Perhaps the pictures of the new country drawn by our friend were
a little too highly colored, he writing under the inspiration of a western
boom: or perhaps the imagination of the immigrants were a little too vivid. Be
that as it may, the majority seem to have expected to find populous cities in
the wilderness, and churches and school houses growing wild like hazel bushes
among the hill sides. Finding themselves greatly mistaken, however, many were
inclined to find fault. Some tilted the pen with Rev. Davies in the papers,
others by word of mouth only berated the country. People from southern Ohio
said the climate was too cold to live in; while one in particular from northern
Canada declared it was too hot, and grumbled
(delw 4069) (tudalen 41)
(x41)
because the grass grew so tall in the valleys, that one could not travel but a
short distance in a day. The settlements, nevertheless, continued to prosper
through good report and evil report, and people came rushing in from all sides
like a flood.
·····
During the summer of 1855 and '56, most of the settlers managed to have a
portion of their land under cultivation. Many of our Welsh pioneers had passed
their days in the coal mines, and knew nothing about farming. This was
especially true of the Judson or Eureka settlement. Half a dozen of our
would-be grangers would join together their ox teams before one breaking plow.
A certain one more self-important than the others, because tradition said that
his great grand-father had been a farm steward among the hills of
Cardiganshire, would act as boss, and to him would be accorded the place of
honor between the plow-handles. Two or three of the weightiest individuals
would be ranged along the beam to keep the plow in the ground, while two or
three others with huge whips drove the oxen. They were usually a jolly crew,
and there was much fun, much story-telling, much arguing of theological points,
much noise, much quarreling, and, occasionally, a little plowing done.
·····
Many amusing incidents are told of these unsophisticated grangers. One planted
his potatoes in a heap in one hill; another seeded his land with cockle in
mistake for turnips, and another still, shocked his grain with the butts of the
bundles upward, insisting there was no sense in leaving the heads out in the
weather.
·····
It did not require much machinery to farm in those days. A scythe for hay and a
cradle for grain were the most approved harvesting tools, and these in the
hands of our stout collier boys had a most vicious habit of getting among the
roots of things, just as a pick or shovel might.
·····
The first crop raised consisted of corn, buckwheat and potatoes; which at the
planting and harvesting required all the vigilance of the settler and his
family to guard against the gophers and black birds, which then, were a plague
in the land. In those days he was a big farmer who raised fifty bushels of
grain. Evan as late as 1859 the aggregate amount of wheat raised in the three
Welsh townships, South Bend, Judson and Butternut Valley, was only 3,724
bushels. In these days a single farmer would not think much of raising that
quantity with a good complement of oats and corn besides.
·····
During the same year (1859), the same three towns produced only 2,755 bushels
of oats, 8,129 bushels of corn, and 5,874
(delw 4070) (tudalen 42)
(x42)
bushels of potatoes. Twenty years later, (1879), the same towns produced
142,278 bushels of wheat, 111,596 bushels of oats, and 74,719 bushels of corn.
Corn meal, often ground in a coffee mill, and made into Johnny cake or hasty
pudding, formed the pioneer's staple article of diet for several years. In 1855
and '56, when our pioneers were buying their seed and their stock, the prices
were all high. Wheat was $2.00 to $2.50 per bushel, corn, potatoes and other
produce $1.00 per bushel. Cattle were worth $50 to $60 a head, and even a cat
could not be had for less than $5.00 dollars. By the time our settlers had
something to sell, however, the prices had declined to a mere nominal sum in
trade.
·····
25 · THE ORGANIZATION OF JUDSON
April 8, 1856, on petition of Rev. Wm. Williams, Robt. Patterson, Chester D.
Hill, Owen Roberts, and others, a new election precinct was established, to
comprise all the territory west of South Bend precinct to the county line. At
the suggestion of Robert Patterson, the new precinct was called
"Judson," in honor of the great Baptist missionary of that name. The
first officers appointed for the precinct were: Judges of election, Gustavus
Johnson, R. Patterson and David J. Davis; Justices of the peace, Geo. Gilley
and R. Patterson; Constbles, Gus. Johnson and David J. Williams; Road
Supervisor, Morris Lewis. Of these, D. J. Davis did not serve and Rev. Wm.
Williams performed the duties of the office in his stead.
·····
The first thing a Frenchman does in a new country is to build a trading post,
an American builds a city, a German builds a beer hall, and a Welshman builds a
church. So our Welsh pioneers in Minnesota paid their first attention to the
founding of churches, leaving to some chance American in their midst to attend
to the organization of townships, the establishment of postoffices, the
speculating in town sites, the forming of joint stock and agricultural
societies, and the holding of political places. There were a few Welshman,
however, who had been so far Americanized as to form an exception to the rule,
and, perhaps, just as all acquired tastes are more violent and ungovernable
than natural ones. They may have carried their speculation or political schemes
to an extreme. Still the mas of our Welshmen, even to this day, take no special
interest in anything of a purely economic or political character. The genuine Cymro
can not talk ten minutes with you about politics, the pedigree of a horse, or
the best method of tillage, but he can sit on his heels by the hour, and with
beaming countenance, tell the points of a good
(delw 4071) (tudalen 42a)
Horeb C.M. Church, Cambria, Minn.
(C.M. = Calvinistic Methodist).
(delw 4072) (tudalen 43)
(x43)
sermon or argue a knotty theological dogma. In politics he is almost invariably
a republican, but seldom cares to reason why, and often could not if he cared;
but he can tell you why he is a Methodist, Congregationalist or Baptist, even
to the most subtle distinctions.
·····
Though pre-eminently a nation of church builders, there are yet a few other
things in which the Welsh take an interest, such as poetry, music and oratory,
but these must be of a religious turn - the themes even of an Eisteddvod must
bear a scriptural character. The ancient Briton told his history in Triads.
Should the modern Briton imitate his example foremost among his Triads would be
these: The three great social organizations of the Welsh - the Church, the
Sabbath school, and the Bible society; the three great institutions for culture
- the Eisteddvod, the literary society, (Cyfarfod Lleiiyddol,)
and the singing school; the three pinacles of every Welshman's ambition - the
pulpit, the bardic chair and the musician's baton. In the channels of these
national traits flowed, naturally, the history of our pioneer Britons in the
wilds of Minnesota; and it is in these channels we must follow to find it.
·····
26 · HOREB CHURCH ORGANIZED ·
The people from Jackson, O., were almost exclusively Calvinistic Methodists,
having originally come from near Llangeitho(,)
Cardiganshire, the Mecca of Welsh Methodism, and the home of the immortal
Rowlands. The Wisconsin people, also, were nearly all of the same denomination and
had emigrated in the first place from Anglesea and North Wales. As these two
branches of immigration constituted the main body of the settlements in 1856,
they determined their religious character, and fixed the doctrines of Daniel
Rowlands and John Elias as the leadin- church doctrines of the Minnesota Welsh.
