USA > Iowa > Howard County > Lime Springs > History of the Welsh in Minnesota, Foreston and Lime Springs, Ia. gathered by the old settlers > Part 18
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Dr. D. O. Thomas, MINNEAPOLIS.
Dr. John Williams, LAKE CRYSTAL.
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Dr. O. J. Evans, MINNEAPOLIS.
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Dr. E. J. Davis, MANKATO,
EMINENT WELSH PHYSICIANS OF MINNESOTA.
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and religious was honest and faithful. His children are Anna Jones, of Rockford. III .; Lizzie Davis, of St. Peter, Minn .; Ellen Evans, wife of John L. Evans, of Cambria, Minn., and Evan J. and John T. Davis of the same place.
DAVIS, DAVID Y .-- Born in Llanarth, Cardiganshire, Wales, in September, 1835. His parents were named John and Eliza- beth Davis. In 1841 he removed with his mother to Tredegar, Wales, and thence in June, 1851, to the United States-locat- ing first at Bridgeport, O., removing the following year to Pomeroy, O. He came to the present town of Cambria in July, 1855, and located on the claim he recently sold to Rev. Thomas E. Hughes. He returned to Ohio in September of that year, but came back to his claim the following April. He again returned to Ohio in 1858, where he remained until -the spring of 1860. August 18th, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany E, Ninth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers, and served with his regiment faithfully until the close of the war, tak- ing part in all its marches and battles. October 4th, 1869, he married Miss Susanna, daughter of David and Margaret Lloyd, of LeSueur County. In the spring of 1875 he rented his farm and moved to Amiret, Lyon County, where he was in the mercantile business for one and one-half years. He then removed to Ottawa, LeSueur County, where he continued in the mercantile business until the fall of 1888, when he retired from business and built a comfortable home in Mankato, where he now resides. Honest, conscientious, and of sound principles-a successful business man-a faithful and brave soldier and a kind and hospitable friend and neighbor, he is much respected by all. The children are Lizzie, Evan, Thomas, Maggie and Edwin.
DAVIS, DR. EDWARD JJ .- Third son of Edward and Jane Davis, was born at Pencraig, Towyn, Merionethshire, Wales, July 6th, 1839. When he was quite young his parents emi- grated to Marcy Township, Oneida County, N. Y., where they settled on a farm. They had six other children, all of whom, except one daughter, still survive, namely: William C., of Lake Crystal, Minn .: Owen II. and Lewis L., of Madelia, Minn .; Mrs. Charles Bennett and Mrs. William C. Durkee, of Mankato, Minn. When Edward was twelve years old his parents moved to the village of Whitesborow in the same county. He attended the village school for the next two years, when his father met severe financial reverses in his business of cattle buyer, and henceforth Edward
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had to rely on his own resources. The next six years he worked on farms during the summer and did chores for his board in winter while attending the village school and Whitestown Seminary. During 1860 and until the spring of 1862 he taught at the Wilson Institute, Wilson, Niag- ara County, N. Y. Judge A. W. Tourgee was his co-lab- orer and room-mate during first year. He then returned to Whitesborow and began to study medicine with Dr. Charles E. Smith, but October 9th, 1862, he enlisted as private in Com- pany D, One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Regiment. New York Volunteers, and was soon ordered to the front. After two months' service he was detailed assistant hospital stewart, and after the battle of Gettysburg was commissioned hospital stewart of the regiment. After the battle of Cold Harber in June, 1864, he was detailed chief steward of second division, fifth corps, field hospital. This position he held until March 2nd, 1865, when he was commissioned first lieutenant in his regiment, and re-mustered on that date as such and assigned to the command of Company C, which he held until disabled by wounds at the battle of Five Forks, Va., April 1st, 1865, when he was brevetted captain for gallant conduct at this bat- tle. Was mustered out with his regiment at Syracuse, N. Y., June 16th, 1865, and in the following September resumed his study of medicine and graduated M. D., from the Anthony Medical College, December 24th, 1867. Came to Mankato early in April, 1868, where he opened an office the following May and ever since has been in active practice. His kinfolks had already come west except his father, who was accidentally drowned in the spring of 1867. His mother lived to the ripe age of eigty-three and died at her daughter's home in Man- kato. June 30th, 1870, he married Miss Chrissie Thompson, of Wilmington, Ill. Three children have blessed their union, two of whom are living, a son and a daughter. He was ap- pointed United States examining surgeon of pensions in 1869, and served continuously until 1893. He was a member of the state board of health for fifteen years. Was present and helped organize the State Medical Society in February, 1869, being an active contributing member ever since, and in 1885 was chosen its president. Was a charter member of the Min- nesota Valley Medical Society, of which, also, he has since been an active working member, and one year was honored with its presidency. Has served five years on the Mankato board of education ; and since 1872 has been elder of the
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Presbyterian church of Mankato, and has always been prom- inent in all the work of the church and Sabbath school.
