Thought I'd repost my interests again.
Looking for any info or links to the family of Evan E. Davis ( Wales, c. 1845) and
Elizabeth Williams (Wales, c. 1846) and sons John (Wales, 1866) and Morgan (Wales,1872.)
The
family emmigrated to Palmyra, Portage County, Ohio about 1875 where
daughters Mary (1875), Ann (1877) and sons Tom (1880) were born. Another
son, Howard (1882) was born in Alliance, Stark County, Ohio. Evan was a coal miner and
died in Buena Vista, Colorado in
1895. I have been unable to locate a likely family in the 1871 census index on Ancestry.
One likely Evan and Elizabeth pair had the wrong ages and son John was missing.
The family may have originated around Caerphily where the first Welsh settlers in Palmyra
appear to have
originated. Welsh farmers arrived in this Western Reserve town in the 1850s and were
later joined by Welsh miners in the 1870s.
At one time the town had a substantial Welsh population. A Welsh Cemetery remains. I
understand that there were two coal mines in Palmyra in the 1870s: Merlin and Black
Diamond.
The family living immediately adjacent to the Davises in the 1880 census in
Palmyra, is a Welsh born coal miner William Willams (c.1846) and wife
Margaret (c.1852 also born in Wales) and Ohio born son David J (Ohio, c.1876),
Daughter Mary A (Ohio, 1878) and son Evan W. (Ohio, 1880). Also living with the family
is a border, Evan S. Davis (Wales, c.1857); he's also a coal miner. The families
clearly
emmigrated around the same time and although the names are extremely common,
a family bond seems highly likely particularly given the Williams connection and
immigrants usually follow family, friends and local folks.
I haven't been able to locate a suitable William Williams in subsequent US Censuses.
To the other side is a farmer, David C. Davis ( Wales, c.1821) and wife Hannah (Wales,
c.1820) and son Otis (Ohio, c.1856) and daughter Julie H. ( Ohio, c.1861)
If you have any connections to these families or to Welsh in Palmyra,
particularly in the 1870s and 1880s, I would love to hear from you.