Few residents of Macoupin county have attained a greater measure of
success than Richard Welch, who during his active connection with business
interests in this county was identified with various enterprises, all of
which felt the stimulus of his keen business sagacity. He is one of
England’s contributions to the citizenship of Illinois, his birth having
occurred in Dorchestershire, England, on the 5th of March, 1834. His parents
were Joseph and Precilla (Reader) Welch, also natives of that portion of
England, where the mother’s death occurred. The father, however, crossed the
Atlantic to America a few years prior to his demise. In their family were
six children, namely: John and Mary, both deceased; Richard, of this review;
William, residing at Primghar, Iowa; Hannah, who has also passed away; and
Elizabeth, of England.
Richard Welch attended the common schools of
England in the acquirement of his education, remaining a pupil therein until
twelve years of age. He then began earning his own livelihood, his initial
step in the business world being in connection with agricultural pursuits.
He engaged at farm work until 1857 an< ^ then, desiring to find better
opportunities for advancement than were afforded by his native country, he
sought the opportunities of the new world, coming to the United States when
about twenty-three years of age. He located first at Alton, Illinois, where
he remained until 1861 when, at the opening of hostilities between the north
and south, he joined Company I, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and
for three years was at the front, serving in the thickest of the fight. He
was in the battle of Pea Ridge, and soon after was wounded in a naval
engagement in Louisiana. Up to the time he was wounded he had participated
in fifty important skirmishes. He was honorably discharged at the expiration
of his term of service and upon returning to civic life located at Woodburn,
Macoupin county, and there for many years was identified with a general
merchandise enterprise, his efforts in that direction resulting in unusual
success. He was likewise interested in real estate in Woodburn and Bunker
Hill and various other enterprises which yet engage his attention although
about a year ago he retired from the mercantile field and took up his
residence in Bunker Hill, where he now makes his home.
In 1864
occurred the marriage of Mr. Welch to Miss Grace E. Eddington, a native of
England who came to the United States when only one year old, her parents
taking up their abode on a farm in Macoupin county. Unto this union have
been born nine children, as follows: Richard Eddington, a merchant of Bunker
Hill; J. H., engaged in the merchandise business at Benld, this county; L.
M. and Stella, both at home; Olive B., the wife of C. A. Wood, of Shipman;
A. T., a merchant of Woodburn, Illinois; C. A., engaged in teaching in
Bunker Hill; J. A., a farmer of Madison county; and R. R., a railroad
fireman. The parents hold membership in the Congregational church while the
political support of Mr. Welch is given unfalteringly to the republican
party. Although he has never cared to figure prominently in the public life
of the community, he served as postmaster at Woodburn for thirteen years.
Nevertheless he has ever felt deeply interested in those matters which
engage the attention of public-spirited and progressive citizens of today,
and at all time casts the weight of his influence on the side of those
projects which tend toward advancement and improvement in civic affairs.
Progress and patriotism have been the keynote to his career and the success
which today ranks him among the most prosperous citizens of Macoupin county
has come as the result of a life characterized by the most honorable methods
and high ideals.
Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 56-57.
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