Places

Places

This section of the website traces the history of some of the Welsh communities in Ohio from the period when the first community in Paddy's Run was established. Many Welsh people settled in agricultural areas such as Radnor, Gomer and Newark and thousands of people from Cardiganshire poured to Jackson and Gallia Counties. Others were drawn to the cities - Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland - and of course industrial areas such as Trumbull and Mahoning had their distinctive allure as well. It is estimated that there were more than 11,000 Welsh settlers in Ohio at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The time line shows when some of the most prominent Welsh settlements were established.

For more information about the communities, click on the counties on the map:

Created using elements of the map which appears on the Ohio Memory

website, courtesy of The Ohio Historical Society.

General bibliography: Ohio State

Printed Material

B. W. Chidlaw, Yr American: yr hwn sydd yn cynnwys nodau ar daith o Ddyffryn Ohio i Gymru, golwg ar dalaeth Ohio, hanes sefydliadau Cymreig yn America, cyfarwyddiadau i ymofynwyr cyn y daith, ar y daith, ac yn y wlad (Llanfair, 1839)
(Only available in Welsh)

Edward G. Hartmann, Americans From Wales (Trucksville, 2001)

Edward Jones, Y Teithiwr Americanaidd neu, Gyfarwyddyd i symudwyr o Gymru i'r America : yn cynnwys enwau y lleoedd, dysgrifiad o wyneb y ddaiar, hinsawdd, cynnyrch, anifeiliaid, adeiladau, cyfleusderau, cyflogau, crefydd, &c. yn y taleithiau lle y preswylia y Cymry; hefyd, hyd y teithiau i'r gwahanol leoedd a chyfarwyddiadau ar hyd-ddynt (Aberystwyth, 1837)
(Only available in Welsh)

Anne Kelly Knowles, Calvinists incorporated: Welsh immigrants on Ohio's industrial frontier (Chicago, 1997)

R. D. Thomas, Hanes Cymry America (Utica, 1872). [Translated by Phillips G. Davies]
The state of Ohio is described in Chapter 5.

William Harvey Jones, 'Welsh Settlements in Ohio', (in three parts) The Cambrian, Vol. XXVII, No, 7 (pp. 311-17); No. 8 (pp. 344-50); No. 9 (pp. 395-9) (July-September 1907).

Ohio Counties / Welsh Settlements (in alphabetical order)

Allen County: Gomer

Digitized materials

Gomer's First 150 Years (Vol. I), The Allen County Reporter, Volume No. XXIX, 1983, No. 2; Volume No. XXIX, 1983, No. 3

United Church of Christ, Gomer, Ohio: 150th Anniversary 1839 -1989

NLW 14111D: Letters of Edward Peat and family (Welsh; some translations available)

Angela Bennett, 'Josiah Brynmair', Bwletin Cymdeithas Emynau Cymru 2 (1985/86), pp.248-9.

The Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, 'The First Funeral in Gomer, O.', The Cambrian, Vol. II, No. 6 (November/December 1882), pp. 271-72.

W. Meirion Davies, 'Josiah Brynmair a'i Emynyddiaeth', Y Cenhadwr Americanaidd, Vol. LVIII (1897), pp. 77-80.

Anon, 'Reminiscences of the Welsh Settlement of Gomer and Vicinity, Allen Co., O.', The Cambrian, Vol. III No. 2 (Mar/Apr 1883), pp. 71-2.

T. H. J., 'Another Pioneer Gone', The Cambrian, Vol. XIV, No. 3 (March 1894), p.96.

Josiah Jones, 'Beginning and Growth of the Welsh Congregational Church, Gomer, O.', The Cambrian, Vol. III, No. 4, pp. 183-5; No. 5, pp. 234-6.

Josiah Jones, 'The First Church in the Village of Gomer (Ohio)', The Cambrian, Vol. XVIII, No. 10 (October 1908), pp. 439-44.

D. Densil Morgan, 'Y daith i fro Joseia', Barn 345 (1991), pp. 13-5.

R. Gwylfa Roberts, 'Josiah Brynmair - Emynydd Anfarwol', Y Dysgedydd (August 1914), pp. 363-73.

See bibliography on the Gomer page for more references.