The Jackson people located in the Cottonwood settlement during the first two
weeks in June, and about the second or third Sunday of this month the first
religious. service in this settlement was held at a shanty occupied by Mr. John
Shields, but belonging to David Y. Davis, and situated near Rev. Thos. E.
Hughes' present residence. On the 2d of July, at the shanty of David P. Davis,
Esq., near where now stands the house of Daniel P. Davis, was organized, by
Rev. Richard Davis, the first Calvinistic Methodist church of Blue Earth
county. It was called "Horeb," after a church of that name in
Jackson, O., to which many of its people belonged. On the same day, at the same
place, and by the same minister was performed the first Christian marriage in
this upper settlement, namely, the marriage
(delw 4073) (tudalen 44)
(x44) of
James Morgan to Miss Mary Davis, daughter of D.P. Davis, Esq. By the way, it
may be mentioned here with the first marriage and other first things of the
Cottonwood neighborhood, that the first child born in this settlement was
Catherine, daughter of D. J. Davis, in the spring of 1857; and the the first
death was a young child of David Price, which, being left alone for a few
minutes in the claim shanty, while the parents were busy moving from this to a
new cabin, managed to set fire to itself and the shanty, and was so badly
injured that it soon died. This sad event occurred about August, 1856.
·····
27 · SARON CHURCH, LE SUEUR
During the summer of 1856, religious meetings were regularly held at D. P.
Davis' shanty before mentioned, except two or three times, when they were
convened at the shanty of John Shields. During the fall and winter the services
were usually held at D. P. Davis' new shanty, which was located near the present
John Rees' place, and at John Walter's cabin on the "Little Prairie."
·····
In the spring of 1857 they were held at Evan D. Evans' house on the present
Jas. A. Thomas' farm, where they continued until a church was built. In those
early days Rev. David Davis preached frequently for this church, and Rev.
Richard Davis visited them occasionally in his circuit.
·····
The first religious service in the Big Woods was held at the house of Edward
Evans, Sr., on Sunday, the 25th of May, 1856., when a number of
Jackson people were there viewing the land. On the 2d of June, this contingent
of the Jackson colony returned to LeSueur with their families. Two of these,
namely, David Lloyd and David E. Evans found shelter in a carpenter shop
belonging to one Seth Cadwalader. In this shop were regularly held, thereafter,
all the religious services for three or four months. Here on June 22d was
preached the first Welsh sermon by Rev. Richard Davis, and here two days later
was organized the first Calvinistic Methodist church in Minnesota. Rev. D.
Davis preached occasionally for these people in those early days. After about
three months the place of worship was changed from Cadwalader's shop to David
E. Evans' shanty, where it remained until the building of the log church in the
summer of 1857.
·····
28 · SEION CHURCH ORGANIZED
At South Bend the Union church still flourished; but the people along Minneopa
creek began to regard themselves as a separate community, and, having been
re-inforced by a fraction of the Jackson colony, now thought it time for them
to assert their independence, by having an organization of their own.
(delw 4074) (tudalen 44a)
Built in 1857. Old Sharon Church, Sharon, Le Sueur
County, Minn. First Welsh Church in the State.
(delw 4075) (tudalen 45)
(x45)
Accordingly, on the 9th of July, the required six month's (sic) notice of their intention to withdraw, was
served upon the Union church. About the first of September, a meeting of the
heads of families of the Calvinistic Mehtodists was held in the Minneopa
neighborhood at which meeting it was decided to have a quarterly meeting of
that denomination on the 8th and 9th of October. On the
3d of October the new church was organized by Rev. Richard Davies, at the house
of John Jones, (Maes Mawr) and called the "Seion Church of South
Bend."
·····
The quarterly meeting was held as determined upon and was the first ever held
in Minnesota. The business meeting was held at the house of Eliza Jones, (Maes
Mawr), on a claim pre-empted by Wm. J. Williams.The public services were held
in the open air in D. J. Lewis' grove. According to the custom of the
Calvinistic Methodist Society, the three churches of "Seion,"
"Horeb" and "Saron" were united into one conference, and
eleven elders were admitted: from "Seion," five, namely - Evan H.
Evans, Evan Evans, (Pant,) Edward Thomas, Sr., Thos J. Jones, (Popples,) (Popls is the Welsh word for pebbles on a beach or in a
river) and John I. Jones; from "Horeb," three, namely - Evan
Griffiths, Thos. J. Jones and Edward Evans. In the morning of the second day,
short addresses were made on the theme of "Gospel Rites" by several
of the brethren. In the afternoon Rev. Richard Davis preached from Rom. i,16 (Can˙s nid oes arnaf gywil˙dd
o efeng˙l Crist: oblegid gallu Duw ˙w hi er iachawdwriaeth i bob un s˙dd yn
credu; i'r Iddew yn gyntaf, a hef˙d i'r Groegwr - For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek). This service
was interrupted by a great prairie fire, which caused all the people to run to their
respective homes to save their houses, sheds and grain from the destructive
element, and desperate was the fight that afternoon around many a cabin home.
·····
The evening meeting was held at the house of David J. Lewis, when Rev. Jenkin
Jenkins and R. D. Price preached. A thunder storm protracted this service until
quite late; thus amid fire and water was this first quarterlly meeting in
Minnesota consecrated. The old settlers say, tha in spite of all adverse
consequnces, the meetings were full of interest and blessing, and today they
love to tell of those first religious feasts they enjoyed together in the
wilderness. It may be noted, also, that none of these three preachers, who took
part in the serivces of this first quarterly meeting of the Calvinistic
Methodist church belonged to that denomination, Davies being a Prebyterian,
Jenkins a Congregationalist and Price a Wesleyan Methodist.
·····
As there were in this village and vicinity a number of people of the Wesleyan
faith, it seemed desirable to them to separate
(delw 4076) (tudalen 46)
(x46)
themselves from the Union church, and, after the example of their Calvinistic
brethren, form a society of their own. Accordingly, on October 19th, of this
year, a Wesleyan church was organized at Wm. R. Price's house in South Bend
village by Rev. R. D. Price, who became its pastor.
·····
29 · BIBLE SOCIETIES ORGANIZED IN BLUE EARTH AND LE
SUEUR COUNTIES
The Elders of this church were Hugh Edwards, Sr., and Wm. R. Price, and the
services were held for several years in a room, or hall, fitted up by Mr. Price
on the second floor of the Evans & Price warehouse. On the 25th of
December, 1856, three Bible Societies were organized; one in South Bend, at the
house of, Evan D. Evans; one in the Cottonwood, at the house of David P. Davis;
and one in the Big Woods, at David E. Evans' house. The first officers of the
South Bend society were: President, Rev. R. D. Price; Vice President, John I.
