Wellington Welch

Wellington Welch, farmer, section 25, Hartwick Township, was born Aug. 16, 1843, in Euclid, Cuyahoga Co., OHio. His parents, Sardis and Marinda (Dillie) Welch, were natives respectively of Connecticut and Ohio, and of Scotch and French descent. The former died in 1857, the latter in 1880.

Mr. Welch is the youngest of the six children included in his father's family, and was reared at home. When he was 18 he entered the Union Army to aid in quelling the Rebellion, enrolling in Co. C, the color company of the 18th U.S. Inf., under the command of Lieut.-Col. O.L. Shepherd, and attached, after being mustered into the service, to the Army of the Cumberland. He was in active service in 13 engagements, among them the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Mission Ridge, and the campaign under Sherman til the fight before Atlanta. He received two gun-shot wounds at Stone River, - one in the arm and one in the hip. He was hit five times in the same engagement, his clothing being severely torn. Among other casualties it sustained was the scalping of his cap,the top of which was taken cleanly off! He was discharged before Atlanta, Aug. 7, 1864, from Co. B., first Battalion. the company was so cut to pieces at the battle of Stone River that a sufficient number was not left to form as a company, and the remnant was transferred, Mr. Welch going to Co. B.

He returned to his home and resumed his place as assistant on the familyhomestead, his brother, Orlando B., enlisting in another company and regiment. Soon after his return to his home he entered the commercial college at Cleveland and completed a course of study in 1866. He spent two years subsequently in farming.

His marriage to Cecelia Dillie occurred Oct. 14, 1868, in the place of his birth, and they have one child, Alice L., born April 21, 1870. Mrs. Welch is the daughter of Milton and Lauretta (Lilly) Dillie. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, her mother in New York. They are now residents of Euclid, Ohio. In January 1868, Mr. and Mrs. Welch came to Michigan to establish a home, and made a homestead claim of 120 acres of land on section 28, in Hartwick Township. The place was entirely wild, and in an unsatisfactory location, and afte a year's residence they decided to make a change, and purchased 40 acres, afterwards 40 more, in the same township, three-fifths of the tract being now under cultivation.

Mr. Welch is a Republican. He has been Township Clerk four terms, and is now School Director. He is Clerk of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, of which himself and wife are members. He has been connected wuth the Odd Fellows.

Return to: [OsceolaCounty MIGenWeb Page]
Return to: [Index to Bios]