Amongst these pages you will find many of the names, dates and places featured  in "History of the Oshkosh Welsh Settlement", originally written in Welsh by  Reverend David Davies, M.A., D.D. (pub. 1897), and later translated to English  by his son, Reverend Howell D. Davies, D.D. (pub. 1947).

 

"History of the Oshkosh Welsh Settlement" delves into how the first Welsh  settlers came to be in Wisconsin, stopping first in Waukesha County, then  later in Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties beginning in 1846.  It also gives  us a glimpse into the everyday life of these settlers, touching on the  geography and agriculture of the settlement itself, as well as their Sabbath  meetings, various societies, conventions, the schools and churches, and most  importantly, I feel, the people themselves.  Author Rev. David Davies looks  deeply into the families, giving particular attention to detail.  He lists as  many family members as possible, including children and the people they later  married.  In addition, Rev. Davies includes mention of family members who had  perished during their voyage to the settlement, their burial locations, and  even those who only stayed a short time and decided to press on westward to  Minnesota, the Dakota Territory and beyond.

 

I have used this book as my source point in conjunction with the outstanding  collection of microfilmed newspapers at the Oshkosh Public Library to find  obituaries, as well as HeritageQuest.com to obtain census images.  I have only  begun to piece together the true genealogical history of this highly- accomplished community.

 

Check back often for updates.  Please feel free to offer corrections and  additions to any data found within.

 

Chad E. Goodrich

 

* Photos posted with the expressed permission and support of Frances Higgins- Kent, great-granddaughter of Rev. David Davies, author