Jones; Treasurer, Evan Evans, (Pant) ; Secretary, Edward Thomas, Sr. Of
Cottonwood society: President, Rev. D. Davies ;,Treasurer, D. P. Davies;
Secretary, Rev. J. Jenkins. Of the Big Woods society: President, Evan
Griffiths; Treasurer, Thomas J. Jones. The first collections were: Cottonwood,
$46.30; South Bend, $51.03; Big Woods, $63.30; making a total of $160.63, of which
$159.67 was sent as a donation to the New York society, which acknowledged the
gift by a special letter of thanks and commendation. At first the three
societies were united and sent their contributions together in one sum; but in
1858 the union plan was abandoned, and ever since each society has been
independent. A membership fee of $1.00 was charged during the first two years,
which afterward was reduced to fifty cents, and finally all who contributed,
without regard to the amount, were considered members.
·····
December 25th, 1863, the Judson and Vicinity Bible Society was formed at the
house of Owen Roberts, in the town of Judson, and the first officers were:
President, Rev. R. W. Jones; Vice President, Rev. John W. Roberts; Secretaries,
R. H. Hughes and Wm. R. Jones; Treasurer, Wm. Griffiths.
·····
Regularly every year since their organization, these four societies have held
their several annual meetings on Christmas day. The program of these meetings
has always been about the same. The election of officers, the hearing of
reports, and the business transactions of the societies, take place in the
morning, while the afternoon and evening are devoted to the making of speeches
and singing. The amounts collected in each society during the period of its existence
to the year ending
(delw 4077) (tudalen 47)
(x47)
December 25, 1894, are as follows: Blue Farth County Welsh (Cottonwood),
$1,339.37; Judson and Vicinity, $2,070.28; First Welsh (South Bend), $2,204.79;
Ottawa Welsh (Big Woods), $2,300.00. lf to these amounts were added the contributions
of the Minneapolis Welsh Bible society, $326.46, and of Bristol Grove, Foreston
and Lime Springs, $2,222.87, it makes a total of $10,463.77 given to the Bible
cause by the various Welsh settlements.
·····
To return, however, to the year 1856. Among the events of this year not already
mentioned were: The locating of a postoffice in Judson with John Goodwin as
postmaster; April 8th, the establishing of school district No. 4, (now No. 6),
in Judson; October 6th, the establishing of two school districts in the
Cottonwood neighborhood, Nos. 6 (now 11.) and 7 (now 10); and December 10th,
the laying out of Judson village by John Goodwin and Robert Patterson.
·····
The winter of 1856-7 was the coldest ever known in the history of the state.
For more than sixty consecutive days the mercury remained below zero, often
getting down to thirty and forty degrees below. The snow, also, was very deep
and badly drifted. Poorly housed, poorly clad, and poorly fed, the suffering of
both man and beast was great. The mud-plastered cabin of the settler afforded
but slight protection against the wintry blast, and the small old-fashioned
cook-stove gave but little heat to the shivering family huddled close around
it. Often on a stormy morning would the pioneer awaken to find an inch or two
of snow upon his bed and cabin floor. But few of our settlers had clothing
adapted for a Northern winter. The furs, flannels and felts of today, necessity
had not yet furnished. Seldom, if ever, was an overcoat seen in those days; and
the thin low cut shoes of southern Ohio were ill-designed for the cold and deep
snow of Minnesota.
····
The story is told of one ingenious pioneer - how, one Sunday morning to avoid
getting his shoes and stockings full of snow he removed them and, placing them under
his arm, ran to church bare-footed through the snow, a distance of about a
mile. Suffice it to say that he never tried that experiment again, but the next
Sabbath making two ropes of hay he wound one about each foot and leg up to the
waist, and thus, like ancient knight in greaves, he sallied forth defying frost
and snow.
·····
During this winter a number of the settlers had to go with ox-teams to St.
Paul, a distance of a hundred miles, after flour and provisions, spending three
or four weeks upon the journey,
(delw 4078) (tudalen 48)
(x48) suffering untold hardships, and
reaching home at last to find the last morsel of food had been eaten the day
before.
·····
On the night of the fifth of January, 1857, one Wm. Hughes and his son-in-law,
- Thomas, when returning from the village of New Ulm, were frozen to death, and
there bodies found next day where the old Fort Ridgely road crossed Bennett
creek, on the present farm of Jas. D. Price, Esq., in the town of Cambria.
These are the only cases of death by freezing in the history of the Blue Earth
and Le Sueur county settlements.
·····
The unwonted rigor of this memorable winter gave Minnesota a bad reputation
abroad, which clings to it even to this day., and this, with the financial
crisis of that period, checked the tide of immigration for a time
·····
30 · THE ORGANIZATION OF BUTTERNUT VALLEY ·
January 6, 1857, the election precinct of Butternut Valley was organized, and
the following officers appointed: Judges of Election, Geo. Gilley, Rev. J.
Jenkins and David P. Davis; Constables, David J. Williams and D. A. Davis; Road
Supervisor, W. E. Davis. At the meeting preliminary ot the organization a
strong effort was made to have the precinct called "Davistown,"
because its first settler had been John E. Davis and more than one-half of its
inhabitants in those days happened also the bear the name Davis. This name
would likely have prevailed, had not one Col. Shaw, suggested the name
"Butternut Valley," supporting the same by a long and forcible
speech. He showed how much of the precinct lay in the valleys of the Minnesota
and Cottonwood, and how abundantly the butternuts grew therein. He waxed
eloquent over the proverbial fertlity of valleys - how the very name at once
carried to the mind the ideas of richness of soil, shelter from storms and quiet
repose. Then what valuable timber the butternut was, and how the union of two
such suggestive names would attract the attention of emigrants from the four
corners of the globe. The Colonel's oratory prevailed and the precinct was
called "Butternut Valley." Years later, another reason for the
Colonel's preference was discovered, not given in his oration: his native place
in New York was designated by a similar name. "What's in a name,"
however?
·····
31 · THE ORGANIZATION OF CAMBRIA ·
Ten years later, our pioneers, fearing lest the newcomers settling upon the
prairie should outnumber and rule over them, separated themselves from them and
on the 8th of May, 1867, organised the triangular fraction, lying
along the Minnesota river, north of the township survey line into a new town
called "Cambria," leaving the
(delw 4079) (tudalen 49)
(delw 4080) (tudalen 49a)
Little Prairie (Preri Bach), Cambria, Minn. (View from
Lloyd’s Hill.)
