I feel like a gold prospector who has just found a nugget the size of an egg!
A person commented on the article Texan North-bound. Interestingly, he wasn’t from Lime Springs but from Wales!!! (His comment was approved and is now “attached” to that article.)
I couldn’t let the opportunity pass, so sent him a return email. I told him a bit about Lime Springs and asked why he was interested in our little town. His response was quite interesting, so I’m posting it here:
Hi there, Keith,
I’m up late doing some work and I’ve just logged on before hitting the sack….and here you are! And a Williams to boot!!
I’ll keep this email brief for tonight but I will be more than happy to send you stuff every now and then if you’d like me to.
My interest in Lime Springs came from my link with a great-great-grandfather who emigrated to the States in 1883. His intention was for his wife and two young girls to join him after he’d found work, but he was shot and killed accidently just as he’d sent for his family to come join him. The family therefore stayed in Wales. He’s buried in Middle Granville, NY.
Since a few years now I’ve been into things Welsh-American and collect all sorts of stuff about my nation over the pond! I came across an old postcard of a big Welsh chapel in Lime Springs a while back, but my main treasure from there was the acquiring of an old book in a second-hand bookshop over here half in Welsh and half in English about the Welsh folk of Minnesota and Foreston and Lime Springs, Iowa. It was
written around 1890 I think. It’s a great book. I enjoying dipping into it every now and then. I’ve translated many things for Welsh-Americans too. Rubbings off gravestones, letters and even whole chapel record books. I can’t get enough of things like this…..though my partner thinks it’s just clutter!I’ve researched a lot into Welsh-America and often read old Welsh periodicals of days gone by and have MANY obituaries in Welsh of the folk of Lime Springs. They’re surprisingly detailed and say where they came from in Wales.
If I can help in any way….just let me know.
I am a native of Pentrefoelas which is smack in the middle of North Wales. I am a North Walian through and through.By now I live in a place called Flint which is right on the north-east corner of Wales.
Until later and greetings from the old country!
Iwan (Hughes)
See why I was excited? I responded to the above and told him that I was from Foreston and that the chapel to which he referred may have been the Foreston Church, which was on what I know as the Dan Reis farm.
It’ll be interesting to see what comes of this relationship, won’t it!