Biography of Michael Phillips Welch(1913-1979), my wife's Grandfather

I am including biographies of people from my Wife's side of the family.  Since I don't have family stories related to them I will mostly be presenting what I can glean from documentation. If other's have stories they would like me to add, I am happy to do so.   If you want to see this writeup with pictures you can go to the biography page.

Michael Welch

Michael Phillips Welch(1913-1979)

Birth: December 20th, 1913 in Westfield, IA

Father:  Edward B. Welch(1855-1924)

Mother: Mary Josephine Pelroy(1873-1955)

Married:  Dorothy E. Johnson(1920-2013) on August 5th, 1938 in Union, SD

Children:

• Lawrence Michael Welch(1939-2005)
• Living Daughter
• Thomas Patrick Welch(1942-1942)
• Living Son
• Living Daughter
• Living Daughter
• Living Daughter
• Living Daughter
• Living Son

Died: November 7th, 1979 in Westfield, IA

Michael Phillip Welch was born on December 20th, 1913 to Edward B. Welch and Mary Josephine Pelroy in Westfield IA.  He was the seventh of nine children.  He was living with the family on the family farm in 1920.  He was 7 years old and could speak, read and write English. 

His father died on January 18th, 1924 and, according to the 1925 Iowa Census, he was living with his mother and siblings in Westfield, IA in 1925.  At this point he had completed the 3rd grade in school. The 1930 U.S. Census has the family containing to live on the farm. Michael is listed as being 16 years old and attending school.  Some of the older siblings have moved out. 

According to the 1940 U.S. Census, Michael was still living in Westfield in 1935.  He married Dorothy Johnson of Elk Point, SD on August 5th, 1938 in Beresford, SD.  Their marriage was officiated by J.D. Kirley, a Catholic Priest. Michael was 24 and Dorothy was 18.

Their first child, Lawrence Michael was born in 1939 in Westfield, IA.  The family was living with Michael's older brother Joseph in 1940.  Michael was the head of the household and rented a farm for which he paid $800 a month. This was the same house he lived in in 1935. He had completed up to his sophomore year in High School.  On October 16th, 1940 he registered for the draft.  He is listed as living on R1 in Westfield, IA with his wife.  He is 5'8" tall and weighs 145 lbs. with blue eye, brown hair and a Ruddy complexion.

Their first daughter was born in 1941. Their second son, Thomas Patrick was born in 1942 and died within 3 months.  Another son was born in 1943 followed by a daughter in about 1945.  Twin girls were born in 1948.  The 1950 U.S. Census shows Michael living with his wife, 2 sons and 4 daughters on a farm south of Linden in Westfield, IA.  He is 36 years old and works 65 hours a week as a farmer.  

The couple had two more children, a daughter in 1960 and a son in 1963.  I've found no other records until his death on November 7th, 1979 in Akron, IA. He is buried in Saint Patrick's Cemetery in Akron, IA.  Here is a transcription of his obituary.

Michael Welch

Akron, Iowa-Michael P. Welch, 65, Akron, died Wednesday in an Akron hospital of a long illness.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Patrick Catholic Church. The Rev. Stanley Stone will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

The Rosery will be recited at 8 p.m. Friday in the Schroeder Funeral Home.

Mr. Welch was born Dec. 20, 1913, at Westfield.

He married Dorothy Johnson Aug 5 1938 at Beresford, S.D. They lived their entire married life n Plymouth County, farming near Westfield until moving to Akron four years ago.

Survivors include the widow, five daughters, Mrs. John (Theresa) Carey of Marion Ind., Mrs. Bill (Ruth) Hinton of Owatonna, Minn., Mrs. Ivan (Marlene) Wessling of Waterloo, Mrs. Gordon (Kathleen) Von Ahsen of Tracy, Minn., and Miss Lunette Welch of Owatonna; three sons, Lawrence, and Louis, both of Sioux City and Michael Jr. at home; a sister, Mrs. Daryl (Julia) Taylor of Akron, and 11 grandchildren.

Michael Welch Service

Michael Welch Gravestone

Sources

• 1920 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1920; Census Place: Westfield, Plymouth, Iowa; Roll: T625_506; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 138; Image: 1063.
• 1930 United States Federal Census: residence date: 1930 residence place: Westfield, Plymouth, Iowa, USA birth date: 20 Dec 1913 birth place: Westfield, Plymouth, Iowa, USA Name: Micheal Phillip Welch
• 1940 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1940; Census Place: Westfield, Plymouth, Iowa; Roll: T627_1190; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 75-37.
• 1950 United States Federal Census: United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Westfield, Plymouth,
• Iowa, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1999: Name Marlin Michael Philip Welch, Birth Date 20 Dec 1913, Birth Place Westfield, Plymouth, Iowa, Father Ed Welch, Mother Mary Pelroy, FHL Film Number 1412134
• Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925: Name Michael Welch, Age 11, Birth Year 1914, Birth Place Iowa, Residence Date 1 Jan 1925, Residence Place Westfield, Plymouth, Iowa, USA, Race White, Gender Male, Relation to Head Son, Marital Status Single, Father Ed Welch, Father Birth Place South Dakota, Mother Mary Pelroy, Mother Age 48, Mother Birth Year 1877, Mother Birth Place South Dakota, Parents' Marriage Place Iowa
• Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current: Sioux City Journal; Publication Date: 9/ Nov/ 1979; Publication Place: Sioux City, Iowa, United States of America; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/336014397/?article=419d9a67-c0ee-4618-8e8a-c1b89dd3f759&focus=0.2440428,0.081958584,0.34688812,0.377961
• South Dakota Marriages, 1905-1949: Name Mike Welch, Gender Male, Marriage Age 24, Birth Date 1914, Record Type Marriage, Residence Date 1938, Residence Post Office Westfield, IA. Residence Place Plymouth, Marriage Date 5 Aug 1938, Marriage Place Union, South Dakota, USA, Spouse Dorothy Johnson, Certificate 202558
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current: Name: Michael P. Welch, Gender: Male, Birth Date: 20 Dec 1913, Birth Place: Westfield, Plymouth County, Iowa, United States of America, Death Date: 7 Nov 1979, Death Place: Akron, Plymouth County, Iowa, United States of America
• Cemetery: Saint Patricks Cemetery, Burial or Cremation Place: Akron, Plymouth County, Iowa, United States of America, Has Bio?: Y, Father: Edward Welch, Mother: Mary Josephine Welch, Spouse: Dorothy Edith Welch, Children: Larry M. Welch, Thomas P. Welch, URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9524517/michael-p.-welch
• .S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947: National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Iowa, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 534