Owen Rees Davies immigrated to the United States from Wales, arriving at Castle Garden in New York on 25 Jul 1887 aboard the SS City of Montreal. From there, they travelled to Chicago where Bertha's brother and sister already lived. Owen was the only one of his family to come to the US - the rest remained in Wales.
As a young man, Owen served a seven year apprenticeship under Sailmaker John Hutchins. The last year was to be spent at sea and he left port on a coal hauler named the Wallace. The ship sank in September 1876 near Java Head (Indonesia) and the crew had to swim to shore. They lived at a coffee plantation for about six weeks until a British freighter picked them up and took them back to Wales.
After immigrating to the US, he worked in Chicago making sails for ships on the Great Lakes and later in Kansas City and again in Chicago making tents, most notably for William Cody's Wild West Show and for P. T. Barnum's circus. His son William Daniel Davies noted that Owen spent his entire career from age 15 on working with canvas.
As a young man, Owen served a seven year apprenticeship under Sailmaker John Hutchins. The last year was to be spent at sea and he left port on a coal hauler named the Wallace. The ship sank in September 1876 near Java Head (Indonesia) and the crew had to swim to shore. They lived at a coffee plantation for about six weeks until a British freighter picked them up and took them back to Wales.
After immigrating to the US, he worked in Chicago making sails for ships on the Great Lakes and later in Kansas City and again in Chicago making tents, most notably for William Cody's Wild West Show and for P. T. Barnum's circus. His son William Daniel Davies noted that Owen spent his entire career from age 15 on working with canvas.
Owen Rees Davies immigrated to the United States from Wales, arriving at Castle Garden in New York on 25 Jul 1887 aboard the SS City of Montreal. From there, they travelled to Chicago where Bertha's brother and sister already lived. Owen was the only one of his family to come to the US - the rest remained in Wales.
As a young man, Owen served a seven year apprenticeship under Sailmaker John Hutchins. The last year was to be spent at sea and he left port on a coal hauler named the Wallace. The ship sank in September 1876 near Java Head (Indonesia) and the crew had to swim to shore. They lived at a coffee plantation for about six weeks until a British freighter picked them up and took them back to Wales.
After immigrating to the US, he worked in Chicago making sails for ships on the Great Lakes and later in Kansas City and again in Chicago making tents, most notably for William Cody's Wild West Show and for P. T. Barnum's circus. His son William Daniel Davies noted that Owen spent his entire career from age 15 on working with canvas.
As a young man, Owen served a seven year apprenticeship under Sailmaker John Hutchins. The last year was to be spent at sea and he left port on a coal hauler named the Wallace. The ship sank in September 1876 near Java Head (Indonesia) and the crew had to swim to shore. They lived at a coffee plantation for about six weeks until a British freighter picked them up and took them back to Wales.
After immigrating to the US, he worked in Chicago making sails for ships on the Great Lakes and later in Kansas City and again in Chicago making tents, most notably for William Cody's Wild West Show and for P. T. Barnum's circus. His son William Daniel Davies noted that Owen spent his entire career from age 15 on working with canvas.
Bio by: David Ewing
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