In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1859
From History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885), History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1906)
JACOB R. WELCH, physician, Spencerville, was born at Cuba, Ohio, March 16, 1859, about a month after the death of his father, Jacob Welch, who was the only practicing M. D. in Cuba at that time. Not having his father’s care, our subject was early thrown upon his own resources, and while still a youth was employed by a large firm in shipping stock during the summers, and in the winter season attending school. He entered the college at Fort Wayne, in the fall of 1870, and graduated in the commercial department at the end of a four years’ course. He then engaged in teaching for three years in succession. He also attended the normal Schools of Valparaiso, Ind. At the age of eighteen years he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. C. B. Stemen, of Fort Wayne, with whom he remained two years; and afterward attended Fort Wayne College of Medicine, graduating March 1, 1882. He immeately entered upon the practice of his profession at Spencerville, in partnership with Dr. C. B. Rice, whom he bought out six months later. Although young, he has been more than ordinarily successful, and has obtained a business which usually follows years of hard labor. As an evidence of the confidence placed in his skill as a surgeon, he was appointed, November 28, 1883, as surgeon of the C. & A. R. R. Co. His education and property are the result of his own efforts; from the age of ten years he was the support of his mother, who died November 15, 1883. He was married May 7, 1885, to Miss Mollie Miller, daughter of Harvey Miller, of Warsaw, Ind.
As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ACOB R. WELCH, M. D.,who has the distinction of being the oldest resident physician at Spencerville, as well as one of the town’s busiest and most useful citizens, was born at Cuba, Putnam County, Ohio, March 16. 1859, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Allen) Welch.
Jacob R. Welch was the only child of his parents and was born after the death of his father, who had been a practicing physician at Cuba. His bereaved mother survived until November 15, 1883, and from the age of 10 years our subject had given his best efforts to make her life one of ease. He attended school during the winter seasons and through the good management of his mother and by reason of his own ambition passed creditably through the Fort Wayne (Indiana) High School. He worked at the various employments open to a youth at that time and proved his efficiency in many ways. In 1870 he entered the Methodist college at Fort Wayne and took a preparatory medical course and was graduated at the end of four years. He then followed teaching for three years in succession and, as chance offered, attended the Indiana State Normal School at Valparaiso. His medical reading was done under Dr. C. B. Stemen at Fort Wayne and in 1879 he reentered the college at Fort Wayne and was graduated in medicine with the class of 1882.
As soon as he possessed his coveted degree, Dr. Welch, with a capital of $5 and abundant energy, came to the village of Spenvercille and entered into practice, first with Dr. C. B. Rice, whom he bought out six months later. One year after locating here, on November 28, 1883, he was appointed surgeon for the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad. For five years his manner of visiting patients scattered through Allen, Van Wert and Mercer counties was on horseback, and he was obliged to keep three saddle horses in order to attend to the needs of a large and constantly increasing practice. Now his automobile awaits at his office door but his field of practice has been confined to a much smaller territory than in the old days when a call was answered no matter from what distance, both as a matter of humanity as well as for selfish reasons. The town at that time had about 600 inhabitants. He recalls many of his earlier brother physicians, namely: Hart, Campbell, Renner, Travis, Rice, Pethrick, three of these still surviving and working in other fields.
On May 7 1885 Dr. Welch was married to Mollie Miller, a daughter of Harvey Miller, of Warsaw, Indiana. Three children were born to them. Their only daughter, Mildred, is a student in the Spencerville High School.
In addition to his heavy professional labors, Dr. Welch has been interested in a number of business enterprises at Spencerville, including a. produce business, oil developing and the presidency of the Spencerville Artificial Stone Company, but his profession has always come first and in it he 'is honored and gratefully remembered all through this section. He was one of the early promoters of the various medical organizations and belongs to county and State medical societies, to the Northwestern Medical Association and to the other bodies of a local character. In civic affairs he has always shown a good citizen’s interest and was serving as a member of the School Board when the handsome schoolhouse was erected in Spencerville. He belongs to Masonic Lodge No. 306 and to the Knights of Pythias, both at Spencerville.
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As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Jacob R. Welch
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.