History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

MICHAEL EDWARD WELCH SR.

     M.E. Welch was born in Ohio in 1856. At the age of nine years he ran away from home joining Costello's circus as a bareback rider. At that time the Costello circus was one of the most popular in the Mississippi Valley, and while in their employ he traveled extensively all over the United States. After leaving the circus he became a meat cutter working in the markets of both Wisconsin and Minnesota. Later he took a course in a veterinary school and received his diploma.
     In his travels in the West he met Wm. Cody, usually known as "Buffalo Bill" and a warm attachment sprang up between them. In later years when the famous scout visited Portland, Doctor Welch went to see him and they enjoyed a happy reunion in recalling old times, Robert Louis Stevenson and Eugene Field wore both friends that he met in his travels in the West.
     He came to Hood River in the year ____ in company with Hank Button and fam-ily, and here he soon made himself indispensable to the community by his work as a veterinarian.
     In 1912 he was married to Mrs. Maude Cohen of California, thus becoming step-father to her two children, Fred and Ivy. In 1917 Ivy, a beautiful and lovable little girl died, leaving the parents inconsolable at their loss.
     A son, Michael Edward, Jr., was born in March 1918. Mr. Welch was a lover of horses, and long before his death said that when he died he wanted to be drawn to his last resting place by horses. While skilled in all work pertaining to his profession, he was an authority on pedigreed horses and all that pertained to them.
     He was not a rugged man, but never suffered from severe illness, dying on March 17, 1925, in his chair at his office in the Fashion Stables, without a moment's warning. In accordance with his request, horses were used for drawing the hearse. He was buried in Idlewilde Cemetery, the numerous friends present attesting to the esteem in which he was held, Rev. Miller of the Episcopal Church had charge of the services, which were conducted from the Bartmess Chapel. Besides his wife and sons in Hood River, he leaves a son, Hank Welch of Stillwater, Minnesota. This son of Dr. Welch and a former wife, is a married man with a family and is part owner of the Stillwater Messenger founded in 1856, and is also in the insurance business in Stillwater.
     Dr. Welch was outspoken against wrong but very modest and unassuming among his fellowmen, possessing a warm generous heart ever loyal in adversity.

MICHAEL WELCH, JR.

     Michael was born at Hood River in March 1918, attended the public school where he was a very promising pupil and well liked by his playmates. He was taken sick in the spring of 1929 and died of heart failure in August of the same year, leaving a lonely and sorrowing mother.

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