Page 25 - Ninnau Jan-Feb 2021

“Like all honest men”: George U. Jones of Wymore, Nebraska, 1842-1904

Research from the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project

By Robert Humphries have been impossible for him to two terms in 1897 and 1899.
take an occupation more conge- Like many Welsh Americans at
Among the notable Welsh nial to his thinking, because he the time, he was a member of
immigrants to the Great Plains was a son of nature—as much the Republican party. The
who leap from the pages of Y as he was a bard by tempera- Nebraska Legislative Year Book
Drych we can surely count ment.” of 1897 noted that Jones had
George Ulysses Jones. Well- As in Pennsylvania, served “on the committees on
known throughout Nebraska George U. Jones became a insane hospitals, and telegraph,
and beyond, Jones became a pillar of the Wymore and telephone and electric lights.”
spokesperson for the Welsh Blue Springs community. On November 13, 1904,
community in Blue Springs and He helped build the Bethel Jones died at his home at the
Wymore, and was a frequent Welsh Calvinistic Methodist age of 62 after some years of
contributor to Y Drych at the church and served as its sec- poor health. Laid to rest at the
end of the nineteenth century, retary and as a trustee. He Bethel Welsh cemetery, he had,
providing vivid accounts of also continued to nurture his in Rev. Miles’ words, “a prince-
local events colored by his own talents as a poet and won ly burial, one of the largest
commentary, as well as a num- two chairs at local eisteddfo- funerals ever seen in the neigh-
ber of poems worthy of his rep- dau. An attendee at the 1886 borhood.” Annie Jones outlived
utation as a bard and llenor Blue Springs Eisteddfod her husband by almost 19 years,
(man of letters). Already a wrote to Y Drych: passing away in 1923. Upon her
leader in his community, he was “The committee offered a death, it was noted that
eventually elected to represent it chair as a prize for the best “through storm and fair weath-
in the Nebraska State pryddest under 100 lines on er,” the couple had “persisted
Legislature. ‘Daniel in the Lions’ Den.’ until they achieved status and
George U. Jones was born in Five compositions were honor.”
1842 in the village of Cymau, received; and in the evening Rev. Miles eulogized Jones as
near Wrexham, and it is proba- meeting the victorious bard, one who “always did everything
bly from the nearby River Alyn Mr. George U. Jones (Ymyl with all his energy. He was a
that he derived his bardic name Alun), was chaired with the very decided man. He was not a
of Ymyl Alun (By the Alyn). A customary pomp. Seeing a reed that swayed with the wind,
cousin of the famous dramatist bard chaired was something and you would find him always
Twm O’r Nant, he had by his new to the majority of where you had left him.”
own account “good schooling,” Welsh people in the commu- Another succinct summary of
but after a doctor recommended nity, and there was the great- his life and reputation comes
working outdoors would be bet- est interest in it.” from a visitor to Wymore in
ter for his health than pursuing a 1898 who described the
career as a clerk in Liverpool, George U. Jones A number of Ymyl Alun’s “Honorable George U. Jones”
George trained as a stonemason. poems appeared in the pages of as a “man of note in the district.
In 1865 he married Annie Americans looked upon me as a Welsh settlers near the new Y Drych over the last decades of Apart from being a poet, Ymyl
Cooper, an orphan from Flint, leader,” he later wrote, “and we town of Wymore in Gage his life, ranging from medita- Alun is also a skilled and bright
and shortly thereafter their first made sure the Welsh got their County, Neb.,—on former tions on nature to commentary politician … Like all honest
two children were born to them citizenship papers.” Indian reservation lands recent- on war and heartfelt verses of men, he has done his job well.”
in Cymau. In 1869 the couple However, unrest in the ly sold by the Otoe tribe under mourning. Jones also sent lively Sources
decided to emigrate to the Pennsylvania coalmines pressure from settlers, land articles about local people and Articles from Y Drych, trans-
United States. George sailed for unnerved George and Annie. “I speculators and local officials. events to the Welsh-language lated by the author and the late
America first, reuniting with had had enough of strikes and George and Annie purchased newspaper. He continued to fol- Martha Davies: “Cymry
Annie and the children the fol- troubles centering on the coal land of their own to farm, per- low news from Wales about Nebraska,” January 21, 1886;
lowing year. After a short time mines,” George wrote, adding haps achieving a goal they had politics and poetics, comment- “Ardal Wymore, Nebraska,”
in Ohio, the young family set- that he had armed himself while set before leaving Wales. ing on controversies at the November 24, 1898; “Y
tled down at Shenandoah, opposing strikes led by the Within the following two eisteddfodau, and took at least Diweddar Ymyl Alun,”
Pennsylvania. Irish-American “Molly decades, their 80-acre farm- one trip home to Wales to visit December 1, 1904; “Yr Anrh.
In Shenandoah, George Maguires.” In 1879 the couple stead, where they would raise family and friends. George U. Jones,” December 8,
immersed himself in the Welsh decided to leave Shenandoah the rest of their ten children, Although he claimed to have 1904; “Y Diweddar Mrs.
community, becoming a trustee and move further west. grew to 320 acres. As Rev. been “elected to every office in George U. Jones, Wymore,
of the Calvinistic Methodist After staying briefly in Thomas Miles of Wymore the township,” the culmination Nebr.,” October 18, 1923.
Church. He also became active Racine, Wisconsin, they soon wrote in his obituary, Jones of Jones’s political career came Nebraska Legislative Year
in politics and was elected to made their way to join other “fell in love with Nebraska and with his election to the Book, 1897 (Lincoln, Nebraska,
the city council. “The English began to farm here. It would Nebraska State Legislature for 1897), 125-126.
Powell Brothers—Celebrated Stockmen

