Elizabeth Welch, whose maiden name was Judd, was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, August 8, 1805, and died at the residence of her youngest daughter, Eliza V. Tully, at Atchison, Kansas, June 18, 1886, aged 80 years, 10 months and 10 days.

Her remains were taken to Pella, Iowa, and laid beside those of her husband. About the year 1823 she was married to William Welch. In 1829 they removed to Richmond, Indiana, where they resided about two years and then removed to what is now Tazewell county, Illinois. The Black Hawk War made it necessary for them to make another move, and they went down into Morgan county, near Jacksonville, and also resided a short time at Alton, Illinois, removing thence to what was then Wisconsin Territory, now Van Buren county, Iowa. About the year 1843 they removed to Marion county, Iowa, where they continued to reside until Mr. Welch's death, which occurred January 18, 1881, they having lived together over 56 years.

Father and Mother Welch raised a family of twelve children, nine of whom are still living: Sarah Nossaman, Pella, Iowa; Rhoda C. Betzer, Seward, Nebr.; America Betzer, Decatur, Ill.; Nellie L. Lee, Sedan, Kansas; Eliza V. Tully, Atchison, Kansas; Mathias S. Welch, Jewell county, Kansas; John H. Welch, Grafton, Nebr., and David E. Welch, Fillmore, Nebr.

Many years of their early married life were spent on the frontier, which in those days was full of peril and hardship, the country being full of Indians, and nothing delighted their grandchildren more than to have them relate incidents of their ups and downs in the wilds of the west long before the days of railroads and the telegraph.

Father and Mother Welch were both Christians from nature, and exceedingly kind of heart. They were both ready at all times for the Master's call. Hundreds of hungry and weary pilgrims in the early settlement of Iowa found food and shelter in their humble home, and no two people were more universally beloved and respected.

Soon after the death of her husband Mother Welch came to Nebraska, and during most of the time for the past three years has resided with her two daughters, Mrs. Tully and Mrs. Betzer. Two years ago her health began to fail rapidly, being threatened with paralysis of the brain, and several times it was thought the final summons had come. Last October she made her last journey in life, from Seward to Atchison, Kansas, where she remained with Mr. and Mrs. Tully and family until she peacefully passed away on Friday evening, June 18.

Blue Valley Blade, Seward, NE, Wed, June 30, 1886