Contra Costa County
Biographies
HARRISON S. WELCH
A progressive and enterprising farmer of Contra Costa county, Harrison S. Welch has been a resident of this community since 1860, being now located upon the farm pre-empted by his father the year following their arrival in the state. He was born in St. Albans, Franklin county, Vt., January 5, 1840, a son of Lorenzo D. and Laura (Stanley) Welch, both of whom were natives of the same state. In 1842 they removed to Wisconsin, becoming pioneers of the state and engaging in farming, later going to Illinois. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Betsey E., deceased; Lodeskey, deceased; Harrison S.; Samuel, deceased; Lorenzo, of Palo Alto; Laura, the wife of J. F. Cary of Byron; and William, of Tulare county. In 1860 the father brought his family to California via the Isthmus of Panama, and in the following year pre-empted a quarter section of land upon which H. S. Welch now resides. This property he devoted to general farming purposes, setting out a vineyard of fifteen acres and building an adobe house which formed the first home of the family in the western state. He remained in that located until his death in 1892 at the age of eighty-one years, successfully conducting his farming operations. Mrs. Welch died in Contra Costa county, Cal., at the age of fifty-six years, and he married for a second wife Mrs. Adaline M. Cady.
Harrison S. Welch located with his father in Contra Costa county and shortly after attaining his majority pre-empted a quarter section of land on Marsh creek in section 10, but disposing of this property shortly afterward he rented land for a time and raised wheat. Desirous of owning property he made a purchase of a quarter section, later disposing of it by sale, when he bought his father's ranch of one hundred and sixty acres where he has since made his home. He now devotes the property to grain, stock and gardening, raising a large amount of green corn for market which proves a very profitable crop. His land is peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of nearly all fruits, and these he raises in great abundance.
Mr. Welch married Sophia Dainty, who was born in England the daughter of James Dainty, a farmer and early settler of Contra Costa county, and of this union were born six children, namely: Lorenzo, deceased; Edward, deceased; Laura Belle, who married George Upton, of Contra Costa county, and has one child, Alice; George; Ralph; and Myrtle, the three last names being at home with their parents. Fraternally Mr. Welch affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and politically is a stanch Republican. An evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by his neighbors lies in the fact of his having served for the past twenty-five years as roadmaster, the excellent and well-kept roads in this vicinity speaking eloquently of the ability and faithfulness which he has exercised in the discharge of his duties.
Transcribed
10-6-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1343-1344. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Contra Costa County Biographies