Pottowatamie
County, Iowa, 2
September 1849
Dear Brother Phillips,
It has been a good five months since I saw you in Liverpool, and I think that neither you nor I will ever
forget the day we took the last look at each other for a time. There are close
to 8,000 miles between men and the country of my birth at the present time; but
in spite of that, my mind can fly across the great deep like lightning,
frequently to gaze on the faces of my dear brothers and sisters who stayed back
there; but I am confident that before long I shall see many of them following
to this desirable country, so that I may speak to them face to face and rejoice
together in the Lord, in the same country, and under the same roof, as in
earlier days. But I dare not, at present, give vent to my feelings. I must be
about the work which links all the dear Saints in general. We, the Welsh, here
have divided into two groups; one group has gone ahead toward the plains of the
Salt Lake, that is, twenty-two wagons, under
the presidency of Bro. Jones; the other group is staying here for the purpose
of putting a Welsh settlement in the place. This will be to the advantage of
the monoglot Welsh who follow; for there will be
people of the same language and from the same country, and most likely many who
will know them and have been associated with each other many times, to welcome
them to this new country; for there are only English here for several hundreds
of miles, and we, a small handful of Welsh in their midst, brothers and sisters,
enjoying our freedom like the birds, with no one to say a word against us, but
all of them very friendly. I live in the house where Apostle George A. Smith
lived, and William Rowland, of Hirwaun, in the house
of Apostle Ezra T. Benson. Counting adults and children we number 113 in all, there
are more Welsh in this branch than there were in the Merthyr
branch when I was baptized; and I hope that it will stay at 113 until more come
from Wales, for I have no more room to accommodate any more, for the Saints are
covering the land; yet perhaps some will come from the worlds above. The Welsh
Saints here love each other, and some have married also. I shall not name them
now; you will yet year. We, the Welsh, have almost all our land adjoining; and
Brother Jones has purchased a land claim which is 150 or more acres, near our
lands, and has entrusted it to my care for a gift to the Welsh. We intend to
build a meetinghouse on it, as soon as we can; and I think that will not be
long, for the hard part of our work is over; our wheat harvest is past, all of
it under cover. I wish for you to remember me to the Saints in general. All the
Welsh Saints here greet you, and they would be delighted to see a shipload
coming across next spring. If they can get as much as £7 each, they can come
over here; and if they cannot go further, they will have in three years, or two
perhaps, enough oxen and cattle to go ahead. I am sure of this, for some in
this company who had not a penny when they landed here have cattle and sheep
now; in fact, I know of no family in this country who has not a cow or two. I
am in a hurry, and I end by wishing for the gracious Lord to bless you and your
family, and all the Saints who are under your care.
Yours,
William Morgan
P.S. Bro. Jones wishes for you to send Abel Evans with the
next company, if you can spare him. You shall hear from me again soon. I would
be glad to receive an answer to this letter and some information about my
sister Anne. Bro. Jones is improving in his health, and Sister Jones and the
child are quite well. Seven pounds I said would be enough for one to come over;
think of those who can spend £14, yes, £28 if they choose, with taking many
steps on the streets of Liverpool. And if one
or more will overspend their money, I hope that no one will blame me for saying
that £7 is enough. You shall
yet hear in greater detail concerning the prices of things on the
journey and the prices of the provisions which will be necessary. You can
expect that within a month, or earlier perhaps.