DAVIS, EVAN-Born in 1826, at Llangwrle, Cardiganshire, Wales. Ilis parents were Daniel and Sarah Davis. He re- ceived a fair common school education. At the age of 24 years he married Miss Catharine Davis, daughter of Harod Ilir, Llanbadar Fach of the same shire, a sister of Rev. David Davis, Bethania. A year after their marriage they emigrated to Jackson county, Ohio, and thence in May, 1856, moved with the Jackson colony to the Welsh settlement of Blue Earth county, locating in Judson, where he died in 1885. Genial, kind-hearted, hospitable and ever ready to extend a helping hand he was much beloved by all his acquaintance. The widow and the youngest son, John E., still reside on the old homestead. The other children are Elizabeth, wife of R. S. Pritchard, Mary, wife of David J. Williams, Benjamin E., Daniel E., Katie, wife of David E. Bowen, and Evan E.
DAVIS, EVAN J .- Born at Nant-y-Gwrdu Llanarth Cardi- ganshire, Wales, in May, 1819. At the age of seventeen he united with the Congregational church at Pen Cae under Dr. Phillips, of Neuadd-lwyd. He went to work in the coal mines of Sirhowy in 1840. Married Miss Ann Thomas, daughter of John Thomas ( Founder ) in 1847. The following year, 1848. he emigrated to America, locating for a short time at Sugar Creek, Pa., thence going to Bridgeport, O., where.in 1852 his wife died. Shortly after his wife's death he removed to Min- ersville, O. There he assisted in the organization of the first Congregational church at that place and was elected its first deacon. In October, 1855, he removed to Blue Earth County, Minn., and located on a claim in the present town of Cambria. There he took a very prominent part in the carly history of the community and held a number of the local offices. On his arrival in Minnesota he first united with the Congregational church, whose place of worship was then in Judson, but owing to the fact that this was six miles away from his claim, while the Calvinistic Methodist church of Horeb was situate on the corner of his farm, he determined to unite with Horeb, espec- ially since the Congregational church had suspended for a short time, owing to a little discord that had arisen. He was very highly esteemed by his Calvinistic brethren and had he consented would have been made an elder. March 31st, 1860, he married Miss Ann Evans, daughter of Edward and Ann Evans, then of LeSueur County. January, 1862. he was ap-
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pointed postmaster at Butternut Valley. He enlisted in Com- pany E, Ninth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers, in August, 1862. Served for about a year in the Sioux campaign and then his regiment was ordered south-first to Missouri and then in May, 1864, to Mississippi. At the battle of Guntown, June 10th, 1864, he was made a prisoner and taken to An- dersonville prison, where he died October 15th, 1864. He was a man of strong political, moral and religious convictions, and was always honest, earnest and fearless in their defense, yet he was primarily a man of peace, kind, generous, conciliatory. A sincerely good man of excellent judgment and sound prin- ciples, he was highly respected and dearly loved by all who knew him.
