Welterlen, John Joseph 1856-1938

KALTENBAUGH, MENGE, DAVIS, SHERMAN, RHODES

Posted By: Bart Hamlett (email)
Date: 1/17/2016 at 11:58:21

John Joseph Welterlen, son of John Welterlen, a native of Alsace-Lorraine and Mary Kaltenbaugh Welterlen, a native of Wisconsin, was born June 5, 1856 on a farm in the little settlement know as Dutchtown, six miles northeast of Manchester. He was reared to manhood here with his brothers, Henry now residing in Manchester, Samuel who several years ago preceded him in death, and Joseph, who died in childhood.
On Feb. 27, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Menge of Elkport. The young couple set up housekeeping on the home place. later establishing their residence on their own farm a few miles distant near Oneida, where Mr. Welterlen spent the most active years of his life. Two daughters, Gladyce and Grace and two sons, Arthur and Frank, were born to this union.
In 1916, he retired and the family moved to Edgewood, where the sons were operating a garage. On Oct. 7, 1922 while visiting relatives at Galena, Ill., his wife was stricken with a heart attack and taken from his side. Providence provided that the daughter, Gladyce then living in California was home on a visit and was permitted to be with her mother when death came.
J.J. or Johnny as he was affectionately called by his friends and neighbors, he was of a very jovial personality and a his ready smile and kindly words won for him many friends. One of his greatest pleasures was to gather his family about him to enjoy his grandchildren. He was especially pleased when his daughter from Seattle paid him a visit last fall and to make the acquaintance of her little son.
During his active years, he was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, a township trustee, school director of the school district in which he lived, also director of the former Farmers' Savings Bank of this place. He served as janitor of the Edgewood public school for a number of years and caretaker of Bixby State Park. Due to his love of the park area the annual reunion of the Welterlen family was held at this place on his birthday in June.
After the closing of the banks, the sons shared the responsibility of keeping up the home for their father and his wife Stella Davis, whom he had married on July 30, 1925. A year ago as a result of the infirmities of age he was taken to the farm home of his daughter Grace Sherman, where she and her family gave him loving care. Here a tired and worn out mind shut out all the perplexities of life and he lived in a world of memories. A week before his death it seemed necessary to remove him to a hospital for medical care and observation. It was here that he was stricken with an acute heart attack, after a hearty lunch at noon, and died Wednesday, July 20, at the age of 82 years, one month and 15 days.
He is survived by his four children, Mrs. W.P. Rhodes of Seattle, Wash., Arthur and Frank Welterlen and Mrs. Bryan Sherman of Edgewood, nine grandchildren, a great many nieces and nephews, besides his aged brother, Henry of Manchester.
Funeral services were held at the Methodist church Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock. the pastor, the Rev. Warren L. Feller conducted the services at which music was furnished by C.J. Rulon and D.E. Rhines with Miss Jennie Forward as accompanist. Burial was made in Oakland cemetery in Manchester. Casket attendants were George F. Downey, J.C. Amling, J.N. Cropp, R.C. Wheeler, Dr. D.W. Newman and B.J. Davis.
Relatives who came from out of town to attend the services were; Mr. and Mrs. Jake Hoke, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Messner and daughter of Dysart; James Kerr, Misses Ella and Edna Kerr of Galena, Ill., Mrs. Bessie Carver and two daughters of Newark, N.J.; Mr. and Mrs. A. Pruessner and daughter, Mrs. Adolph Becker of Dundee; Mr. Henry Welterlen, Misses Mildred and Elma, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Welterlen, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ryan, of Manchester; Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Gibson of Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. John Reick and mother of Luzerne; Mrs. Anna Schultz and Mrs. Martha Schultz of Blairstown; Mr. and Mrs. James Corell of Strawberry Point.
( as printed in the Clayton County Press-Journal, Edgewood Department July 28, 1938 )