John Welsh
Marriages
Mary Elizabeth Shields Welsh - May 19, 1875
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - May 9, 1941
Another historical personage in the building of Eagle county
answered the long roll call, when John WELSH, pioneer, miner, cattleman, business
man, banker, foremost citizen and above all a devoted patriot, passed away at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. C.L. HARTMAN, in Denver, early Friday morning,
May 2, 1941.
To those who have lived in the county for many years, the name of John WELSH
means something. For during his career of fifty years no affairs of importance in the
county was decided until Mr. Welsh had been consulted.
While his influence was powerful, his native modesty kept his name from many
actions for the community good. Oft times where his influence was greatest, the
average citizen would not know of his connection with the affair. Born of Joseph and Eliza WELSH at Now London, Province of Ontario, Canada,
March 23, 1852, John WELSH celebrated his 89th birthday only a few weeks before
his death. When he was eleven years old, his parents moved to Kalamazoo, Mich.,
taking their son with them.
There he completed in the common schools the education he had begun those of his
native land, going to work at the trade of brick laying at the age of thirteen. His
father was a carpenter and building contractor and died in 1878, his wife surviving
him one year and passing away in 1879.
John worked at his trade in Kalamazoo until 1872, when he came west to Denver
and worked at his trade there for a time. He went to Alma, in park county, in 1875,
and became interested in mining for a time; he lived for a short time in Saguache
county and then to Leadville. He mined, worked at his trade and freighted between
Leadville and South park for a time. It was in 1881 that he finally moved to Red
Cliff, then a part of Summit county, and established a dairy which he conducted for
three years successfully, before moving down the Eagle valley and taking up a
homestead, the beginning of one of the biggest cow outfits in Western Colorado.
Here it was that he built up a fortune in the cattle business and became one of the
most widely known personages in the state, in politics as well as business affairs.
It was in 1875 that he was married to Miss Mary SHIELDS, a native of Fulton
County, Illinois. His bride joined him in his Colorado home, and was a constant
source of encouragement and help to him until her death several years ago. Two
children were born to the couple, Ursula, who died in infancy in1880, and Sallie R.,
still living and the wife of C.L. HARTMAN.
A lifelong Republican, he was a power in the party's affairs in the state as well as
locally. Among his friends and associates he numbered all of the men prominent in
the affairs of the state during its formative period from 1880 to 1910 - thirty years
filled with many dramatic occurrences, in which Mr. WELSH was quietly in the midst.
He took part in the election that made Colorado a state, and was proud of his part
in that action. He was the first person ever to be named to a Republican national
convention from Eagle county.
He retired from residence on the ranch in 1910, and moved to Eagle, building the
home on Wall and Third streets now owned by T. E. LEWIS. While turning the active
management of the big cattle ranch over to his son-in-law, "Boz" HARTMAN, after
moving to town, he maintained his interest in the ranch. He was a director in the
First Nation Bank of Eagle county for many years, and of the Red Cliff State Bank,
and in 1917 was elected president of the former bank, which position he maintained
until in 1922, when he resigned.
During the World War he was director of the finance committee for Eagle county;
he was a member of the Masonic lodge of Eagle, of the Knights Templar, Shrine,
and attained the 32nd degree in Masonry. Since retiring from active business affairs he divided his time between Denver and
Eagle, the last two years poor hearth confining him almost entirely to his home.
death came following months spent in bed, or sitting in a chair, and we can imagine
John WELSH welcomed the summons from a life which had been full to overflowing,
to that land where his beloved wife awaited him.
The Methodist church in Eagle was crowded Sunday afternoon to witness the last
sad rites for the man who had been great in his day, and of whom many were proud
to say, "John WELSH was my friend."
The funeral bier was banked high and the altar covered with beautiful floral
testimonial of respect. Rev. CASSELMAN, of the local Methodist church, led the
short church service, which was interspersed with songs by a ladies trio. The
Masonic order had charge of the services, and owing to the hard rain which
prevailed all Sunday, their burial service was read I the church. Following this
service, despite the deplorable weather, scores of friends followed the body to the
cemetery, where it was sorrowfully placed in the ground beside that of his beloved
wife.
The deceased is survived by the daughter, Mrs. C. L. HARTMAN, Denver; and
adopted daughter, Mrs. George W. WATSON, Eagle; four grandchildren, and one
great grandchild.
