THE MINISTRY


Wales, in the year 1816, a son of Edward and Margaret Williams. His
parents moved to the Garnedd-isaf (lower Garnedd) in the same com-
munity; and again to Waen-Segrwyd, where he married in 1840 and
dwelt until his emigration to America in the summer of 1850. He settled
on a farm called "y Garnedd," on Section 36, town of Utica, he
and his
wife, with his two children, and the old gentleman, his father. His wife
and childreni died immediately after his arrival; but his father lived for
a time longer. In the following year he married Hannah, daughter of Hugh
Roberts and sister of Rev. Thomas H. Roberts, Proscairon, Cambria, Wis.
There were born to them a family of children healthy in appearance:
Robert, a promising young man who started to preach, but who died;
Thomas, who married Dorothy, daughter of James Lloyd, but who died
Nov. 8, 1889, leaving his widow aiid children-John, Irwin and Maud, in
Sykeston, North Dakota; Edward, who was a student at Ripon College,
with his mind on the ministry, but who died Oct. 15, 1879; John C.,
married to Eleanor, daughter of W. H. Jones (61, page 57); Mary
Gwennie, married to Richard J. Jones (page 84), in Escanaba, Mich.,
with two desirable children; Margaret, who died as a girl before maturity;
and Hannah, who died as a tender young girl. "These all died in faith,"
and to them without doubt to die was gain. The two that remain, the
son and daughter, are kindly, virtuous and real religious people.
    Mr. Williams began preaching in 1852. He had been chosen a
deacon when about 21; and there was much talk in Wales about his
starting to preach. He became a member of the Synod (Gymanfa) in
1854 and was ordained by it in June, 1856, when the Rev. Griffith
Roberts spoke on the Nature of the Church and the Rev. Wm. J. Jones,
"Llanllyfni," gave the Charge. He visited Wales in 1870, to improve
his
health and to revive his spirit. He was troubled with inflammation of
the stomach and died Sept. 15, 1872, when 56 years old. The memorial
sermon for him was delivered by the Rev. Rees Evans on Heb. 2:4. His
wife died March 23, 1882, when 52 years old, a woman of able mind and
very faithful in the church.
    Mr. Williams had been brought up by a very religious mother and
had received more education than many of his contemporaries. A ser-
mon by the Rev. John Phillips, Bangor, affected his mind greatly, causing
him to dedicate himself body and soul to the Saviour. He fought a good
fight to keep this covenant to the end. He would have some wonder-
fully powerful services-though at other times less successful. He was
especially earnest and effective in prayer; and he was enjoyed by all
the saints in the religious fellowship gathering because of his extraor-
dinary personal experiences of the work of God's spirit. His sermon on
Ps. 50:5, "Gather my saints together unto me, that have made a cove-
nant with me by sacrifice" is still talked about. His last sermon, too,
despite his illness, was powerful-on Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth
his love toward us; in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
When he died it was felt that "a great prince and a great man in Israel"
had left us.
     REV. DAVID R. JONES.-There is a close relationship between this
brother and the beginning of Salem Church, Oshkosh. He is a son of


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