MR. JAMES OWEN, REMSEN, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

FOUNDER OF THE FIRST WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODIST CHURCH IN AMERICA.

Mr. James Owen, by reason of his superior intellectual power and force of character, was one of the most prominent and active men among the early Welsh settlers in Remsen and vicinity.

He was born on October 18th, 1780, his parents being Owen and Jeanette Roberts of Pwll Defaid, Aberdaron, and afterward of Bodwyddog, Rhiw, Lleyn, Carnarvonshire, North Wales. His parents being in comfortable circumstances, he received an excellent early education and training. Having attended the best schools near his home he was then sent to Liverpool to complete his education. Through his superior intellectual powers and these early advantages he was better qualified than most of his contemporaries for the duties of life.

He commenced his religious career also in his boyhood. Experiencing deep religious impressions before being nine years of age, he united with the C. M. Church at Pen-y-caerau, Wales, where, some years afterward, he was elected to serve as secretary and deacon.

He was married, November 30th, 1798, to Anne Griffiths, Pen-y-caerau, Wales. Nine children were born in the family, two of whom died early, two remained in Wales, and five came to America. His first wife having died in 1812, he was married a second time in 1816, to Jane Jones, the Pandy, Aberdaron, and soon afterward, in 1818, he emigrated with his family to America.

A few Welsh people had settled in Steuben, September 3rd, 1795. In 1797 these were joined by several other families. In 1801 their number was again increased by several others settling among them. This year was marked, also, by the preaching of the first Welsh sermon in Steuben by Rev. James Harries, a Baptist minister, the meeting being held in a private house.

During these early years religious meetings for reading of Scripture and prayer were held in private houses without any organized religious society. Sometime before May 12th, 1802, however, it seems that a union church was formed under the title, "The First Methodist Society of Steuben." A log chapel for worship was erected in December 1804, which being very soon burnt down, was succeeded in 1805 by a frame building, and in 1820 a stone church was built, which stands to the present time.

Rev. John G. Roberts, ordained 1802, and rev. William Pierce, ordained 1807, ministered to this church in its early years. The Baptist members withdrew and formed a separate organisation in 1806, but the Methodists and Congregationalists continued together in the same church for some years after. When or how this union church became distinctively Congregational does not appear very clearly. The change was probably effected gradually by the complexion and relative proportion of its membership until finally the name was changed by act of the Legislature, April 18, 1829.

However, it was with this church that Mr. James Owen and his family became united on arriving in this country in 1818, and it was here he continued to be an active and faithful member until March 21st, 1826, when James Owen, Hugh Owen, David Anthony, Mr. Benjamin Davies, a lay preacher, and twenty others, peacefully left the Steuben church to form a church distinctively according to the rules and practices of the Methodist denomination in Wales. Some kind of religious society had been formed before, on February 26th, 1824, under the title of the First Remsen Welsh Whitfield Methodist Society, and a church edifice had been built previously in 1824, at Pen-y-caerau, chiefly through the efforts of Mr. Owen and his friends. In this were held the Sabbath school and prayer meetings and other services in view of the rapidly increasing Welsh population in its vicinity, although all, as yet, held their membership and communed at the Steuben church.

At the above date, however, a separate church was organized, which was the first distinctively Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church in America. Among those who were prominent in this new movement was Rev. Benjamin Davies, who had emigrated to America from Risca, Monmouthshire, South Wales. After staying some time in New York he came to Steuben about the beginning of August, 1825, and united with the church where he was immediately licensed to preach among them. Leaving Steuben for Pen-y-caerau, with the others in 1826, he was ordained in the same year, being the first Calvinistic Methodist Minister ordained by the denomination in America.

After labouring faithfully in the Gospel ministry for many years, he died June 26th, 1836, at the early age of 34 years, and was buried at Pen-y-caerau, where it is intended shortly to erect a handsome monument in commemoration of his services,and of the great movement which is associated with the church in the place.

Soon after organizing this small at Pen-y-caerau, other churches began to spring up in Oneida county and throughout the country, swhich continued to minister to the spiritual wants of a large number of our Welsh American people. During these years Mr. James Owen's abilities, character and experience had advanced him into a prominent and honorable position in the esteem of his countrymen. Though his aid and counsel and influence were frequently sought and freely given in matters od social and political importance, yet it was the religious work of the church of Christ that mostly enlisted his interest and sympathies. His services and influences as an honored and experianced elder were very great, both in the parent church at Pen-y-caerau and among the other churches in Oneida county.

During his married life in Wales his home was always throen open to the ministers who came to preach in the district. He thus had become acquainted and familiar with many of the most noted ministers of the time, such as Revs. John Elias, Richard Lloyd, John Roberts, Thomas Charles, Bala, Ebenezer Morris and others, all of whom had been staying at his home; and it was through his influence that Revs. Moses Parry and Henry Rees visited this country in 1839, a visit which proved a great blessing to the churches throughout the country.

He was a great reader, a patron of Welsh literature, and kept himself thoroughly informed on the questions of the day. He took a lively interest in the Bible and missionary societies. He was also an active and leading member of the temperance society whose principles he frequently advocated with great force in public meetings. He was also one of the strongest supporters, if not, also, the founder of the Sabbath school among the early settlers. All these societies were then new institutions which encountered much opposition. But it is to his lasting honor that through all the hardships of pioneer times, he exerted his great influence arising from his personal integrity and piety, and fron superior abilities and experience in behalf of the church and Sabbath school, and also, of the Bible, the missionary and temperance societies.

He died suddenly, stricken with paralysis, July 27th, 1853, and was buried with great honor at Pen-y-caerau, August 1st, Revs. Dr. Rowlands, Morris Roberts and John Hughes, taking part in the services.

He left a large family of sons and daughters of whom we may mention Messrs. William J. Owen and Hezekiah Owen and Mrs. Roberts, Remsen; Mr. Josiah Owen, Steuben; Mrs. Pritchard, Pen-y-caerau; Mr. Obadiah Owen, St. Louis; John Owen, Chicago; some of whom, also, after long lives of usefullness and devotion, have now passed away and gone to their Heavenly home.

We add the following hymn, which was the favorite one of Mr. James Owen, and which not being in the usual hymn books may prove interesting to many as being characteristic of the man :

"Am wirionedd boed fy llafur,
Am wirionedd boed y llef,
Ni saif dim yn lle gwirionedd
O flaen ei orsedd ryfedd ef;
Gwir wrth fyw a gwir wrth farw,
Sydd drysor mwy na fedd y byd,
Arglwydd tirion, o'th drugaredd,
Rho wirionedd i ni i gyd."

The Cambrian National Monthly Magazine of Welsh American People 1888.