(x49) old name to the full township still
left to the south upon the open prairie. Some curious antiquarian in the ages
yet to come, will wonder to find a butternut valley far out into the open
plain, where there is neither a valley nor a butternut within many a mile. The
same antiquarian, perchance, will wonder still more to discover Horeb,
Seion, Jerusalem, and the rest of ancient Palestine scattered promiscuously
over this western land, and he will puzzle his scholarly brain over the strange
anomaly of a person living upon the top of a high hill called, Evans-y-pant (Evans y Pant) (=
Evans originally from the farm called Y Pant, the hollow), or an
inhabitant of Minnesota, "Jones Canada." (=
Jones who came from Canada, who lived in Canada)
·····
But enough of Welsh names to my history. In February, 1857, the second
quarterly meeting of the Calvinistic Methodist church was held in the Big
Woods, being the first meeting of the kind held in that settlement. Besides
those before named Thomas W. Jones, John E. Jones and William L. Jones had located
in this neighborhood in the year 1856. These were followed in 1857 by Owen
Davis, David Thomas and John Hughes.
·····
In March, Rev. John Roberts from Ixonia, Wis., settled in the Big Woods, in
charge of the Saron church. With him came from La Crosse Lewis D. Lewis and
William E. Jenkins, who located on Prairie Bach (more
correctly Preri Bach, as in the caption of the photo above) in Butternut
Valley. James Edwards and family soon followed Lewis and Jenkins from La Crosse
and settled near them. Thos. Thomas, (Lake,) and family from
Philadelphia
(delw 4081) (tudalen 50)
(x50)
David Thomas and Joshua Wigley from Wisconsin, Robert and Wm. Roberts from New
York, and many others came the same year.
·····
32 · THE INKPADOOTA (INKPADUTA) WAR ·
Early in March, 1957, about forty Sioux Indians of the Wahpaykootay band, under
the leadership of an outlawed chief, named Inkpadoota, (Scarlet End), went to
hunt on the Des Moines near Spirit Lake, Iowa. One of these shot a settler's
dog that had bitten him, and for this act the entire band were unwisely, if not
unjustly, disarmed by the settlers. This necessarily caused hard feelings on
the part of the Indians. They soon re-supplied themselves with fire-arms, and
going to a house where eleven men were wintering together, having in charge
some cattle, they begged one of the beeves for food. Understanding, as they
claimed, that their request had been granted, they shot one of the cattle. The
enraged owner rushed to the defense of his property and knocked one of the
Indians down, and for this insult as immediately killed by the other Indians.
·····
The savages now attacked the other white men and having set fire to the
shanty shot all of them, as, one by one, they ran out of the burning building.
·····
They next fell upon the unsuspecting settlers and massacred twenty more
men, women and children, and took four women captives. This occurred on the 8th
and 12th of March. After spending two or three weeks feasting on the
booty they had acquired in this settlement, a part of the Indian band, under
the leadership of a son of Inkpadoota, went north to Heron Lake, and thence to
the small isolated settlement of Springfield, Minn., (Now the village of
Jackson), about 16 miles north of Spirit Lake. Here William Wood, from Mankato,
had laid out a townsite and started a store, and a few settlers located near by
on claims along the Des Moines in the summer of 1856. The Indians camped on the
east side of the river from the townsite, and Wm. Wood and his brother went
across to trade with them and were killed. The Indians next murdered a Mr.
Stewart, his wife and two children. They also killed a twelve year old son of
James Thomas and wounded Mr. Thomas in the arm. The remaining few settlers then
rallied and drove the Indians away. This was on the 26th and 27th
of March.
·····
The news of these outrages, known in history as the Inkpadoota war, reached
Blue Earth county early in April and spread like fire through all the
settlements, creating a general
(delw 4082) (tudalen 51)
(x51)
panic. The special hunting grounds of those hostiles had been the vallys of the
Blue Earth and the Minnesota, where dwelt our Welsh people, whose fears were
therefore augmented.
·····
There were grave apprehensions that the entire Sioux nation would join in the
outbreak, as they had many grievances against the whites and the unwonted
length and severity of this winter, and the consequent scarcity of game had
rendered them desperate.
·····
At night the settlers would gather together for mutual protection - half a
dozen familes or more at a house, but during the day would separate again to
their respective homes. Those provided with fireamrs carried them with them
wherever they went, to work or worship. A company of citizens, of which John C.
Jones of Cambria, was a member , under John F. Meagher, as captain, went out to
the Watonwan river in quest of the Indians. On Sunday morning, April 27th,
they discovered nine lodges of Siouxs encamped in the timber between two of the
lakes, about two miles northeast of Madelia. The season was so backward that
year that the company
(delw 4083) (tudalen 52)
(x52)
could cross the lake on the ice. This they did and immediately engaged the
hostiles. The battle lasted about an hour with brisk firing from behind trees
on both sides, but it is not known that any one was hurt. The whites then
withdrew to get ammuntion and reinforcements, but when they returned the
Indians had left.
·····
In South Bend village the people built a palisade around the house of John
Williams for a fort. The Judson and Eureka settlers built a fort, also, on the
Nicollet side of the Minnesota, with logs, which one McNutt had hauled together
to build a mill. It was feared that Inkpadoota and his followers would return
and that Red Iron's band would join in the war, and guards were kept stationed
by the whites on both sides of the river. One night, when H. Caywood was on
guard, he thought he saw a blanketed Indian sneaking though the brush near him
and he fired at him. The shooting created a panic at the fort for it was
supposed the savages were upon them. After awhile (sic)
it was discovered, however, that the Indian Caywood had shot was his own white
horse, which had strayed from his stable.
·····
Next morning a company from this Eureka fort went to Swan Lake to confer with
Chief Red Iron. David Dackins and Gustav Tidland, who could speak some Sioux,
were sent to the village to interview the Indians, while the rest of the
company halted at the edge of the timber. Red Iron gave the messengers full
assurance of peace and friendship, and the company returned with their
confidence in the redmen somewhat restored.
·····
The Butternut Valley people, also, had their experience. A large band of
Indians, who had been away some weeks, returned to this town about the 10th
or 12th of April, causing the terrified settlers no little anxiety.
They did not tarry among the Welsh, however, but passed up the Little
Cottonwood about two miles west of the Blue Earth county line. About thirty
Welshmen formed themselves into a company and on the 14th of April
met a like company of Germans at the house of one Lipp, and together, under the
leadership of Rev. Peter S. Davies, as colonel, they marched against the
Indians.
·····
Near the Sioux emcampment was the cabin of a German bachelor named Brandt. The
cabin bore evidence of having been plundered, but no trace that day could be
found of Brandt.
·····
The Germans were very much excited and wanted to attack the Indians at once,
though the most of them were only armed with pitchforks and scythes lashed to
long poles, while the Indians were well aremd with the best rifles and
outnumbered the whites two to one. Wiser council at last prevailed and a
committee consisting of John S. Davis, S. D Shaw, and a German were sent
forward to confer with the Indians, while the rest of the company kept
themselves concealed behind a long wood pile. The Indians disavowed any hostile
intention and promised to leave the country at once. In his excitement, the
German accidentally discharged his gun, which the company lying concealed at a
distance mistook for the signal of attack, and rising from behind nthe wood
pile they swept across the prairie toward the astonished savages like a
cyclone, shouting and brandishing their pitchforks, scythes, guns, etc. The
dusky braves were panic-stricken, and the heels of many mocassins were fast disappearing
in the direction of the brush, before the peace committee could pacify the
tumult and explain. The Indians, however, soon folded their wigwams and
departed. The body of Mr. Brandt was found in a day or two in the brush back of
his cabin with two bullet holes in his head. The Indians, it seems, had an old
grudge against him.
