Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Welch, Bertrand F. 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net August 27, 2010, 5:43 pm The Portland Observer, Thursday, December 11, 1913 Bertrand F. Welch, known throughout the state as Michigan’s oldest schoolmaster, died at his home in Marshal on the 30th ult., at the age of 87 years. Mr. Welch is remembered by many of the older residents of this vicinity, having been employed as a farm hand by the late Ira Webster, of Portland in an early day. Only a few years ago he came to Portland for a visit with his local relatives, the Webber and Welch families, and at that time was enjoying good health. Deceased was a cousin of Sylvester K. Welch, an early settler of Portland township, and bore the same relationship to Mrs. Jane A. Webber, grandmother of Lorenzo Webber, of this village. He was a schoolmate of Charles H. Maynard, president of the Maynard-Allen State Bank. Mr. Welch came to Michigan in 1837, the same year that the territory became a state, and in company with a brother he drove some cattle to this vicinity from Detroit, being at that time only 11 years of age. Not long afterward he entered the employ of the late Ira Webster and made his home on the Webster farm for a number of years. Mr. Welch’s advantages for securing an education were not promising, but in spite of discouraging obstacles he fitted himself for a teacher with the aid of a few text books, picked up here and there. When he came to Michigan he had had only four months’ schooling, but by constant study was able to equip himself for a teacher at the age of 20. For 40 years he taught school in various parts of the state, and was known as Michigan’s oldest schoolmaster. During the summer of 1853 Mr. Welch held a position as conductor on the Michigan Central railroad, being at that time in charge of a work train which drew the timber for the foundation of the old station in Chicago. A. J. Daley, who later filled the position of track superintendent for the Michigan Central, was a brakeman on Mr. Welch’s train at that time. The widow who survives came to Michigan in 1836, and the couple were married on March 10, 1854. One daughter, Mrs. Ella Welch Cobb, of Marshall, also survives. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/w/welch8914nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 2.7 Kb