Bert B. Welty (1871-1941)

WELTY, POFFENBERGER, SHOEMAKER, STEVENSON, BRAUNSCHWEIGER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/10/2014 at 17:50:56

From Nevada Evening Journal Monday, April 7, 1941 (Front page)

Bert B. Welty, Nevada Atorrney, Dies Early Today

Bert B. Welty, 70, for over 42 years a practicing attorney of Nevada, died at his home at 1135 Ninth street, at 5:30 a.m. today of heart complications, from which he had bee a sufferer for some time.

His final failing had been about six weeks duration, but during that time he had been able to be up at the office a few times. He had failed rapidly during the past few days. The family had all been notified and were at his bedside when he died, the daughter Mrs. Stevenson arriving here from her home at San Mateo, California, but a few hours before the passing of her father.

Funeral rites are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and burial will be in the Nevada cemetery.

The services will be held a Memorial Lutheran church with Dr. J. O. Simon in charge.

Mr. Welty had been a active attorney in Nevada since 1899. Graduating from the University in June 1898, he served a short time as a legislative clerk and for a few months had a law office in Des Moines, before coming to Nevada. Locating here he was for a brief period connected with the late Judge E. M. McCall in the practice, after which he established his own office and had been in continuous practice here since.

Shortly after the World war B. M. Soper who had been studying law while a clerk in the office, became a member of the firm and a few weeks later, after the only son, Paul B. Welty graduated from the law college at Iowa City, the style of the firm became Welty, Soper & Welty, which it continued for some time.

In addition to a wide and very active private legal practice, he was for many years and until the present time attorney for the Northwestern Railroad company of this division.

During the long years of his law practice he accumulated a considerable amount of Story county farm land and much of this he operated and managed himself, carrying on large livestock feeding operations.

For several years he was extensively engaged in the importation, breeding and training of Shetland and Welch ponies and in this for some time was associated with his younger brother, the late Guy Welty.

Bert B. Welty was born at Oregon, in Ogle county, Illinois, May 31, 1871, a son of Christian C. and Susan Poffenberger-Welty. In 1881 he family came to Iowa, settling for a year in State Center and in 1882 moved to Story county and located on a farm in the Johnson Grove neighborhood, where the home continued until 1899, when the parents retired and located at Colo.

Bert with other members of the large family of children in the home, attended the rural schools, taught for time, and attended the State Teachers college, from which he graduated in 1896. The following autumn he entered the law college at the State university and graduated from there with the degree LL.B., in June, 1898.

Shortly after locating in practice here, Mr. Welty was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Shoemaker.

Four children were born to his union, they being Esther, now Mrs. Esther Stevenson of San Mateo, Calif.; Paul B. Welty of Nevada; Mildred, now Mrs. Mildred Braunschweiger of Seattle, Wash. and Joseph who died when but a small child on July 1, 1910.

Besides the wife, the son and two daughters, he leaves five grandchildren. They are Paul Welty Jr., of Nevada, Sonny and Terry Alice Stevenson of San Mateo, Calif., and Theodoria and Robert Braunschweiger of Seattle.

He leaves his brothers Daniel Welty of Nevada, Ira Welty of northeast of Nevada, Harvey A. Welty of Spirit Lake and the sister Mrs. Gertrude Alderman of Pittsburgh. One sister Dora May Welty died years ago and the younger brother Guy D. Welty passed away in California a few years ago.

Exceedingly active and ambitious, Mr. Welty spread his lifework and activities, he was a devoted husband, a kind and indulgent father, beloved by his family and he will be deeply mourned by them all, as well as by a wide circle of friends.

But in the mist of all of his work and activities, he was a kind and indulgent father, beloved by his family and he will be deeply mourned by them all, as well as by a wide circle of friends.

He had been a longtime member of Memorial Lutheran church, and had held memberships in the Pythian and Modern Woodman lodges and was also long an active member of the Story County Bar association, as well at the State Bar association.

While a Republican in politics and usually active in local politics he never asked for office or preferment for himself.