Lorenzo D. Welch
Lorenzo D. Welch, president of the Miami township joint school board, superintendent of roads in his district in that township and owner of a farm one mile south of the village of Yellow Springs, was bom in Miami township on March 25, 1871, son of Jasper L. and Barbara A. (Flatter) Welch, both of whom also were born in this county, and who spent practically all their lives here, their last days being spent in Yellow Springs, to which village they had moved upon their retirement from the farm in 1891.
Jasper L. Welch was born on July 21, 1833, on a farm in that part of Greene county now comprised in New Jasper township, where his parents had settled upon coming here from Maryland. He grew up in this county and with the exception of two or three years spent in Darke county, this state, continued to make his home here. On March 5, 1857, he married Barbara A. Flatter, who was born in Xenia township on January 15, 1833, and after his marriage established his home on a farm in Miami township and there continued engaged in farming until his retirement in 1891 and removal to Yellow Springs, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Jasper L. Welch died on October 6, 1906, and his widow died on January 1, 1914. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom died in infancy, the others being as follow: Agnes, born on November 29, 1857, who married Morris Beal, of this county, and died on April 9, 1917; Harriet, July 6, 1867, who is now making her home in California, having interests both in that state and in the state of Nevada; Lorenzo D., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Margaret, December 7, 1873, who died on June 5, 1900, and Grace, April 7, 1877, who married Orman Roe and is now living in Chicago.
Lorenzo D. Welch grew up on the home farm in Miami township and received his schooling in the local schools. He was married when twenty-two years of age and he and his bride began housekeeping on a farm in Xenia township. The next year they moved to the Baker place in Miami township and were there for four years, at the end of which time they moved to another rented farm and there made their home for three years. They then moved to town and after a residence of about a year there resumed farming and for six years thereafter made their home on the Hyde farm. Mr. Welch then, in October, 1903, bought tlie farm of seventy-five acres on which he is now living, a mile south of Yellow Springs, established his home there and has ever since made that his place of residence. In addition to the home tract he is the owner of a tract of one hundred and thirty-six acres just across the road from his home. Mr. Welch is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Yellow Springs. He and his family are affiliated with the Presbyterian church at Yellow Springs.
On March 23, 1893, at Yellow Springs, Lorenzo D. Welch was united in marriage to Nettie Hutchison, of that place, who also was born in Miami township, daughter of James Elder and Esther (Baker) Hutchison, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families. James Elder Hutchison met his death in a tragic manner on April 4, 1882, being killed by a premature blast while blowing up stumps along the Xenia pike. He and was wife were the parents of six daughters, Mrs. Welch having five sisters, Stella, Daisy, Fannie, Josephine and Elda. Mr. and Mrs. Welch have six children, namely: Elder Leroy, born on January 20, 1894, who is a farmer; Esther, born on March 10, 1895, who is a teacher in the Yellow Springs schools; Ruth, September 27, 1897, who is at home; Florence, April 19, 1900, who was graduated from the Yellow Springs high school in 1918; Kenneth, March 2, 1903, a member of that same class, and Margaret, September 6, 1914. There also was a child who died in infancy, August 17, 1901.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918