James Welsh Jr.

  General Notes:

A grandson, Fred V. Welsh, wrote, "Dad's parents, Jim and Elizabeth Welsh (Irish) must have come from Northern Ireland to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. They were Orangemen and I think wearers of the green drove them out of Ireland, as they always wanted to kill them. Jim Welsh was a cooper by trade, or a maker of barrels. He practiced in his trade for a number of years in a town whose name I forgot on Lake Simcoe, where I think most of their family was born, including my father, Fred.---"his folks again got entangled with the green Irish and took off for Nebraska where there was a possibility of getting three quarter-sections (480 acres) for working on them. Homestead, 160; pre-emption, 160; and timber claim, 160 - for very little money but a "heap of work" in Howard County about 30 miles up the North Loop River from Grand Island where they homesteaded near a town now called Cotesfield on the second bend from the river. "

From a biography of son, William John Welsh: When he [William John] was a lad of eleven, his parents settled in Sanilac county, Michigan, remaining there for about three years, at which time himself, mother, two brothers and two sisters joined the father in Howard county, Nebraska, he having made settlement here in April, 1873, and they following in October of the same year. They were located on a homestead and timber claim, situated in section thirty, township fifteen, range eleven, and farmed the place for three years, then purchased some land on section thirteen, township fourteen, range twenty-four. Mr. Welsh continued on this place until his death, which occurred May 1, 1880, and at that time was owner of four hundred and twenty-seven acres, all well-improved and valuable land. He had become one of the well-known and highly respected citizens of his locality through his integrity and sterling character, and his death was a severe loss to the community.

  Noted events in his life were:

• immigrated to Canada, 1837, Peterborough, Peterborough Co., Ontario, Canada.

• Residence, 16 Feb 1872, Speaker, Sanilac, Michigan. ¹¹⁵ from daughter Margaret Ann's death record

• moved to Nebraska, 1873, Howard County, Nebraska.

James married Elizabeth Irvine, daughter of Jarett William Nesbit Irvin and Sarrah West, on 18 Oct 1850 in Peterborough, Peterborough Co., Ontario, Canada. (Elizabeth Irvine was born on 4 Jun 1830 in Maguiresbridge, County Fermangh, Ireland ¹¹⁴, died on 16 Apr 1907 in St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska ¹¹⁴ and was buried on 19 Apr 1907 in Elba, Howard County, Nebraska.)