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Named by residents after the kingdom of Gaul in
France, the Gallia County name originated from the Latin
word for France. In the 1790's French immigrants came to
the United States in search for land that was offered by
land speculators who represented the Scioto Company.
These French settler's built their settlement in Ohio in
Gallipolis, which meant, "city of the Gauls." After
their arrival, the settlers found that they had been
conned. Many moved on but those who stayed paid for
their land or had to move on to land set aside by the U.
S. government known as the French Grant. Those who
purchased their land were among the first white settlers
of Gallia County.
In the early 1800's the Welsh began to immigrate to
the United States from poverty stricten areas of Wales.
The Welsh began arriving in Gallipolis, mostly by
accident. A group of Welsh immigrants migrating toward
Paddy's Run in Butler Co., Ohio, were in need of
provisions and stopped at Gallipolis. After sending a
scout to survey the area, they were met by the French
inhabitants of the area. They were welcomed and invited
to stay the night. During the night a terrible
storm came across the area and the Welsh lost their
flatboat. Whether or not it was caused by the storm or
by human hand, no one will ever know. A few days later,
the boat was found and the men prepared for their
journey on to Paddy's Run. The women stood up to their
men and demanded that they stay right where they were.
They refused to accompany their husbands on down the
river. The men decided to stay in Gallia Co., Ohio. News
arrived in Wales about the bountiful area and others
found their way into Gallia county, making the area one
of the largest Welsh settlements in the area. (The
Welsh of Columbus, Ohio: A Study in Adaptation and
Assimilation; A Thesis By Daniel Jenkins Williams,
pg 24. Copyright 1914 Ohio State University.)
For a guide on pronouncing and understanding Welsh
place names click here
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