DAVIES, DANIEL (1840 - 1916), cashier to the Ocean Collieries at Ton, Ystrad, Glamorganshire

Eldest son of David Davies, bootmaker, Tregaron, generally known as David Davies, Camer-fach, a noted elder at the Bwlchgwynt (C.M.) chapel. His mother was Mary, daughter of David Jones, Dolau Bach, one of the most celebrated of elders at Llangeitho. He was born in the spring of 1840 at Tan-yr-odyn, Tregaron, and brought up in a house on Doldre. Educated at a school kept by Morgan Morgan, Pen-y-graig, he practised the excellent calligraphy which was a distinguishing feature of pupils of that school. He kept school for a time at Gorsneuadd above Tregaron and afterwards travelled in tea over a large area in Cardiganshire, Brecknock, and Carmarthenshire for John Lewis (Ioan Mynyw). He moved to Dowlais in 1862, and at the end of 1865 to the Rhondda, where he spent the remainder of his life as cashier to the Ocean Company. He was universally known as ' Daniel Davies, cashier, Ton,' until his death on 30 September and burial at Treorchy 5 October 1916. He took an active part in the life of Jerusalem C.M. church, Ton, from its foundation; he was elected elder in 1876 and was one of the church's leaders until he lost his hearing about 1895. His generosity, and his fondness of animals and birds, were proverbial. He used to send a truck of coal to his friends at Tregaron every winter, earmarking tons for distribution among the poor of the town.

He contributed largely to the Welsh periodical press, particularly to Calvinistic Methodist papers and to Y Brython, 1861-3, Y Geninen, and Cymru (O.M.E.), on the topography and local history of Cardiganshire and Glamorgan, on religious life, biography, and literary associations. He published the following pamphlets: Dewi Sant (an essay) (Carmarthen, 1863); Ymddiddan yn Nhy Capel y Cwm (Treherbert, n.d.); Darllen y Beibl yn yr Ysgolion Dyddiol (with J. D. Thomas) (Ystrad Rhondda, 1890); Y Parch. Daniel Rowland, Llangeitho, a Diwygwyr Methodistaidd ereill … Amddiffyniad (Treorchy, 1906); he edited the sermons of Islwyn (William Thomas, 1832 - 1878), and wrote a biographical note at the beginning of Gwaith Barddonol Islwyn (O. M. Edwards), 1897. Sir Owen M. Edwards stated that Islwyn's works could never have been published in collected form but for the co-operation of Daniel Davies. The correspondence which he received from a large number of ministers and writers of his period is preserved at N.L.W.

Author

• Evan David Jones, (1903 - 1987)

Sources

• NLW Archives: NLW MS 3191-8C
• Calvinistic Methodist Archives in the National Library of Wales, 862-3369
• biographical articles in Cymru (O.M.E.)
• and Y Geninen, 1917

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20732769

Published date: 1959

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