Father: Francis (Frank) M. Welch
Mother: Mary Ella Wheeler
Spouse: Elizabeth Ann (Lizzie) Newman - b: 17/Aug/1874
- MO
d: 10/Jul/1938 - bur: Grandview
Cem., Albany, Gentry Co., MO
m: 4/Jan/1894 - Gentry Co., MO
Child-1: Alexander Newman - b: 9/Jul/1896 - Gentry Co.,
MO
d: 27/Jan/1947 - Missouri Methodist Hosp., St. Joseph, Buchanan Co.,
MO - bur: Grandview Cem., Albany, Gentry Co., MO
m: Nancy Marie Ross - 2/Sep/1917 - King City, Gentry Co., MO
2: Curtis
Marion - b: 3/Dec/1897 - MO
d: 19/Jun/1932 - bur: Grandview Cem., Albany, Gentry Co., MO
m: Gladys Belle Campbell - 12/Jun/1926 - St. Joseph, Buchanan Co.,
MO
3: Grace
Ruth - b: 31/Mar/1904 - MO
d: Jun/1991 - bur: Grandview Cem., Albany, Gentry Co., MO
m: Frank Hunter - 11/Jul/1923 - St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO
4: Thomas
(Tom) E. - b: 25/Aug/1906 - MO
d: 9/Jun/2002 - bur: Grandview Cem., Albany, Gentry Co., MO
m: Lorena Mae Ruch - 20/Jan/1931 - Harlan, Shelby Co., IA
Biographical Details:
James William Welch was the second surviving son of Francis M. and Mary E. Wheeler Welch and was born in Gentry County, Missouri, on March 12, 1869. It appears that he was known familiarly as "Will" or, perhaps, "William". Concomitantly, he married Elizabeth Ann Newman on January 4, 1894. She was a younger sister of his sister-in-law, Mary Frances Newman Welch, wife of his older brother, Frank. It seems that William and Elizabeth Welch subsequently lived in close proximity to other relatives since a plat of Gentry County published in 1930 indicates that J. W. Welch owned one hundred and fifty-seven acres in southeastern Athens Township.1 According to a news item published in the Albany Ledger in early 1947, James William Welch died suddenly on New Years Eve near Carmack in Gentry County as he was returning from St. Joseph to Albany by bus.2 At the time, he had been to visit his oldest son, Alex, who was then seriously ill in the hospital and, moreover, who then also died within a month afterward. It was further reported in a published obituary that William Welch was a kind and pleasant person and had remained a sabbatarian as had been his mother.3 His wife had died a few years earlier and both were buried in the Grandview Cemetery at Albany (as were also their four children).4Source Notes and Citations:
1a. Anonymous, Standard Atlas of Gentry County, Missouri, Geo A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, IL, 1914.
J. W. Welch: 1) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 2; E½ of SW¼ - 78.50 acres more or less. 2) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 11; NE¼ of NW¼ - 40 acres. 3) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 11; NW¼ of NE¼- 38.50 acres more or less.b. Anonymous, Plat Book of Gentry County, Missouri, W. W. Hixson & Co., Rockford, IL, 1930. (Available electronically at digital.library.umsystem.edu/)
J. W. Welch: 1) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 2; E½ of SW¼ - 78.50 acres more or less. 2) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 11; NE¼ of NW¼ - 40 acres. 3) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 11; NW¼ of NE¼- 38.50 acres more or less.
back to bio.2. "J. W. WELCH DIED ON BUS James William Welch, 78 years old, died suddenly on a bus Tuesday night as the bus reached Carmack station a short distance west of Albany. He had been to St. Joseph to visit his son Alex, who is ill in a hospital. From the information given us by Mr. John Easterly, who had been sitting beside him on the trip from St. Joseph, as the bus reached this station he got up from his seat and immediately fell and died within a very short time. Dr. Williamson of Gentry was called and pronounced his death due to heart ailment. The body was brought to the Brooks Funeral Home in Albany where funeral services were held Friday at 2:00 pm with interment in Grandview cemetery. The immediate survivors are Alex Welch, Albany; Mrs. Frank Hunter, St. Joseph and Tom Welch of Albany." (news item: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Jan. 2, 1947.)
back to bio.3.. "The Death of J. William Welch James William, son of Francis Marion and Mary E. (Wheeler) Welch, was born on the old homestead west of Albany on March 12, 1869, and departed this life Dec. 31, 1946, being at the time of his death in his 77th year.
Mr. Welch was the last of 8 children. The brothers who had preceded him were Francis Marion, Grant and George Welch; the sisters were Mrs. Ella Evans, Mrs. Ollie Hall and Mrs. Sallie Yale.
On Jan. 4, 1894, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ann Newman. To this union were born four children: Alex, of McFall, Tom of Albany, Mrs. Ruth Hunter of St. Joseph and Curtis M., who passed away June 19, 1932. Mrs. Welch passed away July 10, 1938.
