HISTORY OF THE WELSH


Sharon Neenah and Peniel. This one has been much more itinerant tha
that of any of the other denominations. There is but one brother a
this denomination who has delivered as many as six sermons a month i
his home church for a long time. The arranging of ministers' appoini
ments is entrusted to the deacons, who have a system for filling pulpil
on a circuit by brethren of this locality and some of the other localitie
in the state. This method combines stability of pastorate with variety i.
the ministry.
     The following brethren have been church members among us:
     REV. THOMAS FOULKES.-To him belongs the priority, not only
in time but also in service. He was born June 16, 1818, the youngest son
of William and Elizabeth Foulkes, Ffynon-y-coll (Lost well), near Bont-
uchel (High-bridge), Denbighshire, Wales. His father was Evan Foulkes
Machynlleth. A multitude of good Methodist preachers have stemmed
from this remarkable stock. He married Maria, daughter of Edward and
Elizabeth Davies, in Corwen in 1843 (see 3, page 32). He came to
America in May, 1845, and settled in Remsen, Oneida County, N. Y. He
was a tailor by trade but he was accustomed to speak on temperance,
before coming from Wales. He was urged te begin preaching in 1846
and in 1847 he was called to preach to the Utica Church, N. Y. He
came to this Settlement in the summer of 1848 and settled on a farm o
Section 36, town of Utica. He was ordained in Oct., 1849, at a conven
tion in Columbus, Wis. He was called a second time to the Utica, N. Y.
Church in 1852, and was there until 1855, when he started for this place,
but he was persuaded to labor in the Racine Church from Oct. 7, 1855,
until May, 1857, where he did excellent work. He labored as shepherd
of Bethesda Church from this time until the end of 1879, when he moved
to Randolph, Wis. There in 1880 he married Mrs. Jane Williams and
one daughter was born to him, Eleanor, who is still with the widow in
Randolph. He died in assurance Jan. 15, 1892; and he was buried near
Bethesda Church.
     Mr. Foulkes was an unusual man. As to his body, he was well
formed and proportioned; his height average, but his head wide and
his countenance determined; his clothing and his carriage proper; his
voice beautiful and powerful, and his delivery clear. As to his mind,
though limited in knowledge, he was a good reasoner and a lecturer
of the first order. And as to his spirit he was full of the faith of the
Gospel, love of the truth and burning zeal of the ministry. He was in
the front rank of the ministers of the state and the denomination in Amer-
ica for over forty years. The moral and religious aspect of these counties
will be better for many generations because of this good man, and others
who labored with him to establish lofty principles in our midst. With
propriety there was put on his gravestone:
           "Milwr da i lesu Grist"
           (A good soldier of Jesus Christ).
     REV. JOHN E. WILLIAMS.-Here is another of the strong ones of the
ministry in the early period of these counties. He was born in "y Foel"
(the bald), a farm near Peniel Church, Llanrhaiadr county, Denbighshire,

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