Butler County: Paddy's Run

Digitized materials

NLW Microfilm 401-02: Register / Minute Books of Paddy's Run Welsh Congregational Church, Shandon, Ohio, 1803-1900 (English) >>

Notes on the Welsh settlement of Paddy's Run:

NLW 9521A: America: neu Amrywiaeth o Nodiadau am yr Unol Daleithiau; Buddiol i Ymfudwyr. by Iorthryn Gwynedd. Ysgrifennwyd ganddo ar ei Deithiau yn Efrog, Ohio a Pennsylvania, o Mai 1851 hyd Mai 1852(America or a variety of remarks about the United States; Beneficial for Emigrants. By Iorthryn Gwynedd. Written by him on his Journeys in York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, from May 1851 until May 1852) (Only available in Welsh)

NLW 13196D: J. M. Howel 8. Letters to 'S.R.' including:
Letter dated 18 November 1840 by William Bebb from Hamilton (English);
Letter dated 28 February 1848 by the Rev. B. W. Chidlaw - includes a note by the Rev. Samuel Roberts that a group of 30 people will be leaving Llanbryn-mair for America (English);
Letter dated 2 July 1841 by the Rev. B. W. Chidlaw noting the death of his wife and other deaths in Paddy's Run (Only available in Welsh);
Letter dated 20 September 1841 by the Rev. B. W. Chidlaw from Paddy's Run (English).

The Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, 'Historical Sketch of Paddy's Run, Butler County, O', (in two parts), The Cambrian, Vol. I, No. 2 (March/April 1880), pp. 39-45; Vol. I, No. 3 (May/June 1880), pp. 73-81.

The Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, 'The Welsh Pioneers in the Miami Valley', The Cambrian, Vol. IV, No. 9 (September 1884), pp. 248-251.

The Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, 'Paddy's Run Congregational Church (Butler County, Ohio)', The Cambrian, Vol. II, No. 6 (November/December 1882), pp. 265-268.

W. H. Irwin and Rev. S. D. Crothers, Centennial Historical Sketches of Greenfield and Vicinity, July 4, 1876 (Greenfield : Ohio, 1876), contains 'An Historical Sketch of Paddy's Run, Butler County, Ohio' by Rev. B. W. Chidlaw.

The Welsh settlement of Paddy's Run is described in:
William Harvey Jones, 'Welsh Settlements in Ohio', (in three parts) The Cambrian, Vol. XXVII, No. 7 (pp. 311-17); No. 8 (pp. 344-50); No. 9 (pp. 395-9) (July-September 1907).

Clare Taylor, Paddy's Run: A Welsh Community in Ohio [part of a lecture given to the History Society of U.C. Swansea, on Tuesday, November 6th, 1979] (Aberystwyth : the author, 1979).

Clare Taylor, 'Paddy's Run, a Welsh Settlement in Ohio', Welsh History Review, XI, No. 3 (June 1983), pp.302 - 316.

Stephen Riggs Williams, The Saga of the Paddy's Run (Oxford : Ohio, 1945)

See bibliography on the Butler County page for more references.

Cuyahoga County: Cleveland

Digitized materials

NLW 6426D: Letters from emigrants &c
Two letters, dated 24 July and 25 December 1879, by T. Evans, Cleveland to his family in Llanwenog Parish. (Only available in Welsh)

See bibliography on the Cuyahoga County page for more references.

Delaware County

Digitized materials

NLW 16704E: Letter dated 17 June 1846 by Gryffith Thomas, Delaware, to Thomas Evans, Llanfynydd (Only available in Welsh)

CMA 22300 - Letter dated 23 January 1864 by Rowland Price, Radnor, Delaware County, to his brothers and sister (Only available in Welsh)

CMA 22301 - Letter dated 23 December 1865 by Rowland Price, Radnor, Delaware County, to his brothers and sister (Only available in Welsh)

The Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, 'Radnor Township, Delaware Co., O.', The Cambrian, Vol. I, No. 5, pp. 173-181

The Welsh settlement of Radnor, Delaware County is described in:
William Harvey Jones, 'Welsh Settlements in Ohio', (in three parts) The Cambrian, Vol. XXVII, No. 7 (pp. 311-17); No. 8 (pp. 344-50); No. 9 (pp. 395-9) (July-September 1907)

See bibliography on the Delaware County page for more references.

