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0877e Gwefan Cymru-Catalonia /
Wales-Catalonia Website. The Welsh in Minnesota – an online version of a book published in 1895 - "History of
the Welsh in Minnesota, Foreston and Lime Springs, Ia. Gathered by the Old
Settlers. Edited by Revs. Thos. E. Hughes and David Edwards, and Messrs. Hugh
G. Roberts and Thomas Hughes"
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Cyfeirddalen i Adran Gwladfa’r Glasbridd / Orientation page for the Welsh Blue
Earth Settlement, Minnesota kimkat1927e
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Gwefan Cymru-Catalonia (pages
111-116) |
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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 4150) (tudalen 110a)
(x110a) Hugh
Jones
Miss Anna Jones
Miss Mary Price
Mrs. Hugh Evans
Hugh D. Hughes
Miss Susie Hughes
Mis Esther Ellis
Mrs. Wm. F. Jones
Evan Hughes
Group of Welsh Singers, Mankato, Minn.
_______________________________________________
(delw 4151) (tudalen 111)
(x111) 43 ·
INTEREST OF THE WELSH IN MUSIC
Music Among the Welsh of Blue Earth County.
BY EVAN HUGHES.
The Welsh people are passionate lovers of music and have been such from time
immemorial; and the Welsh of Blue Earth county are as ardent devotees of this
divine art as their brethren across the Sea. Their interest and proficiency in
music have been promoted by frequent visits from some of the noted singers of
the other Welsh settlements in America and from Wales. Among the first of these
was Mr. Edward Lewis of New York, the compiler of the Welsh hymn book
"Hosanna." Mr. Lewis visited the Welsh settlement of Blue Earth
county in 1869. His plan was to visit and stay a short time in each church in
the settlement. The people crowded the churches and he taught them how hymns
should be sung and exemplified his teaching by leading them in singing
different hymns. He also gave a few lessons in reading music to the young
people many of whom then had the first start in developing their musical
talents.
In March, 1870, Mr. John Owens visited the settlement. He adopted about the
same plan as Mr. Lewis, and met with great success starting many young men and
women in music reading and imbuing all with an enthusiasm that has not died out
to this day.
Mr. L. W. Lewis (Llew-Llwfo) {sic, should be
Llew Llwyfo; Lewis of Llwyfo, or the lion of Llwÿfo; Lewis William Lewis
(1831-1901), bardix name Llew Llwÿfo, a poet and novelist from Pen-sarn,
Llanwenllwÿfo, county of Ynÿs Môn; Lewis had been considered an English equivalent
of Welsh Llywelyn / Llewelyn, though their similarity is a coincidence. Llew is
a short form of Llewelyn, though the fact that this is also the Welshname for a
lion is a coincidence, since the more correct form of Llewelyn is Llywelyn,
based on ‘llyw’ = leader) together with his daughter Nellie and the
great baritone, Mr. James Savage, made a tour through the settlement in 1871 –
giving their concerts in many of the churches and school houses. These concerts
were very much enjoyed and added not a little to the interest in music.
The famous musical composer, David Jenkins, of Wales, visited the settlement in
1887. He followed about the same plan as Mr. Lewis and Glanmarchlÿn {pseudonym from a place name; glan = shore, edge, bank,
lakeside; Marchlÿn = ‘horselake’).
William ap Madoc adjudicated the singing in the Eisteddfod held in
Mankato in 1891, and after the Eisteddfod he made a trip through the
settlement giving concerts and short talks on the subject of music.
Among the early settlers one of the most earnest and efficient musicians was
Edward Thomas, Sr. He taught school at South Bend, Cambria and other places in
the county, and whereever he went he always taught music to his pupils and
usually had night schools to teach those who could not attend the day school.
-Besides having a good voice and considerable knowledge of music, he had the
talent of imparting to his pupils his own passionate fondness for music. At
times Mr. Thomas attempted composition, and one of the old Cyfaill {American magazine in Welsh for emigrants from Wales and
their descendants – full name Y Cyfaill o’r Hen Wlad - ‘the friend from the old
country’) 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.
