Harry J. Welday
Harry J. Welday, president of the Island Creek Township School Board, is one of the progressive farmers and stock raisers of this section, where he owns 347 acres of valuable land. He was born in Island Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, November 4, 1872, and is a son of Hon. David M. and Pamelia (Johnson) Welday.
Hon. David M. Welday is one of Island Creek's best known citizens and he has long been prominent in public life, serving not only in many township offices with efficiency, but also in the Ohio State Senate. His father was Alexander Welday, who was a pioneer in this section, his parents having been of German birth. In old days, in Germany, the family name was written Velty, but later was changed to its English equivalent, Welday. Senator Welday still resides in Island Creek Township, being now in his sixty-fourth year. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wintersville, O., and was active in all that concerns the public welfare in his neighborhood. He was married first to Pamelia .Johnson, who died April 4, 1892. She was a daughter of David Johnson, who came to Jefferson County from Washington County, Pennsylvania, in early days. Mrs. Welday was a lady of many Christian virtues and was a valued member of Two Ridges Presbyterian Church. Senator Welday married secondly Mrs. Lillian H. Scott, widow of Dr. J. F. Scott. Dr. Scott was a native of Cross Creek Township and later became a medical missionary and in that capacity went to China.
Harry J. Welday has devoted the larger part of his life to his interest in Island Creek Township. After attending the public schools in his own township, he spent one year in the Steubenville High School, and three years at the Ohio State University at Columbus, where he paid particular attention to the scientific course. He has carried on his agricultural operations carefully and systematically and has prospered. It is not men like Mr. Welday who ever become discouraged or see visions of agriculture ever becoming an unproductive occupation; on the other hand, he sees this oldest world vocation becoming more profitable than ever before. Mr. Welday is also interested as a director in the National Exchange Bank of Steubenville, a position his father formerly held. He is an active citizen in relation to all public affairs and has been particularly concerned in the improvement of the public schools. Mr. Welday was married to Miss Blanche Winters, a daughter of John D. Winters, fonnerly a county commissioner of Jefferson County, and they have two children, David W. and Dorothy J.
20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910