Edward Welch Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 386-389

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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EDWARD WELCH, the well known and popular proprietor of a general store 
in Letcher, is an enterprising and progressive business man, whose well 
directed efforts, sound judgment and untiring industry have brought him 
success. For seventeen years he has been identified with the commercial 
interests of this town and is now proprietor of the leading general 
mercantile establishment. 

Mr. Welch is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in that state 
in 1855. His parents were both natives of the Emerald Isle and came to 
America in 1830, locating upon a farm in Ohio, whence they removed to 
Wisconsin. The subject of this sketch spent much of his youth upon a 
farm in the Badger state, but at the age of fifteen accompanied his 
parents to Hancock county, Iowa, and the following year accepted a 
position in a newspaper office, partially learning the printer's trade 
as an employee on the "Signal," which was published in Garner, Iowa. At 
the age of seventeen he began learning telegraphy, and for nine years 
was in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company 
as telegraph operator and agent, being stationed at different times in 
Mason City, Garner and Lawler, Iowa, and in Bridgewater and Letcher, 
South Dakota. He first came to this state in 1880, being agent for the 
railroad company at Bridgewater, and in July, 1882, he was transferred 
to Letcher, where he has since made his home. The year of his arrival 
he began general merchandising in partnership with Conner Coony, but in 
1883 he abandoned railroad work, purchased his partner's interest and 
has since been alone in business. The store was opened with a stock 
valued at about two thousand dollars, but from the beginning the 
patronage has constantly increased and in consequence he has enlarged 
his facilities to meet the growing demand of the trade. In 1892 he 
erected a store building, twenty-four by sixty feet, and in 1898 put on 
an addition in the rear so that the dimensions of the store are now 
twenty-four by ninety-two feet, the largest in Letcher. In addition to 
this property Mr. Welch also owns two improved farms in this vicinity 
and their rental adds not a little to his income. 

In 1897 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Welch and Miss Annie Garmby, 
a native of Wisconsin. Her parents were also born in this country, but 
were of Irish parentage. Prior to her marriage she was a successful 
school teacher and was employed in the schools of Letcher for several 
terms. Their home is noted for its culture and its hospitality is 
enjoyed by their many friends. In his political affiliations Mr. Welch 
is a stalwart Democrat, has held some minor offices in the township and 
city, and during President Cleveland's first administration was 
postmaster of Letcher. He has been active in furthering the interests 
of his party in this locality, was a delegate to the state convention 
in Yankton, in 1892, and on another occasion was the representative of 
his district in the state convention. He is justly accounted one of the 
leading business men of Letcher. Enterprising and progressive, he keeps 
thoroughly abreast with the times, and his reliability has won him, the 
confidence and good will of the public. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Welch 
appear on another page of this volume.