Biography of Charles M. WELCH, DeWitt County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Earliene Kaelin Source: People from the Histories 1882 History CHARLES M. WELCH The present Mayor of Farmer City, was born in Marion county, Ohio, September 19, 1839. The Welch family is of Welsh descent on the paternal, and on the maternal side, Scotch. Isaac Welch, the paternal grandfather, was a native of New York. He emigrated to Ohio in 1802, and settled in Delaware county. He married Sarah Shaw, by which union was Daniel Welch, the father of Charles W. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1817; afterwards lived in Marion county, where Charles was born, and in 1847 removed to De Kalb county, in Indiana, where he remained until 1863, when he came to Illinois, and settled in De Witt county, where he yet resides. He married Miss Eliza Camp, a native of Onondaga county, New York. She was born in 1818. By that marriage there were eight children, three of whom are living. The youngest son, R. B. Welch, is president of the State Normal School at Emporia, Kansas. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of the sons. His advantages in youth for receiving an education were limited, but thanks to his mother, who is a woman of superior mind, and who fostered and cultivated a love of reading and study in her son, he in time, through home and self-culture, became possessed of a good education. At the age of fifteen he taught school. In the spring of 1854 he entered the Vienna Academy at Newville, Indiana, and entered upon a regular academical course. To sustain himself there he was compelled to teach school in the winter seasons in order to pay expenses of tuition and board. In 1860, his health failing, he was compelled to abandon his studies. He came to Illinois and stopped in Farmer City, and here taught school. In 1861 he returned to Indiana and commenced the study of law in the office of Judge John Morris, of Fort Wayne. In August of the same year he enlisted for three years in Co. E of the famous 11th Reg. Indiana Vols., Col. afterwards Gen. Lewis Wallace commanding. The regiment was at first a part of the 1st Division of the 13th Army Corps. The regiment remained in active service until the expiration of its term of enlistment, when it veteranized and re-enlisted for the war. This was in the spring of 1864. It was then sent to Virginia and Washington, and then with the 6th, 8th and 19th Army Corps, constituted the Army of the Shenandoah, under command of Gen. Phil Sheridan. Mr. Welch remained in the service from August, 1861, until the close of the war, and participated with his regiment in all the skirmishes, battles and sieges in which it was engaged. The regiment was the best drilled organization in the war, and in many competition drills invariably carried off the prizes. Mr. Welch was mustered out and honorably discharged in September 1865, having been in active service four years and one month. If space would permit us we would be glad to insert a history of this gallant regiment, which was undoubtedly one of the historic organizations of the war. Its history is Mr. Welch's history for four years and one month. Mr. Welch returned to Farmer City soon after his discharge, and taught school in the surrounding counties until 1873, when he accepted a situation as clerk in the grain business, with J. 0. Peckham & Co., of Farmer City, and remained with them, as their agent, for six years. A portion of the time he was agent for the company at Kenney, Illinois, and while there read law in his leisure moments. In 1877 he commenced his studies under the direction of Judge Ingham, and then with Mr. Herrick, of Farmer City. At the June term of the supreme court held at Springfield, he was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice in Farmer City, where he still continues. Politically, he is a Republican, and a strong, uncompromising advocate of temperance, and was elected mayor of the city on that issue. He is strenuous in the support of the laws made by the majority, and looks carefully and faithfully to their execution. He is a member of the Order of A. F. & A. M. On the 15th of April, 1866, he was united in marriage to T. C. Ryan, of Defiance county, Ohio, youngest daughter of John Ryan, a native of New York. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. church. During the war he was the recipient, and has in his possession, two general orders emanating from the General in command, publicly complimenting him for personal bravery and gallant conduct in the face of great danger, and in one is promoted to the position of scout, a position which required the combination of sagacity, coolness and great personal courage. Mr. Welch feels justly proud of those souvenirs of respect given him during the dark and trying times of the late war. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. 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