Eagle County CO Archives Biographies.....Welsh, John March 23, 1852 - ? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 10, 2006, 4:24 pm Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado A Canadian by birth and the son of English parents who were born in Devonshire and emigrated to the Dominion in 1850, then in 1863 moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now a resident of one of the fruitful and progressive regions of this state, John Welsh, of near Wolcott, Eagle county, has had opportunity to see much of the world and make a choice of location from many inviting sections. That he has chosen wisely is proven by his present prosperity and the public estimation in which he is held, all of which he has won by his own industry and worth, without the aid of favoring circumstances. He was born on March 23, 1852, at New London, in the province of Ontario, and when eleven years old accompanied his parents, Joseph and Eliza Welsh, to Kalamazoo, Michigan. There he completed in the common schools the education he had begun in those of his native land, going to work at the trade of brick laying at the age of thirteen. His father was a carpenter and building contractor and died in 1878, his wife surviving him one year and passing away in 1879. Three of their children are living, William L., Richard G. and John. The last named remained at Kalamazoo until 1872, working at his trade. Then regard for health and hope of other advantages brought him farther west, and during the next three years he worked at his trade as a journeyman at Denver in this state. In 1873, in company with John Guyer, he made a hunting trip overland to Egeria Park, and realized well in the venture which consumed eight months, and was fraught with dangers and privations, but on the whole was pleasant. While in the park and during a portion of the time passed in getting there and returning they saw no human beings but Indians, and these were not always friendly or trustworthy. In 1875 Mr. Welsh moved to Alma in Park county, where he followed quartz mining for a year, then going to Saguache county, he located a squatter’s claim which he sold in December, 1877, after improving it. His next move was through San Juan county to Leadville, and at the latter place he worked at his trade until 1881, in the winters freighting between Leadville and South Park. He also located a number of mining claims at Redcliff which in 1879 proved to be of no value. From 1881 to 1883 he conducted a dairy at Redcliff with good returns, and in the year last named moved to the ranch which is now his home, securing the first one hundred and sixty acres by pre-emption and afterward buying the addition of four hundred acres. This land he has redeemed from its growth of wild sage and transformed into an excellent ranch of tillable land, on which he has a comfortable home and raises good crops of the products suited to the region, hay and cattle being the chief reliance. A nearby reservoir furnishes him a good supply of water for irrigation and his skill and industry do the rest to make his undertaking profitable. He is considered one of the most progressive and influential men in the community, actively supporting the Republican party and serving well as a county commissioner from 1889 to 1891. He has also been a leading member of the school board for many years. In fraternal life he belongs to the Woodmen of the World. On May 19, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Shields, a native of Fulton county, Illinois. They have had three children, William, who died on December 9, 1881, Ursula, who died on September 6, 1880, and Sallie R., who is living. They also have an adopted child, Francis E. Additional Comments: From Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/eagle/bios/welsh254gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cofiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb