WELHOUSEN, WILLIAM

WELHOUSEN, DUITMAN, KOHLER, HARKNESS, TJARKS

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/6/2003 at 15:44:46

Biography reproduced from page 695 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

William Welhousen follows general farming and stock-raising in German township, where he rents the old family homestead consisting of two hundred acres and located on section 19. He was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, on September 1, 1881, and is a son of John and Gertrude (Duitman) Welhousen, also natives of Fond du Lac county. The grandparents were born in Holland, but in childhood they came to America and passed the remainder of their lives in Wisconsin. In 1889 John Welhousen came to Iowa with his family settling on section 19, German township, where he purchased two hundred acres of unimproved and uncultivated land. He diligently applied himself to the development of this property until five years ago when he retired from active work and he and the mother removed to Titonka, where they are now residing. Their family numbers five, as follows: Anna, the wife of Herman Kohler, of Ramsey township, this county; G. D., who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work; Zena, who married George Harkness, of Yorkville, Illinois; William, our subject; and Gertrude, who is a school teacher and keeps house for her brother G. D.

In the acquirement of an education William Welhousen first attended the schools of his native state, continuing his studies in Kossuth county until he had attained the age of eighteen years. For three years thereafter he taught in German township during the winter months, while his summers were devoted to agricultural pursuits. When his parents left the old homestead in 1907 he leased the property and here he is now successfully engaged in diversified farming and stock-raising. The farm consists of two hundred acres of land which is tiled and in a high state of productivity. The majority of the buildings were erected by the father during the early years of his residence, but as they were substantially constructed and have been kept in good repair they are now in good condition. Mr. Welhousen makes a specialty of raising Duroc Jersey hogs.

In 1907 Mr. Welhousen was married to Miss Tina Tjarks, and they have become the parents of three children: Jeannette Grace, Ella Anna and Wilbur Herman.

The family attends the Presbyterian church of which the parents are members and the political allegiance of Mr. Welhousen is given to the democratic party. He is a man of laudable ambition, intense activity and definite purpose and is directing his undertakings with system and foresight along well defined lines of action, meeting with returns fully commensurate with the effort he is expending.