Another music lover well worthy of mention in the musicall annals of Blue Earth
county is Mr. William P. Davis of South Bend. Mr. Davis, like Mr. Edward
Thomas, is a school teacher
_______________________________________________
(delw 4152) (tudalen 112)
(x112) who has taught at South Bend, Cambria,
Rush Lake and other places in the county and he has always taught music in his
school and generally has had night schools to teach the rudiments of music to
all who desired to learn.
When Rev. John C. Jones first came to Blue Earth county, he formed and taught
a. number of singing schools at different places between and including Mankato
and Cambria and all with marked success. But his great ability and success as a
preacher obliged him to give up music teaching.
Choirs almost without number have been trained here by different leaders for
various occasions. We would be glad if space allowed to give a list of these
different leaders for they are worthy of all honor, but we are sure they will
gladly pardon us for mentioning Mr. Humphrey H. Jones of Judson and Mr. Hugh D.
Hughes, of Mankato, who for any and all occasions whenever called upon have
freely and cheerfully tendered their services to train and conduct choirs and
always with marked ability and success., And we are glad to be able to state
that their musical zeal has not abated with years. John F. Jones, William
Shields and John J. Shields must also be mentioned because of their long and
able service as conductors of choirs.
The Welsh of Blue Earth county take great pride in having two brass bands, of
exceptional merit, named respectively, the Cambria Philharmonic Band and the
Salem Cornet Band.
The Cambria Philharmonic Band received their instruments on April 19th, 1890
and at once began to take lessons from Mr. Thomas C. Jones then of St. Peter,
Minn. When first organized the band were D. C. Davis, leader; D. E. Bowen, Evan
Price, Elmer Davis, David Roberts, Alvin Davis, D. C. Price, J. J. Shields,
Peter Davis and William Pugh. They played in public for the first time at the
Fourth of July celebration at Cambria in 1890. They also played the same year
with other bands at the dedication of the monument erected by the state at New
Ulm in commemoration of the Indian attack upon that city. Since then this band
has played many times at Lake Crystal, Courtland and Cambria. The band is now
composed of:
SECOND ROW - SEE ILLUSTRATION. {left to right)
Evan Price, Leader
Alvin Davis
Peter Davis
D. E. Bowen
D. C. Davis
Luther Hughes
Hugh Roberts
FRONT ROW.
David Roberts.
D. C. Price
Benjamin Evans.
J. D. Price
Osborne Davis
Lester Davis
Elmer Davis
Inspired by the fame and renown of the Cambria Philharmonic Band the young men
on the line between the towns of Judson and Butternut Valley bought instruments
and in December l893 organized the Salem Cornet Band. The band consists of:
SECOND ROW. SEE ILLUSTRATION {left to right)
William E. Jones
Frank Shelby
Jabez R. Lloyd
Robt. F. Jones, Leader
Hiram J. Lloyd
Bezzaleel James {Added from page v, Errata: in list
of Cornet Band read “Bezzaleel Jones” instead of James.)
Owen M. Jones
FRONT ROW
John C. Davis
Robert Bulkley
Frank Jones
Lewis J. Lewis
Thomas Morse
Robt. G. James
John E. Jones
Their first public playing was at the Old Settlers' reunion held at Lake
Crystal, June 13th, 1894. Since then they have played on many occasions with
great success.
_______________________________________________
(delw 4153) (tudalen 112a)
(x112a) Cornet
Band, Butternut Valley and Judson, Minn.
(delw 4153a) (tudalen 112a)
The same photo with the names of the
musicians added
_______________________________________________
(delw 4154) (tudalen 112b)
(x112b) Cambria
Philharmonic Band, Cambria, Minn
(delw 4154a) (tudalen 112b)
The same photo with the names of the musicians added.
_______________________________________________
(delw 4155) (tudalen 113)
(x113) 44 ·
INTEREST OF THE WELSH IN POLITICS
The Welsh of Blue Earth and Le Sueur Counties, Minn.
Their Interest in Politics.
BY J. T. WILLIAMS, ESQ.
The Welsh have always taken an active interest in matters of state. No people
were ever more devoted to the great principles of our government than the Welsh
pioneers of this settlement; none took greater interest in the great political
questions of the day than they.
With hardly an exception they were strongly anti-slavery, and it was devotion
to this great principle which drove them so unanimously into the republican
party.