DAVIES, JOHN E .- Born at Nefyn, Pembrokeshire, Wales, July 26th, 1795. Married Miss Dinah Lewis, of Llandilo, in 1822. They emigrated to Utica, N. Y., in 1839, and thence to Big Rock, III. In June, 1855, they came to Blue Earth County, Minn., and located at the present town of Cambria, being the first white settlers of that town. Prior to his ar- rival there had been no religious organization of any kind formed west of South Bend, but the very first Sunday after he came, Mr. Davies organized a Sunday school at the cabin of Humphrey Jones in the western part of Judson, and was made its first superintendent. He also was mainly instru- mental in forming a prayer meeting, in addition to the Sun- day school, and in organizing this religious nucleus into a Congregational church in the following October ( This church is now known as Salem Congregational church ). Mr. Dav- ies was made one of its first deacons, which office he held until his death, which occurred at Cambria May 26th, 1867. He was a man of much religious faith and fervor and was al- ways energetic in applying them to practical deeds. In hos- pitality le and his good wife excelled. The latch string of their cabin door always hung out to welcome strangers and rarely a day passed in those early years but it was pulled by someone. There is hardly a pioneer in the settlement who, when he first came, a stranger in quest of a home, did not dine and lodge at the cabin of " Shon Davidd." His wife. Dinah Davies, was born at Llandegefyn, Pembrokeshire, Wales, October 17th, 1801, and died at Cambria February 7th, 1879. A good Christian woman, kindhearted and generous, never so happy as when iministering to others. Their chil- dren are William E. Davies, Sarah, wife of William R. Lewis,
John. P. Davis.
Mrs. John P. Davis.
D. H. Evans.
Mrs. D. H. Evans.
PROMINENT WELSH PEOPLE OF TRACY, MINN.
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of Lake Crystal, and Elizabeth, wife of Richard Jones, of Cami- bria, Minn.
DAVIS, JOHN 1 .- (loan Idris ), born at Bala Merionethshire, Wales, in 1821. Son of John Davis, bookbinder and stationer. He was educated at the grammar school of Dolgellau and af- terwards apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade with his uncle, " Meurig Ebrill." The Welsh bards " Meurig Idris" and " Idris Fychan" took much interest in him, and taught him bardic composition until he became well versed in the twenty-four Welsh measures. The fair promise of youth ma- tured in him to make an able and useful man. Emigrated to Utica, N. Y., when twenty-one years old. Ile was soon chosen elder of the C. M. church, and two of his co-ellers were Revs. D. F. Jones and R. F. Jones. At Utica he married Miss . Owens. Removed to and resided for some time at Cambria, Wis., and came with his family to Judson, Minn., in 1868. Here his wife died May 16th, 1882, and he also died January 13th, 1889. HJis loss was felt in many circlesand especially in the Sabbath school. He was a fine Welsh poet and many of his compositions yet remain, which it is hoped will be gath- ered together and published. The following is a specimen of his work, from his poem, I'Ddafad Golledig :
". I'm galw daw Mugeilydd, -er niuliau 'R anialwch fe'm cenfydd: Ior ydyw fy Ngwaredydd. Yn y farn fy Nuw a fydd.
DAVIS, JOHN P .- Born in July, 1838, on the Atlantic Ocean, when his parents, David P. and Jane Davis, were emigrating from Cardiganshire, Wales, to Jackson County, O. Received a good common school education and removed with his par- ents to Blue Earth County, Minn., 1856, with the Jackson col- ony, and located in the present town of Cambria. In 1862 joined the state militia to protect the frontier against the Sioux, and in December, 1863 enlisted in Company E, Second Minnesota Cavalry, wherein he served until close of the war 1865. In 1866 he married Catherine, danghter of David and Margaret Lloyd, of Sharon, LeSueur County, and operated his farm in Cambria until 1873, when he removed to New Ulm and engaged in the mercantile business. After two years he removed to Tracy, Minn., and continued in the mercantile business there until 1888, when he sold out and became presi- dent and stockholder of the " Commerce Bank" of Tracy. In
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1892 he removed temporarily to Hamline to give his children the benefit of the university there. Mr. Davis still conducts a loan and real estate office at Tracy. His business ventures have been very successful so he need not fear a rainy day. Politically he is an aggressive prohibitionist. In religion he and Mrs. Davis are faithful members of the First Presbyterian church of Tracy, of which Mr. Davis is an active ruling elder. Their children are Margaret Ella, wife of Neil Finch, of Tracy ; John Edgar, Jayne and David Edwin.
