PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARLY EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT.
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE PATAGONIAN WELSH.
SOUTH OF SALTCOATS.
most northerly settlers were nearest Saltcoats and the most southerly were
nearest to Dubuc or Stockholm on the Pheasant Hills Branch of the C. P.
R. The settlement was west and southwest of Kinbrae in townships 20
and 21 in range 2 and 3W. As the Big Cut Arm Creek cut them off from
Dubuc and Stockholm, and I being local member, I got them a couple of
bridges, and the majority made those points their market towns. Their
progress was slow at first, but they steadily persevered and they have
generally speaking done well. I may say that they are intensely British,
and every young man that was physically fit went overseas in the Great
war.
Later on the main line of the Grand Trunk Pacific went through the
heart of the settlement and the towns of Atwater and Bangor were es-
tablished. They have churches and schools and have many social gath-
erings, concerts and dances and give every appearance of being happy and
contented with their lot. A few returned to Patagonia, but the majority
sold their property there as conditions improved and invested it here in
fresh land, equipment, etc.
They are very athletic, and have an almost unbeatable football team
-in fact they have two or three teams. There is great rivalry among
themselves in the football teams, but they combine against outside op-
ponents.
I hired a young man named Michael Richards who was born in Pata-
gonia. He at that time could only speak Welsh and Spanish. Being na-
tive born he had to be smuggled out of Patagonia as he was liable to mili-
tary service. I never knew a more perfect horseman than Richards. He
could ride "anything with hair on". He soon learned English, and worked
for me for over two years, during which time his elder brother (they
were both bachelors) worked the two homesteads. I sold them a team,
the value of which Mike paid in work, and he gave me as good service
on the last day as on the first. The brother went back to Patagonia, but
Mike, now a family man, remained and now owns both sections and is a
prosperous farmer. Mr. Michael Richards is a fair type, and this being
so his success goes to show that the Welshmen are a really good and val-
uable class of settlers. I may add that I also leased them some cows on
shares as my little ranch on Stony Creek had been broken up by the ad-
vent of the Doukhobors, and I had very good satisfaction from all except
a couple of them. The colony extended from its original area as Welsh-
men from Wales and other places took up land alongside.
Bibliography follows:
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