Without exception, also, they were loyally devoted to the Union, and many a
Welsh pioneer enlisted in his country's service during the dark days of the
civil war with no other incentive than zeal for this principle; and the
honorable position the Welsh towns took and maintained of being the banner
towns of the county in the quotas of men furnished for their country's service
in those days is evidence of the fact.
Among the other principal planks of our Welsh pioneers political platform have
always been: Protection of home industries and labor, honest money, public
schools, temperance and a sound moral and religious tone to every department of
state.
Our pioneer's love of country is further shown by the early interest they took
in celebrating the national holidays.
The first Fourth of July celebration occurred immediately on the arrival of the
first settlers as early as 1855. It was held on the claim of David J. Williams
(Bradford), in Nicollet
_______________________________________________
(delw 4156) (tudalen 114)
(x114) county, on the opposite side of
the Minnesota river from Judson. The young men cut the tallest tree they could
find for a Liberty pole and the young ladies prepared a flag for it by painting
a strip of white calico with red and blue paint. Addresses were made by Wm. F.
Davis and others. In 1856 the Fourth was celebrated in a grove near John E.
Davis' house in the present town of Cambria, when addresses were made by Dr.
David Davis, Rev. W, Williams, David P. Davis, Henry Hughes, David J. Davis and
others. The young people also rendered a number of songs. In 1858, 1859 and
1860 successive celebrations of Independence day were held at the same place.
In 1858 another Fourth of July celebration was held at South Bend, near the new
hotel. Squire Bangs delivered the address. In 1861 a Fourth of July celebration
occurred at the village of Judson, when a dinner was served, the children of
Sunday Schools and the Band of Hope marched, and an appropriate address was
given by Rev. Jenkin Jenkins.
With a few years interruption after the Indian massacre these Fourth of July
celebrations have been regularly held in the town of Cambria every year to the
present time.
Though the Welsh settlers took great interest in matters of state and had such
strong political convictions, yet they seem to have been slow and reluctant to
assume the lead or to assert their right to their proper share of political
preferment. This was due to want of self confidenc6 because of lack of training
and lack of acquaintance with the English language. Some chance American
usually had the most to say about their local politics and held most of the
offices.
In the fall of 1855, D. C. Evans was elected one of the three commissioners for
Blue Earth county, and served during the year 1856, being the first Welshman in
the settlement elected to a county office. In the fall of 1857, J. T. Williams
was elected clerk of the district court of Blue Earth county, being the only
republican elected that year in the county. Mr. Williams held this office from
the date of Minnesota's admission as a state on May 1st, 1858, until January
lst, 1862.
In the fall of 1861 Mr. Williams was elected county treasurer of Blue Earth
county and held the office from March 4th, 1862, to December, 1863, when he
resigned to accept the position of clerk of the committee on Indian Affairs in
the United States House of Representatives, of which commiittee Hon. William
Windom was chairman.
_______________________________________________
(delw 4157) (tudalen 114a)
Hon. D. C. Evans, South Bend, Minn.
Hon. R. H. Hughes, Cambria, Minn.
Hon.T.M. Pugh, Duluth, Minn.
J.A. James, Seattle, Wash.
A Few Welsh Members of the Legislature
_______________________________________________
(delw 4158) (tudalen 114b)
Hon. Richard Wigley, Mankato, Minn.
Hon. Richard Lewis, Lake Crystal, Minn.
Hon. Wm. R. Jones, Judson, Minn.
Hon. Wm. P. Jones, Lake Crystal, Minn.
A Few Welsh Members of the Legislature
_______________________________________________
(delw 4159) (tudalen 115)
(x115) The first Welshman to win legislative honors was our old friend
D. C. Evans who was elected state senator in the fall of 1859. No Welshman was
elected to the legislature after Mr. Evans until the fall of 1872 when Thomas
C. Charles was chosen representative. In the fall of 1873 Robert H. Hughes was
elected representative on the alliance and democratic tickets and re-elected in
the fall of 1874, and James H. James {Added from
page v, Errata: read “Jas. A. James” instead of Jas H. ). was also
elected representative with him in the fall of 1874. Mr. James was re-elected
in the fall of 1875 and again in 1876. At this last.election of 1876 Wm. P.
