Obit: Welsch, Henry Sr. (1839 - 1912)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: WELSCH SIDELL BRIGHT SELVES PALMETIER CONWAY BARBER PENNY ROSSMAN

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 02/29/1912

Welsch, Henry Sr. (2 MAR 1839 - 21 FEB 1912)

As announced last week, Henry Welsch Sr., one of our oldest settlers, was found dead at his home on Thursday, having passed away Wednesday night, Feb. 21st, 1912, of heart failure. He was around as usual all day Wednesday and went home near the supper hour. Not appearing for dinner the next day at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Tom Selves, Tom went to the house and found him lying on the bed dead. He was fully dressed and everything goes to show that he lay down on the bed for a rest before retiring for the night, and dropped into that long and peaceful sleep from which there is no awakening.

Henry Welsch Sr., was born in Prussia, March 2nd, 1839, and was therefore aged 72 years, 11 months and 19 days at the time of his death. He came with his parents to the United States in 1847, and settled in Sheboygan County, Wis., where he made his home until 1876. August 17th, 1862, he was enlisted as a private in Company H, 26th Wis. Vol. Infantry, and served until Oct. 14th, 1863, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability caused by a gunshot wound received in the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2nd, 1863. He was united in marriage to Miss Emma Sidell, Nov. 12th, 1863, and to this union were born ten children: Daniel P. of Spokane, Wash.; Anna, Mrs. H.A. Bright of Bright; Minnie, Mrs. Thos. Selves of Colby; Henry of Colby; William F. of Nightingale, Canada; Lulu, Mrs. Julius Palmetier of Withee; Emma, Mrs. Conway of Colby; Paulina, Mrs. B.A. Barber of Beaver Dam; Louis of Laona; Richard, who died when a baby. All of the surviving children, except Dan and Will, were here to attend the funeral.

In 1876 Mr. Welsch came to Colby with his family and purchased land on Section 24, town of Colby, Clark Co., 1 west, now Green Grove township, and carved out one of the best farms in this section of Clark County, where he continued to reside except for a short time spent in Hemlock in the mercantile business, until the death of his wife, which occurred Sept. 13th, 1896. It was in 1887 he removed to this city and has since resided here. He was a member of the Colby Lodge No. 234, I.O.O.F. and I.N. Earl Post No. 112 G.A.R.

In May 1890 he was married to Mrs. Emma Penny, from whom he was later divorced. Dec. 7th, 1909, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sophia L. Rossman of Marshfield, who survives him.

The funeral was held Sunday under the auspices of the Odd Fellows, and after a short service at St. John’s Church, conducted by Rev. J. Bizer, the remains were taken to Greenwood, accompanied by the relatives and a delegation of Odd Fellows where, assisted by the Odd Fellows of Greenwood, the beautiful service of the Order was performed at the grave, and the body laid to rest by the side of his wife and child in the Greenwood Cemetery.