Michael Welch (1857)

Born Jul 1857 in Indiana

Husband of Matilda Lucille (Groshans) Welch — married 25 Oct 1885 in Knox, Indiana

Descendants

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Biography

In the 1880 Census, a 19 year-old railroad worker is boarding with the family of Peter and Lydda Walsh in Grovertown, Starke Co., Indiana. This young man, Michael Welch, is very likely the same Michael Welsch who, in five years time, would marry his next-door-neighbor - the currently 14 year-old Lucy M. Groshans.^[1]

On 25 October 1885, Michael J. Welch (27) marries "Tilla" (Matilda) Grosahns (20) in Knox, Starke Co., IN.^[2]

On the 1900 census, Michael (42) and wife "Lillie Lucy" (34) are living at 315 E. Priscilla St. (According to the General Ordinances of South Bend Indiana, 1916, Priscilla St. was changed to Keasey St. by ordinance No. 1124 on July 14,1902 - it doesn't seem to exist any more, but was located about where Dean Johnson Blvd. and fellows Street now intersect.), South Bend, IN with their three children, Pearl M. (b.Dec.1887), Floyd C. (b.Jul.1890), and Ora M. (b.Mar.1893). The couple has been married for 14 years (ca.1886). Michael is listed as being born in Indiana, and his father born in Ireland, his mother in New York. He is employed as a laborer. Lillie was born in Indiana, with her father in Germany and her mother in Indiana.^[3]

In 1901 Michael (laborer) and Matilda are at the same Priscilla St. address in South Bend.^[4]

In 1903, Michael and Matilda are listed at 315 E. Keasey St. in South Bend, but this street aslo no longer exists, and seemss to just be Priscilla street, renamed.^[5]

In 1905, 1906, and 1908, Michael (mason) and Matilda are living at 916 S. Lafayette St., South Bend, IN.^[6][7][8] May of their children are shown living there (or nearby) and working at various businesses in town.

By the 1910 census, Michael J. (51 mason tender b. IN, father born IRE, mother born USA) and Matilda L. Welch (44) are living at 916 S. Lafayette St., South Bend, IN with their children Pearl (22 - a servant for a private family), Floyd (19 - a collar cutter in a harness factory), Florence (9), Ruth (6), and Ralphord (4). ^[9]

By the time of the 1920 census, Michael's wife Matilda is listed as widowed.^[10]

Records of Michael's death or burial have yet to be located. A living descendant of Michael told me of family lore indicating that he may have been kicked out of the home by his wife for alcoholism (so he may still have been alive in 1920 when his wife claimed to be a widow).

Research Notes

Possible candidates for Michael and his family before his marriage:

• 1870 - Michael Welch (14, b.IN) living in Connersville IN with Pat and Mary Welch, his 50 y.o. Irish-born parents, and 2 siblings.

• 1870 - Michael Welch (13, b.IN) living in or near Greensburg, IN with John (45) and Bridget (40) Welch, his Irish-born parents, and 5 younger siblings. (supposedly Bridget Hoy (daughter of Michael Hoy) m. John Welch in Ire, in 1830)

• 1870 - Michael Welch (7 b. IN) living in Bloomington, IN with his parents Thomas (60 stone mason, b. IRE) and Mary (58 b. IRE) and five siblings.

• 1870 - Michael Welch (15 b. IN) living in Madison Twp., Tipton Co., IN with his parents Timothy (50 farm laborer b. IRE)) and Ann (40 b. IRE) and eight siblings.

• 1914 - Michael J. Welch marrying a Francis D Dunsworth in Lake Co., IN

The problem with each of these families, though, is that Michael states in two censuses that his father was born in Ireland, but his mother was born in New York - and all of the mothers in these families were born in Ireland.

There is another family named variously Welch/Welch/Walsh with a father from Ireland and a mother from New York. Martin was born in Ireland ca. 1820, and Bridget, the mother, was born in New York ca. 1832. They are in Wabash County in 1860 with a 4-year-old Michael.^[11] Then in Miami County in 1870^[12] and again in 1880.^[13] By 1880, Martin has died. However, Michael is shown as a 23-year-old living in Miami County in 1880 - did he also appear the same year as a 19-year-old boarder in Starke County? Another problem with this family is that they all show up on the same tombstone in Wabash County under the name "Walsh." (See here) And "Michael F. Walsh" is shown as having died in 1910. This is all *possible* - but a bit of a stretch. This is probably not Michael's family, but many of his details fit, nonetheless.

