OBIT: William Welch, 1840, resident of Cambria County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Jim Welch

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/
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The Mountaineer
Ebensburg, PA
January 8, 1840

We are sorry to state that the last snow storm has caused the death of Mr. William Welch, of Johnstown, one of our most respectable and enterprising citizens.  He started from Johnstown on Friday the 27th about noon on his way to Hollidaysburg, intending to go as far as the summit that evening.  Owing to the violence of the storm and the state of the road, he did not reach no. 2 until late in the afternoon, where he left his sleigh and endeavored to reach the summit on horseback.  He did not get further than plane 4 that night and proceeded to the head of the plane, where, contrary to the advice and entreaties of the inmates of the house at which he stopped, abandoned his horse and attempted to reach the summit on foot, having provided himself with two of the middle staves of the head of a flour barrel, which were attached to his hands by strings around the middle.  Thus equipped he proceeded to his journey.  Nothing more was seen or heard of him until next morning, when his body was found partially buried in the snow, life being extinct.  It appears that he had proceeded through the snow until he came within about three-fourths of a mile of the foot of plane 5, when, not knowing the distance, he turned back, intending no doubt to reach the last house he had passed.  He had become completely exhausted and stopped to recruit his strength, whe he was overcome by a lethargy from which he never awakened, or only in eternity.  His body was taken to the summit on Monday, where every attention was bestowed to his remains.  On Tuesday morning the summit people made a general turn-out and succeeded in bringing his body to this place, from whence it was conveyed to Johnstown, where it was interred on Thursday last.  Mr. Welch was the partner of Mr. Samuel Kennedy, in carrying on the Johnstown Foundry.  He was esteemed and respected by all.  By tender parent, and this county one of its best and most enterprising citizens.



NOTE:  On 22 Jun 1826, William Welch married Rachel Maria Harris; they had one child, Edwin Harris, born 23 Mar 1838 in Johnstown, PA.  Edwin Harris Welch died 3 Nov 1915, and was buried in Lock Haven, PA.