JOHN A. WELSH
John A. Welsh was born in Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, September 17, 1850. His parents were Thomas H. Welsh, a native of Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth (Sweet Hamill) Welsh, a native of Canada. The former died when John was about four years of age, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. The latter is now living with her sons. They remained in Ohio till 1858, when the family removed to Bureau county, Illinois. They lived there until the spring of 1874, at which time he came to Cass county and bought the northeast quarter of section 26, Brighton township, then wild land. This farm is watered by a living stream, Spring Branch, and is now all under cultivation. Mr. Welsh was educated at the Buda high school in Bureau county. He taught school some, during the time that he was obtaining his education. He was afterwards engaged in clerking in Buda, and later, in surveying, on the Buda and Rushville branch, of the C. B. and Q. Railroad. He continued the latter occupation one year, then worked upon the farm of E.S. Hamill, one year. After this he was employed as book-keeper in the dry goods house of B. F. Waite, in Buda, then in a bank of deposit and collection, where he remained about four years. He then came to Cass county. Mr. Welsh was married November 21, 1872, to Mary F. Bruner, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of I. J. and C. D. Bruner. They have two children...Charles E. and Ada B. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Welsh is a Republican in politics. He is president of the township school board and director, in his district.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 600-601.
