Ieuan Ionawr (article written by E. Morgan Humphreys)
  Ieuan Ionawr was another bard, probably a man of the Dolgellau area, but who came to live in Drffryn Ardudwy towards the end of his life.  He was a man to be remembered owing to his appearance; quite tall with a white beard but otherwise clean-shaven, with a heavy walking-stick in his hand, and invariably, a silk top-hat upon his head.  He would draw a lot of attention, thus attired, today, but no one tought him in the least bit extraordinary in those days.  He made some sort of small shelter for himself on the brink of the small river which flows down to Sarn Y Cornant, in order to have peace to compose his poetry.
  Ieuan also kept the Co. Gaol at Dolgellau at one ime, and the story as to how he lost his post was widely known in the area.  I myself have heard it many times, but I must say that I cannot give my word of honour that it is entirely true.  The story went that one "Coch Bach," a native of Bala, was a prisoner under the charge of Ieuan Ionawr, being the sole prisioner in the Gaol at that particular time.  Ieuan went to see the prisoner, as was customary, at nightfall, and found him groaning with the toothache.  Ieuan charitably offered to give the prisoner something to help the pain, and put his finger into the sufferer's mouth to investigate the cause of the trouble.  Thereupon the prisoner bit the finger of the Good Samaritan so hard that he was able to throw him to th ground and shut and lock the cell door before the surprised Goaler could rise to is feet.  The crafty "Coch Bach" thereupon walked out of the Gaol a freeman.  It is, indeed, a creditable reflection on Ieuan Ionawr - if the story is in fact true - that his kindness as a man superseded his duty as Gaoler.
  Quite a number of the poetic works of Ieuan Ionawr can be seen in the early numbers of "Y Genhinen"; he was one of the eisteddfodic bards of that period;  but it would be somewhat difficult to find anyone today who has read his works.  I have heard, however, that he had a very high opinion of his own Cardic satus.  His poetical works amount to three books, but what proportion of these works was ever published is uncertain.
WORKS BY IEUAN IONAWR:
(1) "The Pangs of Gethsemane" (Dolgellau 1858)
(2) Four "englynion"; Elegy to Idris Fychan.
(3) A Lament on the death of Ceiriog.
(4) A "Cywydd" commemorating Dewi of Dyfed. (Awarded a Prize in the snowdonia Chair Eisteddfod of 1872)
(5) Letter to the Editor of "Y Genhinen", 1886, concerning the meaning of Welsh place-names.
(All five are printed in the early numbers of the Welsh periodical "Y Genhinen").