Page 24 - Ninnau Jan-Feb 2021

My Welsh relatives as 19th century American Settlers:

The Horse Doctor

By Dr. Wendy Williams, to emigrate and set sail from
M.D (Wales) Liverpool, on the ship Batavia,
to Queenstown and then New
My first cousin twice York, arriving on 13th
removed was David Benjamin November 1871, during the sec-
Morgan (1864–1930), son of ond wave of Welsh emigration.
Daniel and Hannah Morgan of, Pennsylvania beckoned and the
Bettws in Carmarthenshire, word spread that “lands were
South Wales. The Morgan fami- cheap, taxes light, clear from
ly emigrated to America in oppression as to Tythes and
1871, with David going on to church rates, and most religious
become an eminent American men, of good report in their own
veterinarian known as “The country. Supplies of food could
Horse Doctor.” be secured settlers in adjoining
Initially he traveled around townships, notably the old
the country with a large wagon countrymen...could give liberal
and two white horses at the aid, without money and without
front. He mounted the skeleton price. To have failed in this
of his beloved horse Prince after would have made them unwor-
it died on his wagon. His aim thy of the name of Welshmen.”
was to travel widely and edu- The Welsh were among the
cate settlers and cowboys about thousands of immigrants who
one of their greatest assets, the crossed the Mississippi to settle farm but returned to Wales to
horse. Treating these noble in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, begin his studies as a veterinari-
beasts when sick; prolonging Kansas, Nebraska and the an in the early 1880s, accompa-
their fitness and improving their Dakotas. In addition, Ohio cities nied by his mother. Sadly,
lives. and towns were particularly Hannah died, aged 51 in March
David settled in Neosho, popular destinations. As of 1892. Her funeral held at the
becoming a respected member 2010, more than 126,000 Welsh Congregational Church
of his local community, and Ohioans are of Welsh descent. and she was buried at Osage “The Twentieth Century Horse Unfortunately the grief was
associated with the Freemasons The Morgans lived there for City Cemetery. Book. Method of Handling and all too much to bear for his wife
and had membership of the Daniel remarried within the Education (sic) the Horse” pub- (then 55) who a few days later
IOOF. He was a member of the year to a widowed Welsh lady lished by Fayetteville, Arkansas travelled to Joplin, where she
State Veterinary Board. with two small children. He (Copy Library of Congress). committed suicide at the grand
David Benjamin’s father, became a naturalised U.S. citi- David is recorded as having Connor Hotel by slitting her
Daniel Thomas Morgan (my zen that year and continued practised in Greene county wrists and throat before jump-
great-grandmother’s brother) alternating between farming and before relocating to Neosho. By ing out of the window to the
was born in 1835 at mining to support his family. 1905, he moved to Neosho and street 90 ft below. She was
Brynhynydd farm, Daniel died at home on 15th after a few years setting up a buried next to her husband.
th
Carmarthenshire. In 19 centu- March 1916, aged 80 years. His permanent Veterinary practice (see:1/15/20 Article, Herald
ry South Wales coal and metal obituary in the Osage City Free at 121 West Spring St. In 1914 Leader Siloam Springs by Dr.
industries became the major Press, dated 23rd March 1916, he married a local woman Devin Houston.
employers in areas of once mentions his birthplace, Maggie Wright and they were a Both of Daniel’s sons (David
mainly agricultural communi- Brynhynydd and describes him devoted couple. In1930 follow- and Henry) maintained links
ties. By the 1870s many local as “one of the earliest pioneers ing a call to a sick animal David with the family’s Welsh farm-
men were permanently making of this city.” His funeral took B. Morgan died suddenly of a ing origins by becoming veteri-
the change from farming to place on the 19th of March at heart attack, aged 66. Hundreds nary surgeons and, despite
mining. Advertisements in the the Welsh Congregational attended his funeral. immigration to a new land, the
press about the benefits to Church. Only his son, Dr. David “They were very philan- family apparently remained part
Welshmen of exploiting their B. Morgan of Neosho, Missouri, thropic to the community and of a strong Welsh community.
industrial or farming expertise and daughter, Mrs Sarah Edsell well-known throughout Acknowledgements:
in America lured many. Mining of San Francisco were unable to Southwestern Missouri for their Kansas State Historical
hardship was often at the centre come. At his funeral a “choir support of social causes. They Rina Callingham, U.K.
of working-class discontent in four years, leaving in 1876 for composed of Welsh singers ren- were instrumental in public Ref: Rev R. D. Thomas’s
South Wales and many men Superior Township Osage dered several appropriate selec- enterprises and in building the Hanes Cymry America (A
wanted better. County, Kansas, where Daniel tions.” community. Dr. Morgan held History of the Welsh in
The Morgans family decided was a miner. David worked on a David meanwhile travelled various public positions and America) pub 1872
widely in Europe and America. was president of the Newton-
Studying much to establish his McDonald County Harvest Further Reading:
expertise and reputation as a Show Association for many Please check out my website
veterinary practitioner. He grad- years. “Once the automobile about my great-grandfather,
uated from the Veterinary became popular, Morgan Prof James Williams (Ap
College of Toronto and became more involved in care Valant), uncle to David B.
McKillip Veterinary College, of livestock and domestic ani- Morgan. He was a Welsh Bard
Chicago. mals,” noted his obituary and Phrenologist.
By 1891 he felt sufficiently (1930). www.apvalant.info
proficient to write a book with
the long title of “New system
for educating the horse; Giving
causes and symptoms of dis-
eases, with valuable receipts,
medical treatment, etc., together Tramor
with chapters on ... dogs and
sheep, giving diseases and Welsh-American
remedies” (sic), published by Acoustic Project
the Democrat Steam Print
Arvonia School; photo from Kansas Historical Society House. Followed in 1902 by

Church Directory

Dewi Sant Eglwys y Cymry Bryn Seion Welsh Church,
Welsh United Church The Welsh Congregation of the est. 1884
City of New York
33 Melrose Avenue 22132 S. Kamrath Rd,
Toronto, Canada 236 West 73rd Street Beavercreek, Oregon 97004 Solo performer
Tel: 416-485-7583 New York, NY 10023

Welsh pipes, harp, flutes,
Rev. Dr. Matthew P. Harrington
English Service - 11 am, every Bilingual Services Non-denominational bilingual ser- whistles and voice Sioni Dda

Sunday vices held every Storyteller, poet, lecturer
Second Sunday of the month at 3 pm John Good
Welsh Service - 7 pm Exception is May, third Sunday second and fourth Sundays of the Welsh teacher & translator
(First Sunday of the month, Sept. to CROESO - WELCOME month at 11:00 am
June) Director of Cymanfaoedd
Information: 212-664-0734 followed by potluck lunch
CROESO / WELCOME www.welshchurch.nyc
Gymanfa Ganu - fourth Sunday in potelobop@hotmail.com www.tramormusic.com
June
602-509-5223 www.youtube.com/TramorMusic
®
Page 24 NINNAU - The North American Welsh Newspaper January-February 2021