·····
The government sent a company of soldiers from Ft. Ridgely after Inkpadoota and
his murderous band, but they escaped to the James river valley, taking their
four women captives with them. Two of these, Mrs. Thatcher and Mrs. Noble, were
brutally murdered by their fiendish captors, the other two, Mrs.
(delw 4084) (tudalen 53)
(x53)
Marble and Miss Gardner, after suffering every hardship and outrage for months,
were finally ransomed by some Christian Indians from the mission stations of
Dr. Williamson and Dr. Riggs. A son of Inkpadoota, named Makpeahoteman (Roaring
Cloud), who had murdered Mrs. Noble, was discovered, during the summer, by some
friendly Christian Indians in one of the villages on the Yellow Medicine and
killed and his squaw taken prisoner.
·····
The government insisted on the annuity Sioux punishing Inkpadoota, and finally,
Little Crow organized a band of 106 Wapeton and Sisseton warriors, at Yellow
Medicine, and on the 22d of July went in pursuit of the outlaw murderers and
killed three of them, wounded one and captured two women and a child.
·····
This was all the punishment Inkpadoota ever received. The excitement continued
for most of the summer of 1857, but finally died out and the Indians mingled
among the settlers as formerly. During the year 1857 preparations were made
towards the admission of Minnesota as a state, and on the 1st of June an
election of delegates to draft a proposed Constitution was held. Before its
adoption this Constitution, under the auspices of the republican central
committee, was translated into Welsh by Wm. R. Jones, who then lived at
Rochester, Minn. The first election in Butternut Valley was that of the first
of June, 1857. It was held at the house of David P. Davis and nineteen votes
were cast, thirteen of them republican and six democratic. The first election
in Judson had been held October 15, 1856, at the house of John Goodwin, when
twenty-two votes were cast, of which one only was democratic. At the general
election held October 13, 1857, upon the adoption of the new Constitution and
the selection of a full corps of officers thereunder, South Bend cast 157 votes
- 105 republican and 52 democratic; Judson 45 votes - 30 republican and 15
democratic; and Butternut Valley 38 votes - 31 republican and 7 democratic.
·····
These democratic votes in the Welsh towns were mostly cast by a few people of
other nationalities dispersed among the Cymri (sic.
Should be Cymry (= Welsh people)). In later vears with a population more
exclusively Cymric, though the total vote had more than doubled, yet the
democratic vote had materially decreased. At the general election of 1857 J. T.
Williams, Esq., was elected Clerk of the District Court, being the only man on
the republican ticket elected that year in Blue Earth county. At this same
election two Welshmen
(delw 4085) (tudalen 54)
(x54) ran
for the office of County Commissioner, namely: W. E. Davis and David J. Davis.
The former, one of the few Welsh democrats, was elected, but in a few weeks the
office was legislated out of existence, and, instead, a county board was
created, composed of the Chairmen of the Board of Supervisors of the several
towns. So that Wm. E. Davis failed of an office after being elected to it,
while Rev. David Davis, Chairman of the Supervisors of the town of Butternut
Valley, acquired another office in addition to the one he already had. Such are
the uncertainties of political favors.
·····
On the 24th and 25th of June, 1857, the third quarterly meeting of the
Calvinistic Methodists was held in Butternut Valley, in an oak grove near where
stands the present residence of Jas. A. Thomas. This was the first quarterly
meeting ever held in the Cottonwood settlement. About the time of this meeting
Evan Jenkins from Holland Patent, New York, located in the Butternut Valley. An
odd character was Jenkins, whom the old settlers will long remember. In his
domestic economy, a bachelor, and in his choice of vocation a disciple of St.
Crispin. Full of eccentricities and possessed by an absurd egotism, he verily
believed himself the wisest man of the age and the greatest adornment of the
pulpit and rostrum. With a rich or oratorical voice, an abundance of flowery
language and a fertile imagination, he was a conspicuous figure in all the
literary and temperance societies, as well as in the "Big Meeting" of
the Calvinistic Methodist church and all other public gatherings. During the
four years of his sojourn in the settlement his conceit and rhetoric, furnished
much entertainment and some instruction to our Gomeric frontiersmen.
·····
In July, 1857, a postoffice was established in Butternut Valley with Col. Shaw
as postmaster. That he might have a postoffice de facto as well as dejure
the Colonel had to carry the mail on his back, for several months, from Judson,
a distance of seven miles.
·····
In February of the same year David P. Davis and John Walters had returned to
Ohio on a business visit. While there Mr. Davis bought the machinery for a
steam saw and grist mill, which, during the summer, he put up on his farm in
the Cottonwood valley. This mill, consisting of a diminutive engine attached to
a small upright saw and one run of stone, furnished the settlers with their
lumber and corn meal for many miles around, until February 13, 1862, when it
was burnt. During the
(delw 4086) (tudalen 54a)
Carmel C.M. Church, Judson, Minn.
(C.M. = Calvinistic Methodist).
(delw 4087) (tudalen 55)
(x55)
first year or two an attempt was made to start a village at this mill under the
name of Davistown, but it failed.
·····
In the summer of 1857 the election precincts of Sharon and Cleveland were
organized in the Big Woods, the name of Sharon being adopted at the suggestion
of Evan T. Jones after Saron church therein situated. Among the first officers
of Sharon were the following Welshmen: Lewis Hughes, Judge of Election; John C.
Jones, Justice of the Peace, and David Jones, Constable.
·····
During the same summer in the town of Sharon was built the first Welsh house of
worship in the state. It was a neat structure of hewn logs and until recently
its protecting roof afforded shelter to the pious people of Sharon in all their
public devotions. On the 9th and 10th of September, 1857, at the Seion church,
was held the fourth quarterly meeting of the Calvinistic Methodists, upon which
occasion Rev. John Davis, from Picatonica, Wis., visited the settlements. This
eminent divine was then in the noonday of his glory, and our pioneers, shut out
from the world in the vast wilderness, had long been famishing for a pulpit
feast such as they had enjoyed in the older states, or in dear old Gwalia. So
when Davis, Picatonica, came, he was received like a king and scarce could the
old fathers and mothers in Israel be kept from worshiping him. The people
followed him from one corner of the settlement to the other, and daily he
preahed two or three times in the crowded cabins. On the 14th he organized a
temperance society at South Bend village and another on the 19th in the Big
Woods. On the 19th and 20th he, also, formally opened the new church
building of Saron.
