In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1905) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1833, Trumbull County
From County of Williams, Ohio, historical and biographical : with an outline sketch of the Northwest Territory, of the state, and miscellaneous matters (1882), The county of Williams : a history of Williams County, Ohio, from the earliest days, with special chapters on various subjects, including each of the different townships ; also a biographical departme (1905)
JOHN M. WELKER, merchant, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, January 26, 1833, where he resided until 1851, when he went to
Massillon and entered the employ of G. & P. Welker, and subsequently that of Humberger, Oberlin & Co. His mother preceded him to Willliams County in 1852. He came here in 1854, and entered the employ of Col. William Stough, at Pulaski, in a general store, continuing with him until the spring of 1856, when the business was removed to Bryan. In the spring of 1855, he became a partner of Col. Stough, under the firm name of Stough & Welker. In the winter of 1856-57, owing to the panic of that year, the firm failed. In 1856, he married Julia A. Myers, daughter of George W. Myers, one of the old settlers, whose biography accompanies this work. His father-in-law purchasing the stock, Mr. Welker entered his employ until August, 1860, when he and Jacob N. Howe, under the firm name of Howe & Co., purchased the stock and kept up the business. In February, 1865, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Welker removing to Tennessee, where he engaged in raising cotton. He returned to Bryan the same year, and in the fall of 1866 he obtained a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale dry goods house of Chicago. In the spring of 1867, he and A. W. Killits embarked in general merchandising in Bryan, and continued as partners up to 1878. This firm at one time carried on two general stores, and in 1874, Mr. Welker established a cheese factory. On the dissolution of the firm, in 1878, the store stock was divided. Mr. W. still carries on the manufacture of cheese, and in the spring of 1881, established a creamery in connection with the cheese factory. He manufactures an average of 140,000 pounds per annum. Besides these, Mr. Welker owns a cheese factory at Eaton, and one in partnership at Edgerton. In addition to his manufacturing interests, Mr. Welker is senior of the firm of Welker, Dales & Co., dealers in dry goods, shoes and carpets. They carry in this line a stock of goods valued at about $17,000, and are doing an average annual business of $40,000. Mr. Welker is a Democrat; was a member of the Town Council; has held several official positions in the gift of the Democratic party, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having ascended to knighthood in that order, and being a member of Toledo Commandery, No. 7. He and wife are members of the Universalist Church and the parents of six children — Emma, now Mrs. Dales; Alice M., who died the wife of E. T. Binns; Louis J., George M. and John J.
As printed in County of Williams, Ohio, historical and biographical : with an outline sketch of the Northwest Territory, of the state, and miscellaneous matters (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN M. WELKER, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Bryan, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, on January 26, 1833, and was reared and educated there. At the age of eighteen years, impelled by the energy and desire to do things which have characterized a long and honorable life, he went to Massillon, O., where he entered the employ of G. & P. Welker. Subsequently he engaged with Humberger, Oberlin & Co., remaining with that firm three years. In 1854 he removed to Williams county, and since that time he has been prominently identified with the commercial interests of this section of the State. His first employment here was with Col. William Stough, long a prominent figure in the affairs of Williams county, who at that time was conducting a general store at the village of Pulaski. At the f,<)2 HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY expiration of one year lie became a partner in the business, the firm name being Stough & Welker. In the spring of 1856 the establishment was removed to Bryan. A few months after this removal the storm clouds of the panic of 1857 appeared, and the firm of Stough & Welker, as was true of scores of others, succumbed to the inevitable and was forced to close its doors. The stock of goods was purchased by George W. Myers who placed Mr. Welker in charge. In August, 1860, Mr.. Welker and Jacob Howe purchased the business of Mr. Myers and conducted it under the firm name of Howe & Co. until 1865. The firm was then dissolved and Mr. Welker engaged in growing cotton in Tennessee, maintaining his home, however, in Bryan, where his family remained. As this venture did not prove profitable, he returned to Bryan the following year and accepted a position as a traveling Salesman for a wholesale dry-goods house in Chicago. After working in this capacity for one year he embarked in the general merchandise business at Bryan with Andrew W. Killits, the father of John M. Killits, common pleas judge. The business proved very profitable and was continued until 1878, when the stock was divided. In 1874 Mr. Welker established a cheese factory in Bryan and later a creamery was added to it. The output of the combined concern was 140,000 pounds a year. He also owned a cheese factory at Edon and an interest in one at Edgerton. In 1878 Mr. Killitts withdrew from the partnership and was succeeded by Oscar L. Dales, a son-in-law of Mr. Welker, the firm name being Welker, Dales & Co. After a year Mr. Dales withdrew and Mr. Welker conducted the business alone until 1885, when a partnership was formed with I. E. Gardner. In 1892 Mr. Gardner was succeeded by George M., the eldest son of Mr. Welker. This firm still exists and the establishment is readily acknowledged to be the largest dry-goods house in the county. In addition to the business interests mentioned Mr. Welker has been identified with other important enterprises, all tending to the upbuilding of Bryan and Williams county. He was one of the organizers of the Union Trust and Savings Bank of Bryan and for a long time a director of the Farmers’ National Bank of the same place. For years he has been one of the most extensive wool-buyers in Northwestern Ohio, handling annually more than a million pounds. With his characteristic method of mastering every detail of any business in which he is engaged, he has made an exhaustive study of all branches of the wool industry from the growing of the sheep to the final consumption of the wool. In this way he became a recognized authority upon the subject. When the wool tariff was a burning political question his advice was frequently sought by members of Congress, and his arguments were quoted in the halls of the national legislature and on the political hastings. Mr. Welker has contributed to the press many instructive articles on this vital subject. Although taking such a deep interest in a great political issue, and giving of his talent, time and money to promote the success of the party that has always championed protection, yet Mr. Welker has never sought political preferment. His interest in politics has been that of a good citizen and the positions that he has held have come to him unsolicited.
The social side of life has not been neglected by him, notwithstanding the fact that his time has been given so strenuously to business. In June, 1855, he was made a Mason in Collins Lodge of Bryan, and he is now in point of membership the oldest Mason in Williams county, Collins Lodge having been succeeded by Fountain City Lodge, No. 215. He belongs to Defiance, O., Commandery, Knights Templar, and to Cleveland Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Myers, eldest daughter of George W. Myers, one of the earliest settlers and most prominent citizens of Williams county. To this union five children have been born. They are: Emma R., the wife of Oscar L. Dales, now a practicing physician of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Alice M., deceased, who was the wife of E. T. Binns, a prominent merchant of Bryan; Julia Louise, the wife. of Reuben L. Starr, a leading member of the Bryan bar; George M., who is associated with his father in business and who married Miss Minnie Haine; John J., a prominent dentist of Toledo, O., who married Miss Grace Boothman, a daughter of the late ex-Congressman Boothman. Thus in a brief way has been given the record of an active, enterprising man of affairs, an excellent type of that class to which not only Williams county but also the State of Ohio owes its position in the business world today. Although Mr. Welker has passed the allotted “three score years and ten” he is still active and vigorous and in the full enjoyment of excellent health, the priceless reward of an industrious life and abstemious habits. Such a life record is not alone of value to his immediate family and friends, but the American youth can see in it the possibilities of our citizenship, and draw from it inspiration that cannot fail to be a help to them in their individual careers.
As printed in The county of Williams : a history of Williams County, Ohio, from the earliest days, with special chapters on various subjects, including each of the different townships ; also a biographical departme (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: George W. Myers (b. 1808) William Stough (b. 1848)
The printed record stops around 1882. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.