Franklin County: Columbus

Digitized materials

L. D. Davies, Some Facts with Reference to the Welsh of Columbus, Ohio, From its earliest times up to 1860 (Ysgrifennwyd by L. D. Davies ar gyfer Eisteddfod Gŵyl Ddewi, 1910) (English) >>

The Welsh Singing Society of Columbus, Ohio
The Twelfth Annual Gymanfa Ganu (23 October 1960)

Program (English) >>

The Welsh Singing Society of Columbus, Ohio
The 32nd Annual Gymanfa Ganu (19 October 1980)

Program (English) >>

Gwledd Gŵyl Dewi Saint, Columbus, Ohio (26 Hydref 1983)

Program (English) >>

Rev. Daniel Jenkins Williams, The Welsh of Columbus, Ohio (Oshkosh, 1913)

See bibliography on the Franklin County page for more references.

Hamilton County: Cincinnati

Digitized materials

NLW 19331E: The letters of John and Hugh Pugh from Liverpool, Cincinnati, Columbus and Portsmouth (1843 - 1852) (Welsh) >>

NLW 20995: The letters of Jack Edwards, Cincinnati (1880 - 1887) (English and Welsh) >>

The Saga of the Welsh Congregational Church, Lawrence Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1840-1952 (English) >>

See bibliography on the Hamilton County page for more references.

Jackson and Gallia counties

Digitized materials

Evan E. Davis, Industrial History, Oak Hill (Portsmouth, 1973)

Evan E. Davis (ed.), Our Heritage: early history of Tyn Rhos Welsh Congregational Church and its neighborhood (1979)

William R. Evans, Hanes Sefydliadau Cymreig Siroedd Jackson a Gallia, O. (Utica, 1896). Translated by Phillips G. Davies, History of Welsh Settlements in Jackson and Gallia Counties, O., edited by Lillian Thomas Brownfield.

Virgil H. Evans, The Family Tree of John Jones (Tirbach), elder or Patriarch of the Welsh Settlement of Jackson and Gallia (Columbus, 1929)

NLW 16704E: Letter dated 5 March 1851 by Jenkin T. Jenkins, Centerville, to Daniel Jenkins, Gwaryfelin, Llangwyryfon, Cardiganshire.
(Only available in Welsh)

NLW 11614E: Letter dated 20 September 1855 by Martha James, Raccoon, Sir Gallia, to David Thomas, Felin Wern, Llanina (near Llanarth), Ceredigion.
(Only available in Welsh)

NLW 23512E: Letters of Margaret Mostyn Jones. 7 letters written in English, sent to her family in Llanasa, north Wales, while resident in Oak Hill (1890-4).

David Greenslade Archive:

The Rev. Vincent Jones, The Saga of The Central South Welsh Congregational Association and Y Gymanfa (1840 - 1954)

Nebo Congregational Church - 111 Years: The Ninety- Ninth Welsh Gymanfa of The Central South East Ohio Association of The United Church of Christ
Nebo (1971)

Program (English) >>

The One Hundredth Anniversary of the Welsh Gymanfa: The Annual Conference
Tyn Rhos and Nebo (1972)

Program (English) >>

The One Hundred Third Gymanfa: The Annual Conference
Welsh-American Heritage Museum, Oak Hill (1975)

Program (English) >>

The One Hundred Ninth Gymanfa: The Annual Conference
Welsh-American Heritage Museum, Oak Hill (1981)

Program (English) >>

The One Hundred Tenth Gymanfa: The Annual Conference
Tyn Rhos (1982)

Program (English) >>

Oak Hill, Ohio - Now 1976 and Then 1876

Leaflet prepared by the Oak Hill Area Bicentennial Committee >>

Welsh-American Heritage Museum, Oak Hill, leaflet (1972) >>

Welsh-American Heritage Museum, Oak Hill, leaflet (1974) >>

Welsh-American Heritage Museum, Oak Hill, leaflet (1981) >>

"Gŵyl Dewi Sant Gwledd", Oak Hill (3 March 1980)

Program (English) >>

"Gŵyl Dewi Sant Gwledd", Oak Hill (6 March 1982)

