My Genealogy Hound

Anson E. Welch, owning a fine farm of 80 acres in section 30, Springfield township, Oakland County, came to Michigan in 1880. He was born in Wyoming, Wyoming County, New York, January 9, 1839, and is a son of George and Harriet J. (Wright) Welch, the former of whom was born in Vermont, as was also his father, of Scotch extraction, and the latter in the State of New York. George Wright died in Oakland County in January, 1903 aged 87 years. His five children were: Anson E., named for his paternal grandfather; Enam and Elam, twins, the former of Georgia, and the latter of New York; and Mrs. Olive Head and George, both deceased.

When Anson E. Welch came to Oakland County, he located on his present farm where he has followed farming and stock raising very successfully. He raises only high grade cattle, keeping 15 head, and a number of Percheron and Clydesdale horses, while his sheep and swine are of Shropshire and Poland-China breeds, respectively. He makes a leading feature of hay, realizing a large amount from 30 acres, while the other products of his land are wheat, corn, beans and potatoes.

On November 24, 1861, Mr. Welch was married to Clara Irwin, who was born at Bethany, Genesee County, New York, and is a daughter of John and Lydia Irwin, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of New York. Seven children have been born to them, as follows: Irwin, a manufacturer of Chicago; Arthur S., an attorney of Chicago; Mrs. Claribel Daffer, of Chicago, who has two children, Helen and Gordon; Mrs. Ora Traphagen, of Armada, Michigan; H. Eugene, who lives with his father; Richard A., who is studying electrical engineering in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor; and James A., who is a law student in the same institution.

In political sentiment Mr. Welch is a Democrat. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and to the Farmers’ Club of White Lake.