Mr. Welch remained faithful through life to his early religious training taught to him from the knee of his mother, who was a master Bible student, editor and teacher of the Christian faith of the Church of God. The belief in this faith and to abide by the word of God was Mr. Welch's way of the road to righteousness.
Mr. Welch possessed a sense of humor and a pleasant personality which acquired him many friends, and was gifted with a great kindness and sympathy for the afflicted and shut-ins. The five years of illness of his invalid wife were made lighter and brighter by his untiring care and devotion. He spent his declining years, although frail in his own health, to the care of relatives. He cared for his brothers, Grant, George and Frank in their last illnesses.
The last three years of his life were spent in the home of his brother-in-law, John Newman, the two being much comfort to each other.
His last respect paid to the sick was a trip to St. Joseph to see his son Alex, who is seriously ill in a hospital there, and he succumbed on his return trip home.
Mr. Welch leaves the three children, Alex, Ruth and Tom; six grandchildren, Pauline Leftwich, Marshall Welch, Alice Welch, Ernest Hunter, Doris Ruth Hunter, Betty Lou Welch. Threee great grandchildren, Curtis Raye, Peggy Jo Welch and Jimmy Leftwich. A host of other relatives and friends who will remember him as an affectionate husband, kind father and grandfather, a true brother and friend. All of these qualities, when balanced with worldly goods, leaves a heritage priceless beyond all earthly riches." (obituary: Albany Capital; Albany, MO, Thur., Jan. 9, 1947.)
back to bio.4a. "GLADYS B. WELCH A graveside service for Gladys B. Welch of Forest Grove will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Forest View Cemetery in Forest Grove.
She died of causes related to age Wednesday in her home. She was 89.
Born March 31, 1900, in Buchanan County, Mo., she was raised and educated in Missouri. Her maiden name was Campbell.
She married Curtis Welch on June 19, 1926, in St. Joseph, Mo. He died in 1932.
Mrs. Welch taught school in Missouri until 1950. She later moved to Southern California, where she graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1957. Mrs. Welch taught kindergarten in Ventura, Calif., for a number of years until she retired and moved to Forest Grove in 1964.
Survivors include her daughter, Betty Lou Asbury of Forest Grove; brothers, Mansel Campbell of Galt, Mo., and Donald Campbell of Thousand Palms, Calif.; sisters, Bessie Robinson of Kirkland, Wash., Elsie Schildtknecht of Forest Grove, Edith Hamilton of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Dorothy Allen of Oregon, Mo.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. (obituary: The Oregonian; Portland, OR, Fri., Aug. 11, 1989.)b. "Lorena Mae Welch, 79, Albany, died Saturday, Nov. 25, 1989, at her home. Mrs. Welch was born in Gentry County where she was a life-long resident. She was a member of the New Castle Christian Church and the Gentry County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
She married Tom Welch Jan. 10, 1931, at Harlan, Iowa. He survives at the home.
Additional survivors are two sisters, Fay Whiteaker, Leavenworth, Kan.; Glenda Guess, Darlington; two brothers, Avery Ruch, West Plains; and Olen Ruch, Springville, N.Y.
Graveside services and burial were Nov. 27 at Grandview Cemetery, Albany." (obituary: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Nov. 30, 1989.)
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
5. 1900 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 132B (microfilm: roll T623_855; img. 270).6. 1910 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 118A, (microfilm: roll T624_781; img. 236).
7. 1920 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 32B, (microfilm: roll T625_919; img. 632).
8. 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 21B, (microfilm: roll T626_1188; img. 44).
9. 1940 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 35A, (microfilm: roll T627_2106; img. 431).
10. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO: Bk. 3, pg. 299, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37663; img. 417)).
11. marriage notice: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Wed., Jan. 3, 1894.
12. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 43474 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO & Death Certificate No. 25284 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).
13. Ben Glick ,"Grandview Cemetery", unpublished. (Gentry County MOGenWeb Archives, www.dropbox.com/sh/slhfvw5i4zjmxft/AABbo65XMBcNG_6_81hC3HvBa/Grandview.pdf?dl=0, 2014.)
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14. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO: Bk. 8, pgs. 388, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 53447; imgs. 391)).
15. Marriage Records, Buchanan County, St. Joseph, MO: Bk. 43, pg. 181, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 46216; img. 217)).
16. Marriage Records, Buchanan County, St. Joseph, MO: Bk. 46, pg. 127, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 46218; img. 148)).
17. marriage notice: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Sep. 6., 1917.
18. marriage notice: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Jul. 19, 1923.
19. marriage notice: Albany Capital; Albany, MO, Thur., Jan. 7, 1932.
20. World War I Draft Registration Cards, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives-Southeast Region, Morrow, GA, (microfilm: roll MO-1683215; imgs. 558 & 560).
21. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 333 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).
22. Death Master File, Social Security Administration, Washington, DC, continuously updated.
23. Grandview Cemetery, Gentry County, Missouri (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=28978&CScn=Grandview&CScntry=4&CSst=26&CScnty=1434&, continuously updated).