·····
Early in March, 1858, the people of Seion began the erection of a house of
worship, which was completed and the first service therein held on the 11th of
July. It was a frame structure, built by one Richard Williams. During the same
summer the people of Horeb, not to be outdone by the inhabitants of Seion,
built them a frame temple, which ranked for many years the largest in size in
the settlement, and which even today stands among the largest. The building was
begun by a carpenter named John Davis, and completed by Andrew Friend, and cost
about $800. To complete a frame build(ing)
in those days meant simply the completion of the outside shell. The art of
plastering was then unknown. A rude box or counter fixed upon a rude platform answered
for a pulpit, while row of boards supported by blocks of wood did for pews. All
(delw 4088) (tudalen 56)
(x56) of
this furniture was of a rustic sort, unpainted, unvarnished, unplaned, for our
frontier worshipers had no means to cultivate aesthetic tastes. The church of
our forefathers offered but few attractions to fashionable ease, but God was
found there as often as in the costly temples of modern date.
·····
In a pioneer society the great and unpardonable sin is "Claim
Jumping." He who murders a man may be forgiven and become a hero even; but
he who jumps a claim deserves to be hung and cannot be forgiven, either in the
secular world or in the world religious. Strange, where land is so plenty as it
is in a new country, that any difficulty of this sort should arise. Herein,
however, human nature strikingly resembles the nature of certain animals, who
cannot enjoy anything unless they can push and scramble for it, and each covets
the identical morsel its neighbor has, though other like morsels and even
richer ones, lie around in abundance untouched. From this mortal sin the race
of Gomer in Minnesota did not escape and "countless woes" resulted
therefrom. Lifelong friends became lifelong foes and bitter hatred, envy and
spite, filled the land. Cliques and parties sprang up and both church and state
were- rent by fierce conflicts. Force and violence were everywhere abroad, and
temporal courts and the courts ecclesiastical were kept busy continually.
·····
Among others, the Congregational church organized by Rev. Jenkin Jenkins, in
Judson, suffered grievously, by reason of these dissensions, and during the
winter of 1857-8 the services were entirely suspended for a time. In the summer
of 1858 the society reassembled at the house of John F. Davis, and Mr. Henry
Hughes became their leader. In the meantime Rev. Jenkin Jenkins, with a few
adherents, and Rev. William Williams with a few Baptist brethren united in
holding services near Judson village. In the summer of 1858, however, Mr.
Jenkins became reconciled to the Congregational church and was reinstated as
its pastor.
·····
33 · JERUSALEM CHURCH ORGANIZED
The removal of the Congregational church to John I,. Davis' house left Judson
without a religious organization. Accordingly, on the 11th of July, 1858, a
Calvinistic Methodist society was organized there at the house of Owen Roberts,
Esq., by Rev. David Davis, assisted by Evan Evans (Pant). The first
elders appointed for this church were: Owen Roberts and Wm. Owen. This was the
origin of the present Jerusalem church. On the 15th and 16th of September,
1858, the first " Gymanfa" or the Conference of the
Calvinistic Methodists was held
(delw 4089) (tudalen 56a)
Jerusalem Calvinistic Methodist Church, Judson, Minn.
(delw 4090) (tudalen 57)
(x57) at
the new Seion church of South Bend. In May, 1858, Rev. Meredith Evans, brother
of D. C. Evans, Esq., visited the settlement, and in November of the same year
came Rev. Thomas Phillips, (Baraboo, Wis.), both of whom broke the bread of
life, frequently, to the hungry souls of the the pioneers during their short
stay. Besides preaching Mr. Evans held a great temperance rally on May 21st at
South Bend village, in the large hotel then newly built. South Bend was then in
the prime of its glory and rivaled Mankato in its importance. Besides the hotel
the village contains two mills, five stores and about fifty houses.
·····
During the winter of 1857-8 a debating society was started in Butternut Valley,
which had a flourishing existence for two or three years. In those early years,
literary societies, temperance societies, and singing schools were common in
all the settlements and our pioneers made themselves as useful and merry as
could be in the wilderness.
·····
The first school in the Seion neighborhood was taught by that famous old Welsh
schoolmaster, Edward Thomas, Sr., in a log house belonging to Edward Jones' (Maes
Mawr), in the winter of 1856. . A barn belonging to Evan H. Evans became
the next schoolroom, and then in the winter of 1858 the school was removed to
the church, then newly built, where J. T. Williams, Esq., wielded the rod.
·····
The first school in Judson was taught in the winter of 1857 in a vacant house
in the village by Miss Jennette, eldest daughter of Rev. Jenkin Jenkins (now
Mrs. Jennette Jones, of Mankato). In the Jerusalem neighborhood Mr. A. Crisp
taught the first school at his own house (where Mrs. Robert Roberts' present
residence stands) about 1860. There were only two or three children in
attendance.
·····
Addison Jones taught the next school in this neighborhood in the winter of
1861, and Edward Thomas, Sr., followed him in 1862. Both of these schools were
well attended, and were kept in David T. Davis' log shanty, near where stands
the present residence of Rev. John W. Roberts. This school continued in private
houses until it was removed to the log church in 1866.
·····
The first school in Butternut Valley was taught in District No. 10 by Miss
Elizabeth Davis (now Mrs. Rich. Jones, of Cambria), daughter of the old
pioneer, John E. Davis, in the summer of 1859, in a log schoolhouse which had
just been completed, and which stood in the edge of the timber about eighty
rods due north of the present schoolhouse.
(delw 4091) (tudalen 58)
(x58) Old Elim Church and Cemetery (Le Sueur County, Minn.)
(delw 4092) (tudalen 59)
(x59) The
first school in the Horeb neighborhood, now District No. 11, was taught by Miss
Mary S. Davis (afterwards Mrs. Thos. Y. Davis), daughter of Dr. D. Davis, in
the fall of 1859, in a vacant house which stood on the farm now owned by Jas.
A. Thomas. Before the close of that year this district completed a log
schoolhouse which stood on the site of its present frame building. The first to
teach in this log structure was James Black, in the winter of 1860. Though a
good scholar, he lacked one essential qualification for a successful pedagogue
in those days - good muscle. The big boys soon put this qualification to the
test, and found it wanting, and the school closed rather abruptly. The next
teacher was Charles Buck, a brother of Judge Buck. He was six feet tall and
well-proportioned - a powerful man physically as well as mentally. He ruled
with a rod of iron - (wood) - and succeeded in bringing the turbulent spirits
of young Wild West Wales under proper discipline. His school was quite
successful. Edward Thomas, Sr., was the next teacher. He was not a great
scholar, but he was fond of children, and his bustling, energetic way begat
life and interest in all about him. His special forte was music, for which he
had a great passion. To locate the district where this old Welsh schoolmaster
taught, all one had to do was to listen, for it resounded with song from one end
to the other. Singing schools were the order of the day and night in the
neighborhood where he held sway.