The likeliest possibility for Michael's parentage is the family of William W. Welch and Mary Ann Patterson in Marshall Co. IN. William and Mary were married in Marshall Co. in 1858^[14]. Their son Michael shows up as 10-year-old Michael J. in the 1870 census^[15], and as 20-year-old Michael in the 1880 census,^[16]. In the 1880 Census, Michael is working as a railroad section hand, which is a job our Michael is listed as having later in life in South Bend. This could also mean Michael was counted twice in the 1880 census - once at his family home, and once as a boarder working on the railroad the next county over (see the first paragraph at top). Also, the father, William, was born in Ireland, and the mother, Mary, was born in Ohio - so the Irish/American parentage fits better. Also, this family was farming in western Marshall Co. - probably within 20 miles of the Groshans family next door in Starke Co.

Probable sources for Michael in South Bend after marrying:

• The 1894 South Bend directory has Michael Welch, a Vandalia section hand, living at 1106 S. Michigan St. (There is another Michael Welch listed on N. Notre Dame Ave., but later years show his wife to be different).^[17]. He is at the same address with the same job in 1896.^[18]

• In 1899 a Michael Welch, laborer, is living at 305 E. Dubail Ave., South Bend, IN. ^[19]

Both of these entries list his wife as Matilda.

Possible illness:

Michael Welch taken to hospital in South Bend on March 12, 1914.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHS6-MCX : 19 August 2017), Michael Welch in household of Peter Walsh, Grovertown, Starke, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 171, sheet 405A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0310; FHL microfilm 1,254,310.
2. ↑ "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KF83-D9K : accessed 27 March 2016), Michael J Welch and Tilla Groshons, 25 Oct 1885; citing Starke, Indiana, United States, various county clerk offices, Indiana; FHL microfilm 1,605,297.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M999-HZK : accessed 27 March 2016), Michael J Welch, Portage Township, Precinct 2 South Bend city Ward 7, St. Joseph, Indiana, United States; citing sheet 9B, family 216, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,240,402.
4. ↑ South Bend, Indiana, City Directory, 1901. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Accessed at (https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/2469/10728581) : 11 March 2018.
5. ↑ South Bend, Indiana, City Directory, 1903. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Accessed at (https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/2469/11573757) : 11 March 2018.
6. ↑ South Bend, Indiana, City Directory, 1905. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Accessed at (https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/2469/11743747) : 11 March 2018.
7. ↑ South Bend, Indiana, City Directory, 1906. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Accessed at (https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/2469/11608113) : 11 March 2018.
8. ↑ South Bend, Indiana, City Directory, 1908. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Accessed at (https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/2469/11763613) : 11 March 2018.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK5G-6W5 : accessed 27 March 2016), Michael J Welch in household of Matilda L Welch, South Bend Ward 7, St Joseph, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 192, sheet 1A, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,391.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF4F-K69 : accessed 27 March 2016), Ruth Welch in household of Matilda Welch, South Bend Ward 1, St Joseph, Indiana, United States; citing sheet 8A, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,820,463.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4NW-NBB : 13 December 2017), Bridget Welsh in entry for Martin Welsh, 1860.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX6Q-8V3 : 12 April 2016), Micheal Welch in the household of Martin Welch, Indiana, United States; citing p. 12, family 98, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,842.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH9T-RZC : 14 August 2017), Bridget Welch, Peru, Miami, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 119, sheet 519B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0298; FHL microfilm 1,254,298.
14. ↑ "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XXGL-QHW : 8 December 2017), William W Welch and Mary A Patterson, 12 Feb 1858; citing Marshall, Indiana, United States, Marriage Registration, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 004476607.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX6S-H69 : 19 March 2020), William Welsh, 1870.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH9R-CTG : 7 September 2017), William Welch, West, Marshall, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 107, sheet 176B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,297.
17. ↑ South Bend, Indiana, City Directory, 1894. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Accessed at (https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/2469/10815906) ; 11 March 2018.
18. ↑ South Bend, Indiana, City Directory, 1896. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Accessed at (https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/2469/10743779) : 11 March 2018.
19. ↑ South Bend, Indiana, City Directory, 1899. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Accessed at (https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/2469/10879118) : 11 March 2018.