WELHOUSEN, G. D.

WELHOUSEN, DUITMAN, KOHLER, HARKNESS, ISEBRAND

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/6/2003 at 15:47:00

Biography reproduced from page 648 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

G. D. Welhousen is identified with the agricultural development of German township, where for fifteen years he has owned and operated one hundred and sixty acres of land located on section 20. He is the eldest son of John and Gertrude (Duitman) Welhousen, and was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, in 1875. He is of Holland Dutch extraction, as the names would suggest, the paternal grandparents having emigrated to America and located in Wisconsin, where they passed the remainder of their lives. His parents were born, reared and married in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, when they came to Kossuth county in 1889, locating on a farm on section 19, German township. This land was unimproved and the father devoted his energies to its development until five years ago when he withdrew from the work of the fields, and removed with his wife to Titonka, where he is living retired. They have five children: Anna, the wife of Herman Kahler, of Ramsey township, this county; G. D., our subject; Zena, who became the wife of George Harkness, of Yorkville, Illinois; William, who is living on the old home place; and Gertrude, a school teacher, who is keeping house for our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Welhousen gave all of their children the benefit of practical educations, and upon leaving school all engaged in teaching for a time.

The education of G. D. Welhousen was begun in the schools of his native state and continued in those of Kossuth county. He subsequently took a teacher’s examination, receiving his first certificate from B. F. Reed, and in 1892 taught his first school, which was located in German township. He followed this profession for several years during the winter season, while his summers were devoted to farming. In 1897 he purchased his present farm on section 20, and is now giving his entire attention to its cultivation. Through the expenditure of much time and labor, as well as a goodly portion of his income he has converted it into one of the most valuable properties in the locality. He has planted groves and an orchard, erected all of the buildings, fenced his fields and made many other improvements consistent with the spirit of enterprise and progress he has always manifested. His equipment is complete, including practically everything deemed essential by the modern agriculturalist and, as he is practical and systematic in his methods, directing his operations with foresight and intelligence, he is prospering.

In 1902, Mr. Welhousen was married to Miss Allie Isebrand, who was the second white child born in Ramsey township, her natal year being 1878. She passed away in 1911, and was laid to rest in the cemetery of the German Reformed church in German township.

In matters of religious faith Mr. Welhousen is a Presbyterian. He votes the democratic ticket, and for two years served as a township clerk, having been nominated to this office before he was twenty-one, but the election did not take place until after he had attained his majority. He is one of the stockholders of the creamery at Titonka, and for fourteen and a half years was secretary of this company and is now a member of the board of directors. Mr. Welhousen has made his way unaided since he first began teaching, and everything he possesses has been won through his individual effort, in which fact he takes great satisfaction, realizing that success self-won is the most commendable and satisfactory form of achievement.