Pones {sic; = Jones) was chosen rep
resentative. Richard Lewis became representative by the election of 1880, Owen
Morris in 1882, Richard Wigley in 1884, and Wm. R. Jones in 1886. In this 1886
election Thos. E. Bowen was chosen state senator from Brown county, and J. N.
Jones was chosen representative from Red Wood county. In 1888 J. H. Phillips
was elected representative from Fillmore county, and in 1890 Job W. Lloyd was
elected to the same position from Le Sueur county.
In 1868 and 1869 Evan Bowen was the sheriff of the county of Blue Earth, and
for four years beginning January lst, 1872, Hugh G. Owens was the register of
deeds of this county. In 1888 Richard Bumford was elected register of deeds of
Lyon county, to which office he was re-elected.
In the fall of 1873 D. C. Evans was elected treasurer of Blue Earth county and
held the office for eight years. He was succeeded in 1882 by Wm. Jones, who
retained the office for six years. Mr. Jones, in 1888, was succeeded in the
treasuryship by Peter Lloyd the present incumbent. So that this important
offlce has been held by Welshmen for over twenty consecutive years. During 1891
and 1892 the county attorneyship of Blue Earth county was held by Byron Hughes.
A large number of Welshmen have also been county commissioners of this county
of Blue Earth. Besides the terms held by D. C. Evans already mentioned Rev.
David Davis was on the board from September 14th, 1858, to March 25th, 1859,
when he was succeeded by Geo. Owens who held the office until 1860.
In those days the county board consisted of the chairmen of the various town
supervisors. Since the change in 1860 the following Welshmen have been elected
commissioners of this county. David J. Davis for the years 1862-3, John 1.
Jones for 1864-5-6, David D. Evans for 1867-8-9, Richard Wigley for 1876-7-8,
Wm. S. Hughes for 1879, 1880-1, Timothy Rees for 1882-3-4,
_______________________________________________
(delw 4160) (tudalen 116)
(x116) John S. Jones for 1887-8, Hugh H.
Edwards for 1889, 1890-1-2, and Robert S. Hughes since January lst, 1893.
In addition to those before mentioned the following Welshmen have been
appointed to offices by the state and United States authorities:
In July, 1873, Hugh H. Edwards was appointed mail agent and held the position
until August, 1886. In August, 1874, Thomas M. Pugh was appointed receiver of
the United States Land Office at Fargo, Dakota, which office he held for nine
years.
From July, 1885, to December, 1886, J. A. James was chief deputy grain
inspector and from December, 1886, to August lst, 1889, he was chief grain
inspector. In July, 1887, Joshua Wigley and Arthur N. James were appointed to
the state weighing department, and in September, 1887, Ed. H. Pugh was
appointed to the same office and Wm. E. Williams in November, 1891, In 1885
John F. Dackins was appointed mail clerk, and in 1883 Owen Pritchard was
appointed postmaster at Lake Crystal. John Bowen, at Courtland, and David Y.
Davis and Evan Lloyd, at Ottawa, have held the same office.
At the election of 1894, Job Lloyd was chosen state senator of Le Sueur county,
and J. N. Jones, representative from Redwood county. In Blue Earth county,
Peter Lloyd was re-elected treasurer, Daniel Bowen was chosen sheriff, and
Robert Roberts commissioner from the city of Mankato.
_______________________________________________
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0876 Gwefan Cymru-Catalonia / Wales-Catalonia Website.
The Welsh in Minnesota – an online version of
a book published in 1895 - "History of the Welsh in Minnesota,
Foreston and Lime Springs, Ia. Gathered by the Old Settlers. Edited by Revs.
Thos. E. Hughes and David Edwards, and Messrs. Hugh G. Roberts and Thomas Hughes"
Adolygiad
diweddaraf / Latest update: 25 09 2001
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0879
Gwefan Cymru-Catalonia / Wales-Catalonia Website. The Welsh in Minnesota – an
online version of a book published in
1895 - "History of the Welsh in Minnesota, Foreston and Lime Springs, Ia.
Gathered by the Old Settlers. Edited by Revs. Thos. E. Hughes and David
Edwards, and Messrs. Hugh G. Roberts and Thomas Hughes"
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