Henry C. Welch

Henry C. Welch, who is now filling the position of commander of J. W. Moorehouse Post No. 188, G. A. R., at Tobias, Nebraska, well merits representation in this volume not alone because of his excellent army record but also because he is one of the early homesteaders of the county, having established his residence here on the 20th of May, 1871. He secured a tract of land from the government, and with the agricultural interests of the county has since been closely identified.

Mr. Welch was born in Lake county, Illinois, about forty miles north of Chicago, where Zion City now is, and is a son of Daniel and Caroline (Parker) Welch, both of whom were natives of Vermont, in which state they spent the days of their childhood. After their marriage they came to Illinois in 1846, settling in Lake county upon a farm, and subsequently they removed to Will county, Illinois, residing near Joliet, and in 1853 they removed to Iowa, settling near North English, in Iowa county. The father devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life. In politics he was a Republican, and as a citizen was always loyal to the best interests of the community in which he made his home. He died in Iowa at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife passed away in Iowa at the age of thirty-three years. She left seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Henry C, Albert, Clarissa, Emma, Almeda, David H. and May.

Henry C. Welch was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, spending the days of his childhood and youth in Illinois and Iowa. He attended the public schools through the winter months and in the summer seasons assisted in the work of the fields. Experience, reading and observation have added greatly to his knowledge and made him a well informed man. He was a resident of Iowa until 1871, when he came to Saline county and secured a homestead near where the town of Tobias has since been built. He has here one hundred and sixty acres of land constituting a very desirable farm. Its splendid appearance is due to his efforts, for when the property came into his possession it was unimproved. The place is located on section 10, township 6, range one east, in Atlanta township. The first house was a little board shanty eight by sixteen feet, and in the succeeding fall he built a sod house twelve by sixteen feet. Many hardships and discouragements were to be faced, but with resolute spirit he met all the difficulties that lay in the path to success. - In the year 1874 the grasshoppers entirely destroyed all crops, and droughts were caused by hot winds, while the blizzards of winter also proved detrimental, but Mr. Welch never faltered in his determination to make a good farm in Nebraska and his labors were at length crowned with a gratifying measure of success. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1890 and he still owns the property, upon which is a substantial residence, good barns, an orchard and grove, and many other modern accessories. His residence is a modern structure comfortably furnished, and hospitality there reigns supreme. He owns in all two hundred and forty acres.

Mr. Welch was married in Marengo, Iowa, in 1865, to Miss Malinda J. Baldwin, a daughter of Noah and Lydia E. Baldwin, of Iowa, who removed from Ohio to the Hawkeye state in 1854, becoming early residents there. The father's death occurred in the Buckeye state, and the mother is still living in Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Welch have been born five children: Cora M. Hall, who is now living near Friend, Nebraska; Mrs. Caroline A. Porter, a resident of Atwater, Ohio; Elmer S., who is serving as cashier of a bank in Cameron, Illinois; Mrs. Mellie A. Upton, of Tobias, Nebraska; and Marietta, at home. The children were all provided with good educational privileges, and Elmer S. finished his course in Elliott's Business College at Burlington, Iowa.

Mr. Welch is numbered among the veterans of the Civil war, for on the 31st of October, 1864, he enlisted at Grinnell, Iowa, as one of the boys in blue of Company K, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. He served under Captain William McDowell and Colonel George P. Premott. He went from Iowa City to the south and marched through Georgia with General Sherman's army. He was also at Columbia, South Carolina, took part in the Carolina campaign and was in the battle of Bentonville when General Joe Johnston surrendered. He afterward marched on to Richmond, thence to Washington, D. C, where he participated in the grand review, which was the closing ceremony of the long and great struggle which was necessary to preserve the Union in. tact. He was then honorably discharged in the capital city on the 26th of June, 1865. He votes with the Republican party and has filled a number of local offices. He has also been a delegate to the county conventions and is active in support of the interests of his friends. A leading member of the Grand Army of the Republic in southeastern Nebraska, he is now serving as commander of the post at Tobias, and is popular with the members of that organization, and with the citizens in general throughout this portion of the state. As and energetic, upright and conscientious business man and a gentleman of attractive social qualities, he stands high in the estimation of the entire community.

SOURCE: A Biographical And Genealogical History Of Southeastern Nebraska, Volume 2, p. 756-9