·····
In those days, Judson was an ambitious village not content unless it could
excel. Accordingly, in the fall of 1858, instead of a common school, it must
needs start an educational establishment with the important title of
"Judson Academy." A Joint Stock company, formed for the purpose,
purchased for $800 a large frame building of T.R. Coulson, in which to hold the
school. Rev. J. R. Ash, a young Baptist minister from Illinois, had charge of
the school, and his wife taught the music department. Hon. Wm. R. Jones was one
of the Trustees of the institution. A tuition fee, ranging from $3.50 to $16.00
was charged. A number of our Welsh young men and women attended this school
during its existence, which, however, was but brief, lasting only until the
summer of 1859. The school statistics of 1859 give the number of pupils in the
several Welsh districts as follows: South Bend village, 74; Zion District, 45;
Judson village, 42; Judson prairie, 38; John E. Davis District, 18; and Horeb
District 52.
·····
October 11, 1859, D. C. Evans, Esq., was elected to the State
(delw 4093) (tudalen 60)
(x60)
Senate to the great rejoicing of the Welsh, who held a jollification meeting at
South Bend November 29, on Mr. Evans' departure for the Legislative halls.
·····
December 11, 1859, a Congregational church was organized at a vacant log house,
belonging to E. Evans (Pant), in South Bend village. Rev. Jenkin Jenkins,
assisted by Henry Hughes and David T. Davis, conducted the organization. The
first deacons elected were Wm. W. Davis and Thos. Evans. In 1861, this society
erected its present house of worship at a cost of $700. In the spring of 1859,
Rev. David Davis and Henry Hughes started a Congregational church at Evan D.
Evans' house on James A. Thomas's present farm. This society was duly organized
into a church at the house of Henry Hughes in Butternut Valley, on the 13th
of March, 1860, by Rev. Samuel Jones, La Crosse, Wis. Dr. Davis and Mr. Hughes
preached alternate Sabbaths for this church until the death of the former in
the spring of 1862, when Mr. Hughes took charge of it alone until the great
Indian massacre of that fall scattered the sheep of this fold never more to
reassemble. In December, 1860, Calvinistic Methodist church was organized in
South Bend village by Rev. R. G. Jones, assisted by E. Evans (Pant). This
church in 1866 went over to the Presbyterians and for a season enjoyed the able
ministry of Rev. James M. Pryse and afterwards of Rev. David J. Lewis, but in
spite of all it fell into a decline and finally ceased to exist.
·····
34 · ELIM CHURCH, LE SUEUR ·
In November, 1860, the Calvinistic Methodist church of Elim, Big Woods, was
organized by Rev. Richard G. Jones at the house of Rev. Richard Davis. The
first elders of this church were Evan Griffiths and Edward Evans, and its
pastor for several years was Rev. R. G. Evans. It's (sic)
worthy elder, Evan Griffiths, gave the society an acre of his arm, and a neat
farm meeting house was erected thereon in the summer of 1860. The church yard
is the principal Welsh cemetery of Le Sueur county to this day.
·····
While foremost in founding temples for the Prince of Peace our Welshmen were
not backward in war. In the great conflict of the Rebellion the Welsh towns of
Blue Earth county were the banner towns of that county in the quotas of men
furnished. August 15, 1862, twenty-one Welshmen enlisted together in Com. E. 9th
Regiment Minnesota Volunteers, and one of their number, John R. Roberts, was made
2d Lieutenant, and was about the bravest and most efficient officer of the
Regiment. December, 1863, twenty-two more Welshmen enlisted at one time in the
Co. E. 2d Regiment Minnesota Cavalry. Besides these two
(delw 4094) (tudalen 61)
(x61)
special enlistments a number of others singly and in groups of three and four
joined other companies and regiments at divers times. One of these, Hugh J.
Owens, served as its captain in Co. F. !st Minnesota Artillery. Several of our
brave Cymry (= [KŘM-ri] Welshmen) boys left
their bones on southern fields, among whom were: Lieutenant J. R. Roberts (1), wounded at the battle of Nashville and died
in the hospital, Sergeant Thomas Rees (2),
killed at the battle of Vicksburg, also Privates E. J. Davis (3), William Rees (4),
David Breese, Lewis Lewis (5), John G.
Roberts, and Wm. Griffiths, who mostly perished in southern prisons. Noble men
they were all and true, who fought and died for principles, not for gain or
selfish glory.
Additional notes, taken
from the biographies section in the book:
(1) J. R. Roberts Born August 4,
1833, in Oneida county, N. Y. He was a son of the Rev. Richard Roberts, late of
Ebensburg.
(2) Thomas Rees, born Llanelli (Sir
Gaerfyrddin) in South Wales, July 26, 1840. Came to the USA in 1852 (11/12
years old)
(3) Evan .J. Davis, born Llannarth
(Ceredigion), Wales, in May 1819. Came to the USA in 1848 (28/29 years old)
(4) William Rees, brother of Thomas
Rees (above). Born Docnew˙dd, Llanelli (Sir Gaerfyrddin) in South Wales, May
22, 1842. Came to the USA in 1852 (9/10 years old)
(5) Lewis Lewis, born Pittsburgh
1848. Father from Dre-fach (Ceredigion), mother from Ceredigion.
__________________________________
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On to the next page - "The Sioux Massacre 1862"
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OTHER LINKS TO PAGES IN THE “WALES-CATALONIA” WEBSITE:
0893 Geirfa Lakota (Dakota)-Cymraeg-Saesneg /
Lakota (Dakota)-Welsh-English vocabulary
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EDRYCHWCH - VIEW
Edrychwch ar ein Ll˙fr Ymwelw˙r!
View our Visitors' Book!
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LLOFNODWCH - SIGN
Hoffech chi lofnodi ein Ll˙fr Ymwelw˙r?
Would you like to sign our Visitors' Book?
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Geirfa Lakota (Dakota)-Cymraeg-Saesneg
Lakota (Dakota)-Welsh-English vocabulary
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Rhestr o gynnw˙s y ll˙fr 'History of the Welsh in Minnesota...'
List of the contents of 'The History of the Welsh in Minnesota...'