DAVIES, JOHN S .- Son of the late Rev. David Davies, born in Cardiganshire, Wales, August 12th, 1831. He came to America with his parents in the year 1837, settling in Jackson County, Ohio. At the age of seventeen he began to teach in the common schools, which occupation he followed with fair success for about eight years. In 1856 he, with his parents, brothers and sister, removed to Minnesota, with the Jackson colony, and located on farms in the present town of Cambria, where he has resided most of the time ever since. In 1860 he married Miss Mary, daughter of the late Thomas J. Jones, of LeSucur County. There remains today as the fruit of this union seven sons and two daughters, viz : D. Charles, J. Mil- ton, Peter W., D. Alvin, J. Eliner, P. Osborne, HI. Lester, El- len M .. and M. Edith. Mr. Davies was elected deacon of Zion church in the year 1878 ; he has now for many years been a member and deacon of Horeb church in the town of Cambria, and has also for years led the congregational singing in said church with fidelity and acceptance.
DAVIS, LEWIS-Born on the banks of the river Rheidol, parish of Llanbadarn Fawr, Cardiganshire, Wales, January 1, 1832. Married Ann, daughter of John and Catherine Jen- kins, Penrhyn Coch, in February, 1859. Removed to Rhos- llanerchrugog, Denhighshire, in 1865. Emigrated to Calumet, Mich., in June, 1870, and worked four years in copper mines of Lake Superior and vicinity. His wife died March 4, 1874, at Calumet. In the year 1875 he removed to Judson, Minn., where he located on his present valuable farm. The fine residence shown in engraving was built in 1892, and is located on the farm of his bachelor brother, David Davis, who was born at the same place in Wales in 1830, and came to Judson in 1870 and lives with Lewis. Lewis has been a faithful member of the Salem C. M. church since he came to Judson, and in 1882 was made a ruling eller. His children are: John C., Cath- erine, wife of Evan Pugh; Elizabeth, widow of John R. Jones;
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Sarah J., wife of Robert H. Owens; David and Lewis, all of Blue Earth county, and Mamie, of, Hillsdale, Mich.
DAVIS, OWEN-Born at Havodglas Gwyryfon, Cardigan- shire, Wales, January, 1822. Son of Evan and Gwen Davis. Emigrated to Jackson County, O., in 1838, where he married Miss Margaret Hughes, daughter of John Hughes, of Oak Hill, O. In 1857 he removed to Cleveland Township, LeSueur County, Minn., where he located on the farm now occupied by the family. During the Indian outbreak his home was the gathering place of the neighborhood. June 2d, 1865, he was mustered into Company E, Fourth Minnesota Volunteers. He died January 7th, 1893, leaving surviving his wife and four children, Evan, John and Elizabeth and Mrs. David Rees Lloyd. In life he was always of robust health, energetic and industrious. Ile had a genial, contented and hospitable dispo- sition, and was honest and upright in his dealings.
