Joseph Welsch

Joseph Welsch, who resides on section 31, township 3, range 10, Monroe County, is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to this community. He was born December 20, 1829, and is one of six children, whose parents, John and Mary A. (Werschem) Welsch, were also natives of Germany. The father and mother both acquired good educations in the schools of that land, and the father followed farming as a means of gaining a livelihood. In the year 1840 he emigrated to America. He landed from a sailing-vessel at New Orleans, and came direct to Monroe County, Ill., where for a few years he rented a farm. With the capital he had acquired in that time he then purchased two hundred acres of land, and to this he added from time to time until he became one of the largest land owners I the county. A few years prior to his death he removed to Waterloo, where he spent his last years in retirement from business cares. He was a man of excellent business and executive ability, and therefore won the success which crowed his efforts. In politics he was a supporter of the Democracy. His death occurred at the age of seventy-two, near the present home of our subject. Both were members of the Catholic Church. Five of their children are now living, namely: Mary, J. Joseph, Catherine, Peter and Nicholas. We now take up the personal history of our subject, who spent the first ten years of his life in his native land, and then came with his parents to the New World. He early became familiar with all the duties of farm life and worked in the fields, giving his father the benefit of his services until twenty-four years of age, when his father gave him a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, the same on which he now resides.

Mr. Welsch then began business for himself, and the same year was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Hoecker, a native of Germany, who when a maiden of twelve summers came with her parents to the United States, the family locating in St. Clair County. By this union were born twelve children, but six of the number died in infancy. Those still living are, John, Christiana, Leonard, Catherine, Joseph and Peter. The mother of this family was called to her final rest at the age of forty-six. She was a devout member of the Catholic Church, and had many warm friends in the community.

Mr. Welsch is also a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a stanch Democrat. He has led a busy and useful life, and by well directed efforts, energy and enterprise he has accumulated a handsome property. The boundaries of his farm he has extended from time to time, until he now owns seven hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He is one of the largest land owners in the county, and is one of the most highly respected and influential citizens, for a well spent life was gained him the warm regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.