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Ein mynegai i'r ll˙fr (heb ei orffen)
Our index to the book (incomplete)
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ychwanegiadau diweddaraf o 'Hanes y Cymr˙ ym Minnesota...'
latest additions from the 'History of the Welsh in Minnesota
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ein rhestr o'r enwau yn 'Hanes y Cymr˙ ym Minnesota...' (heb ei orffen)
our list of the names which appear in the 'History of the Welsh in
Minnesota...' (incomplete)
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y Cymr˙ yn erb˙n y Sioux a'r Winnebagos - gwrthryfel 1862
the Welsh against the Sioux and the Winnebagoes - the 1862 uprising
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mynegai i'r h˙n s˙dd genn˙m yn y Gwefan 'Cymru-Catalonia'
index to the pages in the "Wales-Catalonia" website
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adrannau'r Gwefan 'Cymru-Catalonia'
siteplan - list of sections in the "Wales-Catalonia" website
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kimkat0008e
cyntedd croeso y Gwefan 'Cymru-Catalonia'
the reception area of the "Wales-Catalonia" website
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kimkat0001
tudalen blaen y Gwefan 'Cymru-Catalonia'
front page of the 'Wales-Catalonia' Website
LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES:
LAKOTA-DAKOTA-NAKOTA
(1) http://www.lakotaoyate.com/welcome.html Lakota
Oyate
“To defend and preserve Lakota culture from exploitation.”
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(2) http://www.enter.net/~drutzler/intro.htm Welcome
to Spirit’s Place
“So yeah, I am Native American. Lakota actually. I do “Indian stuff”, but I am a
human being first and foremost. I created this set of pages for many reasons.
First, to help keep Native information easily available for all... The Lakota
Language Page will be updated monthly with a new subject. This month’s
lesson: “Animals”. Check it out for basic grammar and phonetics. There is no
charge for these lessons, no club to join or anything else to “buy”. This is
for you, the curious, the seeking and the informed”
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(3) http://207.254.63.58/language1.htm Introduction
to Lakota
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(4) Hau! Tima hiyu wo! ‘Greetings! Come inside!’ Hokahe, hel iyotaka.
‘Welcome’ to the Lodge of šung’manitu-Išna, ‘ Lone Wolf ‘. The intent of
these pages is to honor a proud and noble people, the Oglala Lakota, of Pine
Ridge, South Dakota. http://207.254.63.58/i-welcome.htm#sitemap
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(5) Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe’s Homepage http://swcc.cc.sd.us/homepage.htm
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(6) Sota Iya Ye Yapi - http://www.earthskyweb.com/news.htm -
bringing news of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe / Dakota Nation and Lake Traverse
Reservation to the World Wide Web. Weekly, with updates when appropriate during
the week.
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(7) KILI Radio, the Voice of the Lakota Nation. http://www.lakotamall.com/kili/schedule.htm
KILI Radio (pronounced “KEE-lee”) is the largest
Indian-owned and operated public radio station in America. We
broadcast in English and Lakota 22 hours each day to homes on three
reservations in the Black Hills. Our listeners are spread out over 10,000 square
miles, an area larger than the state of Delaware. KILI means “cool” or
“awesome” in the Lakota language. KILI Radio is cool, but it’s much more than
that. It’s a vital force of preservation for Lakota people and our culture.
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(8) Lakota newspaper. EYAPAHA - allies of the Lakota. http://www.lakotamall.com/allies/Eyapaha/99F/
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(9) Links to Lakota-Dakota-Nakota (Sioux) Indians Sites http://members.tripod.com/~PHILKON/links12lakota.html
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(10) http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/dakota/Dakota_excerpts.html
In Their Own Words: Excerpts from Speeches & Letters Concerning the
Dakota Conflict
SPEECH OF HDAINYANKA IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING WAR
LETTER FROM GENERAL POPE DECLARING HIS GOAL OF EXTERMINATING SIOUX
LETTER FROM BISHOP WHIPPLE CONCERNING DEGREES OF GUILT
ADDRESS TO CONDEMNED PRISONERS BEFORE THEIR EXECUTIONS
STATEMENT OF TAZOO AT THE TIME OF HIS EXECUTION
LETTER OF HDAINYANKA WRITTEN SHORTLY BEFORE HIS EXECUTION
LETTER FROM REV. THOMAS WILLIAMSON TO REV. STEPHEN RIGGS
LETTER FROM COL. HENRY SIBLEY
LETTER FROM REV. STEPHEN RIGGS
LETTER FROM COL. HENRY SIBLEY TO HIS WIFE
GEORGE CROOK’S (WAKANAJAJA’S) ACCOUNT OF JOURNEY TO PRISON CAMP
CALL OF JACOB NIX, COMMANDANT OF NEW ULM, FOR DAKOTA BLOOD
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The above is a section form
(11) The Dakota Indian Conflict http://www.ic.mankato.mn.us/reg9/nul/tour/dakota.html
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(12) http://www.nara.gov/exhall/originals/sioux.html “The Black
Hills of Dakota are sacred to the Sioux Indians. In the 1868 treaty, signed
at Fort Laramie and other military posts in Sioux country, the United States
recognized the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation, set aside
for exclusive use by the Sioux people. However, after the discovery of gold
there in 1874, the United States confiscated the land in 1877. To this day,
ownership of the Black Hills remains the subject of a legal dispute between the
U.S. government and the Sioux...”
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HO-CHUK
(9) The Ho-Chunk (‘Winnebago’) Nation http://www.ho-chunk.com/index.htm
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(10) (Ho-Chunk History - http://www.ho-chunk.com/culture_history_page.htm For
example, 1856 Winnebago mission founded at Blue Earth and is attended by
diocesan priest residing at Saints Peter & Paul Church in Mankato).
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(11) Ho-Chunk newspaper http://www.ho-chunk.com/dept_newspaper_page.htm
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(16) Indian Circle Web Ring, maintained by the Seminole Tribe of
Florida. List of websites of federally acknowledged tribes in the contiguous 48
states and in Alaska. http://www.indiancircle.com/links.shtml
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INDIAN COUNTRY
(1) http://indiancountry.com Indian Country
- America’s Leading Indian News Source. Weekly online edtion
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(2) http://airos.org/grid.html Programme
Schedule for AIROS (American Indian Radio On Satellite)
“The AIROS network is a national distribution system for Native programming to
Tribal communities and to general audiences through Native American and other
public radio stations as well as the Internet. Alter*Native Voices / California
Indian Radio Project / Different Drums / Earthsongs / National Native News /
Native America Calling / Native Sounds-Native Voices National / New Letters on
Air / Voices from the Circle / Wellness Edition
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(3) Minnesota Indian Affairs Council http://www.indians.state.mn.us/stats.htm
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Adolygiad
diweddaraf / Latest update: 25 09 2001, 2006-11-06
Ble'r w˙f
i? Yr ˙ch chi'n ymwéld ag un o dudalennau'r Gwefan "CYMRU-CATALONIA"
On sóc? Esteu visitant una pŕgina of the Web "CYMRU-CATALONIA" (=
Galles-Catalunya)
Where am I? You are visiting a page from the "CYMRU-CATALONIA" (=
Wales-Catalonia) Website
Weř(r) ŕm ai? Yůu ŕa(r) víziting ř peij frňm dhř "CYMRU-CATALONIA" (=
Weilz-Katřlóuniř) Wébsait
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.