DAVIES, Ph. D., REV. PETER S. - Fourth son of Rev. David Davis, late of Cambria, Minn. Born at farm called "Bryn Awen," Cardiganshire, Wales. When a child emi- grated with the family to Bloomfield Township, Jackson County, O. At seventeen he began teaching school in winter and attending the acadamies of Pine Grove and Albany and Ohio University at Athens, O. In 1857 entered the classical course at Marrietta College and graduated A. B. in 1861, taking fourth honor in the class, and was one of the four chosen members of the Phi-Beta-Kappa Society. Graduated in 1864 from Lane Theological Semenary, Ohio, and became pastor of the " South Side " Presbyterian church of Pittsburgh, Pa., where he was ordained the same year by the Pittsburg Presbytery (N. S. ). During his pastorate of eight years the church became self- sustaining and built a house of worship costing $40,000. Dur- ing this time he was an active member of " Board of Missions for Freedmen " from its organization until he left Pittsburg. His next pastorate, which also lasted eight years, was over the Presbyterian church of Pomeroy. O. HIe and his estimable wife took an active part in the "Ohio Temperance Crusade " of that period, his wife being the leader of the crusade in Pomeroy, while he frequently lectured in the streets and also edited and published at his own expense a temperance paper called " The Shining Light." This was during the period when the W. C. T. U. was born. In 1880 he resigned his
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Pomeroy church to take charge of a weak mission in Midland City, Mich. Of his work there we quote ;
"The five years which Mr. Davies has spent in Midland have been marked by great progress in the Presbyterian church. For some years previous to Octo- ber, ISSo, the church had had no pastor. The building had been destroyed by fire and no definite steps had been taken toward rebuilding. The number of members was twenty-eight, and it was a missionary church. Now it is self- sustaining and with a membership of 150. In 1883 a handsome brick church was erected at a cost of about $6,000, and was paid for belore dedication, ex- cept a small debt upon the furniture. For two yaars previous to the comple- tion of the building, services were held in Beardsley Hall most of the time, a portion of the time in the Stranahan building. While connected with the Mid- land church, Mr. Davies has done a good deal of work outside, having organ- ized five churches in neighboring towns and counties, the last of which was at Coleman, as recently mentioned in this paper .- Midland Republican,
In 1886, to obtain a change of climate for his failing health, Mr. Davies accepted the position of Presbyterial missionary to the Aberdeen Presbytery, Dakota, and in two years he helped to organize fifteen new Presbyterian churches. He then sup- plied Groton church for a time and was secretary of trustees of Groton college during his stay. He next became pastor of the Presbyterian church of Missouri Valley, Ia., where during his stay of three and a half years, the church doubled its mem- bership, became self-sustaining and made extensive repairs on its house of worship. After a short time at Menlo, Ia., he ac- cepted a call to Mandan, N. D., in the summer of 1894. In 1889 he received the degree of Ph. D. from Bellevue College of the University of Omaha. He married Miss Melinda E. Wil- liams, of Cincinnati, O., in 1866.
DAVIES, REV. RICHARD-Born at Llanwaddelan, Llan- ullugan parish, Montgomeryshire, Wales, January 1st, 1804. His parents were named Richard and Mary Davies. Married, in Montgomeryshire in 1835, Miss Jane Herbert, sister of the late Owen Herbert, of Blue Earth County. Emigrated to Jack- son County, O., in spring of 1837. There he began preaching in 1840 with the Calvinistic Methodist churches. In April, 1842, he went on a trip through Wisconsin to inspect that, then new country. He reached Racine about June 1, and find- ing a few Welsh families located on farins about 4 or 5 miles south of the village, he preached to them and about the last of June or first of July he organized fifteen of these people into a church and then returned to his home in Ohio. In the fall of 1843 he removed to Racine, Wis., where he lived until 1852, when he went to La Crosse, Wis. fle was ordained April 16, 1854, at Racine, Wis., by a Congregational council.
