New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-11-15
ANNIVERSARY DRAWS CROWD
Welsh Congregationalists Hold
Successful Meeting.
Many People From Surrounding
Cities Were Present.
Henry Hughes of Mankato Re-
counts Early Struggles.

The surprisingly beautiful weather
which has waited upon the people Of
the Welsh Congregational church dur
ing their fftieth anniversary, was
largely the cause of the excellence of
the attendance that has been manifest
ed in the three days covering the time
of the ceremonies of the rededication
and anniversary.
There were people there from this
city and from Mankato and St. Peter
as we'll as from the entire country sur
rounding the settlement. A large num-
Der of ministers of the denomation
were present to take part in the cere-
monies, and the days we're filed with
rich things for those who are interest
ed in the work for which the church
was established.
Principal among the events of the
days was the paper read by Mr..
Hughes Of Mankato recounting the
early struggles of the pioneers in the
church movement and the buffeting of
the storms that be beat against the
frail bark as they attempted to keep it
floating until it should reach smooth
waters. Among the things he included
in the paper the following is interest
ing to all:
On the 14th day of October, 1855, this
church was organized by Rev. Jenkin
Jenkins then of Big Rock, ILL.,, who
was here on a visit to the new Welsh
settlement. The organization took
place at the log cabin of John Wat
kins which stood on the edge of the
timber near the northwest corner of the
town of Judson. Il.
There were thirteen charter members,
namely: John E. Davis and wife, David
T. Davis and wife, David Williams
(Bradford) and wife, and their daugh-
ter, Hannah, William G. Williams and
Owen Roberts. j.. ~
I think this church was the fifth Con.
gregational church organized in Mime,
Esota; certainly it was the first Welsh
Congregational church organized ir
the state.
The first sixteen years QS55-1S7l
were years Of great struggle with this
church. It's very existence often being
in the balance; as it's path was bese
with many difficulties and disappoint
ments.
The first rock on which the newly
launched church struck was that of in
ternal dissension, due to that sin com
mon in new communities of claimjump
ing. This came near making a com
plete wreck of the hoI eful little church
Another difficulty was the scattered
condition of it's members. The terri
tory it covered extending for a dis
lance of six to seven miles, and yer,
few people in those early days ha(
any cOnveyances whatever, except on
teams, and there were no roads. (
portion of the church were located OF
the north side Of the Minnesota rive
in Nicollet county, and they couls
only cross in canoes. Another Difficult
ty was the want of suitable clothin!
which greatly interferred with the ser
vices during the long, cold winters 0
those pioneer days. The thin clothin!
which the settlers had brought witt
them from southern Ohio, Illinois an,
Pennsylvania were not at all adapted
TO the rigOrS Of Minnesota winter
The men without overcoats had t,
muffie themselves in an Indian blanke
or in a wife's shawl, and Indian moe
casins did service instead of the thin
low cut shoes.