Charles M. Welsh

    Charles M. Welsh, one of the general dealers of Fairbanks, was born July 16, 1856, a son of James M. and Eliza A. (Thixton) Welsh. The father was born in Clark County, Illinois, and the mother in Fairbanks, Indiana. The grandparents were John Welsh, born in Kentucky and Bluford and Betsie (Welton) Thixton, of Knox County, Indiana. The parents were married in Fairbanks Township and settled on a farm there, and there the mother died July 2, 1895, and the father September 10, 1902. Charles M. is the third of three sons and four daughters born to his parents. He spent his boyhood days on the farm, as most farmer boys do, and remained at home until thirty-six years of age. In 1890 he went to the town of Fairbanks and commenced to deal in flour and corn meal. This he carried on successfully until 1895, when he engaged in the general merchandise business. he was compelled to rebuild and greatly enlarge his business house to accommodate his increasing trade. His store is thirty-five by one hundred and thirty feet.

    Politically he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Odd Fellows Order, Lodge No. 763, of Fairbanks, and is also identified with Masonry, a member of Lodge No. 373 at Fairbanks, of the Chapter of Sullivan, of the Sullivan Commandery and of the Scottish Rite of Indianapolis.

    Mr. Welsh was united in marriage, April 15, 1884, to Mary Rebecca Holmes, born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (Rickets) Holmes, of the same county in Ohio. Mrs. Welsh died December 23, 1893, without issue. He married November 19, 1908, Mrs. Josie (Devol) Dilley. She was born on the 22d of August, 1869, at Middletown, Indiana.

Source: A History of Sullivan County, Indiana. Closing of the first century’s history of the county and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth. Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909, page 331.