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In July, 1855, he came to South Bend, Minn., and there on August 1, 1855, organized a Union church, to which he min- istered for some time. June 24, 1856, he organized Saron church of Le Sueur county. July 2, 1856, he also organized the Calvinistic Methodist church of Horeb, in the present town of Cambria, Minn. In October of this year, while he was away at La Crosse on a business visit, his house at South Bend was burned, and his wife in attempting to save a few things perished in the flames. He had just started a mill at South Bend at the time, but this sad catastrophy so com- pletely upset him and, added to his rather poor business ability, caused this business venture to fail, and the financial embar- rassments that followed harrassed him thereafter for many years. In the spring of 1858 he married Miss Ellen Williams. of Milwaukee, Wis,, and moved his residence to Sharon, Le Sueur County, where he remained until the summer of 1862, when he located on a claim in the Crow River country. The Indian outbreak soon followed and he and his wife Bled back to LeSueur County and abandoned their claim forever. Mr. Davies had a very narrow escape from the savages at this time. After the first scare he with a few neighbors ventured back to their homes, from Henderson, whence they had fled. to look after their stock and to gather provisions for the win- ter. Suddenly one morning a band of Indians made a raid upon them and killed a number of Mr. Davies' nearest neigh- bors and made hot pursuit after him, but in passing over a ridge he got out of their sight for a few moments and im- proved these in hiding in a slough, where he lay until dark and then made his way to Henderson. As soon as the Indian trouble was over he located on a farm near Blue Earth City and in 1874 moved to Mankato, where July 24, 1887, he died at a good age, leaving him surviving his devoted wife. Dur- ing most of his ministerial career he was in the employ of the Home Missionary Society of the Congregational and Presby- terian churches. He also ministered for the Calvanistic Meth- odists for some time. He preached the first Welsh sermon in Minnesota and probably west of the Mississippi. It is claimed that he also preached the first Welsh sermon in Wis- consin and Illinois. The many flourishing churches which he organized attest that the labors of this worthy pioneer of pio- neers were not in vain in the Lord.
DAVIS, THOMAS Y .- Born at Rhyd-y-Fydde, Llanarth, Cardiganshire, January 21st, 1830. When about ten years old
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moved to Tredegar, Glammorganshire, whence he emigrated to America, landing in New York June 18th, 1851. Settled first at Wheeling, W. Va., then at Pomeroy, O., and from there in April, 1855, he came to Blue Earth County, Minn., being one of the first eight Welsh settlers in the present town of Judson. After residing a short time on his claim in Jud- son he removed to the present town of Cambria. During the Indian massacre of 1862 he went to the defense of New Uhn and there joined Capt. Bierbauer's company and took part in the last battle. He was also a member of all the militia com- panies of his town during those days of Indian terror. April 29th, 1865, he was married to Miss Mary Davis, daughter of Rev, David Davis. His wife died March 3d, 1871. On Ang- ust 26th, 1879, he married again, his second wife being Miss Margaret Barrett. In the spring of 1889 he sold his farm in Cambria and removed to Mankato, where he still resides. HIe has but one child, Mrs. Mary Y. Dackins, wife of John F. Dackins, of Mankato, Minn.
DAVIS, WILLIAM-Born May 3rd, 1847, at Glan Llyn Pen- mon Anglesea, Wales. He was the son of John and Jane Davis. Worked at carpenter trade in Liverpool and Manches- ter for four years, thence emigrated to America in spring of 1868, locating for one year at Chicago. Thence came to Wi- nona, Minn., where he was employed in the Chicago & North- western railway shops for four years. At Winona he learned photography, and in April, 1874, came to Mankato and opened a photographer's gallery, which he has conducted very success- fully up to the present time. September, 1869, married Miss Ann Pritchard, of Lake Emily, Wis. They have been blessed with three children, Mary J., now Mrs. M. HI, Perry, of St. Peter, Llewelyn and Charlotte.
DAVIS, SR., WILLIAM W .- Born at Rhiwlas, Llantihan- gel, Montgomeryshire, Wales, January 23d, 1829. His par- ents were William and Alice Davis. Ilis ancestors on his father's side had resided at Rhiwlas over 400 years. He was one of nine children, all of whom with his parents emigrated to Racine, Wis., in 1848. He married Ellen, daughter of John and Elizabeth Baxter at Racine May 9th, 1848, and on April 21st, 1858, removed to South Bend, Minn., where he engaged in the mercantile business. Removed to Mankato about 1865 and was in business there for a few years, and then about 1881 returned to South Bend, where he has been in the mercantile business ever since. He has also been postmaster for a num-
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