By W. Arvon Roberts three brothers, they established imported Shetland ponies, and the sons continued the busi-
what was beyond question the Holstein cattle, selected from ness on a larger scale, a position
Shadeland is situated Spring largest and most important fine the very top herds of Holland, held for over 30 years.
Township, Crawford County, purebred stock farm in the with the determination of estab- James L. Powell, in the
Pennsylvania, one mile north of world at the time, and by far lishing the best herd in capacity of buyer and salesman,
Springboro, and was the home then the largest and most impor- Shadeland in America. They became an extensive traveler,
and birthplace of the Powell tant business in imported and had more than 100 head of visiting every state and territory.
Brothers. Howell Powell (1804– home-bred, pure blood stock of mature driving horses, brood In company with his brother,
1873), born in Utica, New any single firm in the world. mares and stallions, and the William B. and he had also
York, father of the stockmen, The Powell brothers very best trotting horses. Their made a tour of Europe, and a
originally owned and occupied embarked in the nursery stock noted sires included Alex- visit to Alaska. He was a mem-
from 300 to 400 acres of excel- business in 1860 to 1865, and ander’s Abdaliah, Almont, ber of all the leading livestock
lent land, and beautifully situat- according to their native charac- Ericsson, Thorndale and associations in America, often
ed in and along both sides of the teristics and ability, they pushed Volunteer. honoured with important offices
Conneaut Creek Valley, and the business to a successful ter- James Linter Powell (1842– in the organizations, especially
there was no finer estate in mination. Forty men and horses 1909) was born in the home- as an exhibition judge in horse
Western Pennsylvania. were brought into requisition stead in which he spent his life. and cattle shows. He was a
The firm consisted of three and great sales with good profits He was the youngest son of director in the Bank of
brothers, all of whom were born was the result. During the Civil Howell Powell (1804–1873) Conneautville, and a member of
on the farm where they after- War they had an extensive busi- and Sarah Beatty (1807–1896), the board of directors of the
wards resided, and their lifetime ness that they could not well his grandparents settling on the Conneaut Lake Harvest Home
was spent in one neighborhood drop. Though loyal to the core, from 100 to 200 head, accord- old homestead in 1816, Watkin Assoc. He had literary tastes
and locality where they were they were among the first to ing to the season. It was a grand Powell II (1773-1850) born in and found time to write an occa-
highly honoured by all who answer the call. show, and undoubtedly the best Breconshire, South Wales, and sional poem. He died suddenly
knew them from childhood, and Finally, in 1864, they went that could be shown anywhere Rebecca Adams (1759–1814). at the homestead, aged 66, on
where their grand success and into the livestock business with in America or elsewhere at the On the death of their father, the his way from the house to his
national reputation was pointed their motto, ‘Excelsior.’ Time time. Imagine seeing lot after firm of Powell Brothers was office, when he fell on ice,
to with pride by all the inhabi- after time they crossed the lot led out, two-year-olds, three- formed, with Watkin G. Powell striking his head heavily. He
tants of the township and coun- stormy seas and throughout year-olds, and monstrous aged (1836–1910), William Beatty had never married. Interment
ty. They were gentlemen of Europe seeking to obtain the stallions and mares, in numbers Powell (1839–1913) and James took place in the family lot in
intelligence and refinement, and best stock. Their unflinching that nearly wearied one to look Lintner Powell as its members. Springboro Cemetery.
all had the advantage of extend- tenacity of purpose, their untir- at, a number of them weighing The father had been a progres-
ed travel, both in America and ing perseverance, justly entitled over 2,000 pounds, but all in sive farmer and raiser of stock
abroad. them to the fame and the nation- perfect breeding condition and
A natural taste for business, al reputation that they later pos- showing wonderful action, full
cultivated by many years of sessed, the peer of any stock- of life and vigour and combin- You can now renew your

extensive experiences, ample men on the continent. ing in the most perfect form all subscription online:
financial means, high business Among the leading feature of the superior points of the model
ability and unlimited enterprise, their establishment were the draft horse. www.ninnau.com
with seemingly all the desirable imported Clydesdale horses, of Other interesting features
qualifications combined in the which they usually kept on hand among the Powell stock were

January-February 2021 NINNAU Page 25