Program (English) >>

"Gŵyl Dewi Sant Gwledd", Oak Hill (5 February 1983)

Program (English) >>

Eisteddfod Program of the Jackson City Schools, Jackson, Ohio (1983) >>

Licking County

Digitized materials

CMA 22312 - Letter dated 12 March 1866 by William H Breese, Newark, to his uncle (English; last part in Welsh)

CMA 22313 - Letter dated 30 May 1867 by William H Breese, Granville, to Mr Owen Prys, Aberystwyth (English)

CMA 4 (B) 22331 - Letter dated 4 February 1870 by John M. Jones, Saron, Welsh Hills, Newark (Only available in Welsh)

Isaac Smucker, History of the Welsh settlements in Licking County, Ohio: the characteristics of our Welsh pioneers--their church history with biographical sketches of our leading Welshmen (Newark, 1869)

Isaac Smucker, 'Historical Sketch of the Welsh Hills, Licking County, O.', (in two parts) The Cambrian, Vol. I, No. 2 (March/Ebrill), pp. 46-53; No. 3 (Mai/June 1880), pp. 81-6

The Welsh settlements of Licking County are described in:
William Harvey Jones, 'Welsh Settlements in Ohio', (in three parts) The Cambrian, Vol. XXVII, No. 7 (pp. 311-17); No. 8 (pp. 344-50); No. 9 (pp. 395-9) (July-September 1907)

See bibliography on the Licking County page for more references.

Lawrence County

J. L. Abrams, 'The Welsh People of Ironton, Lawrence Co., O.', The Cambrian, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Mai/June 1880), pp. 86-90.

Mahoning County

Digitized materials

NLW 21578E: The Register of the Welsh Pioneers of Mahoning Valley and their descendants (1898-1922) (English and Welsh)

NLW 21577E: The Minute Book of the Welsh Pioneers Association of the counties of Trumbull and Mahoning, Ohio (1895-1905) (Welsh; English newspaper cuttings)

1776 - Bi-Centennial - 1976 Gymanfa Ganu Program
Youngstown [?]

Program (English) >>

Mahoning County page >>

Meigs County

Digitized materials

Acrefair Papers - letters by Hannah Morgan, Coalport, Meigs County and the Rev. John Williams, Pomeroy, Meigs County

Meigs County page>>

Portage County

Letter from Job Davies to John Davies, Seren Gomer (1831) (Only available in Welsh)

John S. Williams, 'Amrywiaeth: Adgofion o Daith trwy Ohio, &c' (in three parts), Y Cyfaill o'r Hen Wlad (1840), pp.103 - 105; pp. 139 - 141; pp. 167 - 168.

Portage County page >>

Trumbull County

Digitized materials

NLW 21578E: The Register of the Welsh Pioneers of Mahoning Valley and their descendants (1898-1922) (English and Welsh)

NLW 21577E: The Minute Book of the Welsh Pioneers Association of the counties of Trumbull and Mahoning, Ohio (1895-1905) (Welsh; English newspaper cuttings)

NLW 5631B (Harris Williams 28.) Miscellanea - 3 letters sent by Evan M. Williams, from Mineral Ridge in 1872. (English and Welsh)

See bibliography on the Trumbull County page for more references.

Van Wert County

Digitized materials

NLW 6174D: Frondirion 21 - letters from emigrants to the U.S.A
Letter dated 10 October 1850 to Griffith Owen, Vaner, Llanelltyd, Dolgellau, E. W. Evans and others in the Dolgellau region by William and Margaret Bebb. (Welsh; translation available).

The Annual Gymanfa Ganu: Salem Presbyterian Church
Venedocia (1984)

Program (English) >>

Gymanfa Ganu keeps heritage alive [Venedocia]

Newspaper cutting (English) >>

The Rev. J. P. Morgan, 'Early History of the Welsh Settlement in Van Wert County, Ohio', The Cambrian Vol. II, No. 1 (January/February 1882), pp. 1-5

R. Jervis, 'Adgofion am Ddechreuad Preswyliad y Cymry yn Venedocia, Van Wert Co., Ohio', Y Cyfaill (1894), pp.286-7 and pp.365-6

Van Wert County page>>

Top of page