My Genealogy Hound

William Welsh, one of the most prominent and influential men of Knox County, is a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and born August 16, 1842. He is a son of Patrick G. and Margaret J. (Eagleson) Welsh. The Welsh family is of Scotch descent. The father of our subject was a native of the same county as his son. He traveled for the firm of Van Burgen & Co., of New York, exporters of sugar and molasses, and crossed the Atlantic eleven times. A great portion of his time was spent at New Orleans, and along the coast, receiving goods. He came to America, and became a citizen of the United States in October, 1830. He afterward returned to his native land, married, and brought his family to America in 1850. He first located at New Orleans, and in 1852 removed his family to a farm in Adams County, Ill., and in 1850 became a resident of Knox County, Mo., which was afterward his home, although his business kept him on the road a great deal of the time. He died September 10, 1870, in Edina, Mo., at the age of eighty. In youth he learned the cooper’s trade, at which he worked but very little. He was a member of the Catholic Church. His wife. Margret J. Eagleson, was born in Scotland, and died in Quincy. Ill., when our subject was quite young. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is one of three sons— Daniel, William and Charles P. He received his education in the public schools of Quincy, Ill., and those of Knox County, Mo. Since boyhood he has been engaged in farming and stock raising in the neighborhood where he now resides. Mr. Welsh began life a poor boy, but with industry, determination and good management has succeeded in accumulating a comfortable home, and some valuable real estate. His homestead of 500 acres is beautifully and advantageously located, well improved and cultivated. In 1878 he was one of the two regular Democratic nominees that were elected to the assessorship of Knox County. In the year following he assessed the county, and also in 1880, but since then has taken no active part in politics. In 1864 he wedded Lucy A. Reid, daughter of John and Phoebe (Cracraft) Reid. Her father was born December 25, 1809, in Mason County, Ky., where he was reared and married. He immigrated to Missouri in 1835, and settled in Monroe County, and later came to the neighborhood in which our subject now resides. He was one of the pioneers of this locality, an honest and industrious man, and well esteemed by all who knew him. He died December 18, 1870. Mrs. Reid was born in 1818, in Mason County, Ky., and now resides in Shelby County, Mo. She was the mother of five children, Mrs. Welsh being the youngest. She was born in the year 1844, within half a mile of where she now lives. To her union with Mr. Welsh one son and one daughter have been born: Ivy E.. now the wife of Robert E. Lee Greenley, of Knox County, and John W., who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Welsh is an Odd Fellow, a Democrat, and is one of the foremost men of his county.