Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa, 1911
     The Biographical Record p. 391-392 

     Edward Welsh, deceased, was for many years one of the leading
     farmers and most highly respected citizens of Washington
     township. He was born in Kings county, Ireland, on Christmas day
     1827, and was a son of Edward and Lizzie (Coogan) Welsh, the
     former also a native of Kings and the latter of county West
     Meath. Throughout life the father followed farming on the Emerald
     Isle, and died there in 1851, while his wife passed away in
     1866. They had a family of ten children including Edward of this
     review; Lizzie, who married John Quarter, and both died in
     Ireland; Mary who wedded Edward Cunningham, and both are now
     deceased; Rosie, who married a Mr.  Keevy, and both died in
     Connecticut; Katie, who died in Ireland; David, who died at the
     age of twenty-one years; and Thomas, who married Catherine
     Dempsey and came to America, where he died in 1871, his wife in
     1860. The other members of the family remained in Ireland, and
     little is known of them. In 1852 our subject crossed the Atlantic
     on an English sailing vessel, the St.  George, which was seven
     weeks in making the voyage, during which time there were two very
     severe storms. On landing in New York, Mr. Welsh was met by his
     brother James, who had come to the United States in 1850. For two
     years he worked as a stone-mason in New York and then went to
     Dixon, Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand for seven
     years. In 1858 he come to Clinton county, Iowa, and purchased
     eighty acres of land at thirty dollars per acre, it being a
     government claim owned by Paddy Flynn. With an ox team Mr. Welsh
     drove to Maquoketa, where he got his deed made out. At that time
     there were no houses between his place and Lyons, and the country
     round about was all wild prairie. Returnig to Illinois, Mr. Welsh
     engaged in farming on rented land until 1861, when he erected a
     small house upon his farm in this county and located thereon. He
     broke the land with ox teams and soon had the place under a high
     state of cultivation. Prospering in his new home, he added to his
     landed possessions until at the time of his death he had three
     hundred and sixty acres, to which his widow and son have since
     added a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section
     six. Washington township, while the original farm is on sections
     seventeen and eighteen. Mr. Welsh died October 4, 1898, honored
     and respected by all who knew him, and was buried in St. Mary's
     Catholic cemetery. He was a devout member of the Catholic church
     of Deep Creek township, and was a stanch supporter of the
     Democratic party and its principles. On the 15th of July, 1866,
     in Center Grove, Mr. Welsh was married by Rev. Father Scallon to
     Miss Catherine Reed, who was born in Queens county, Ireland,
     March 17, 1846, and was fifteen years of age when she came to
     America with her parents, John and Mary (Mahar) Reed, also
     natives of Queens county. They located in Center Grove, this
     state, where Mr. Reed bought one hundred and twenty acres of
     land, to which the family subsequently added two hundred and
     forty acres. He died September 10, 1896, aged eighty-four years,
     and his wife departed this life September 11, 1900, aged
     ninety. They were members of St.  Patrick's Catholic church, and
     most estimable people. Of their six children Mrs. Welsh is the
     eldest; Thomas, the second in order of birth, died at the age of
     thirty years; William married Lizzie Manyon and resides near
     Lexington, Dawson county, Nebraska; John married Maggie Bulger
     and makes his home in Center Grove, Iowa; Mary wedded John Snyder
     and died in Center Grove, June 18, 1900; and Richard died at the
     age of twenty-two years.  The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Welsh
     were as follows: Edward, who is mentioned below; Thomas, who
     lives near Delmar; John and Richard, both at home with their
     mother; Mary, who is keeping house for her brother Thomas; James,
     who is also with Thomas; and Michael, Frank and Charles who are
     all with their mother; William is deceased.  

     Edward Welsh, Jr., was born in this county, April 19, 1867, and
     attended the district schools near his home until fifteen years
     of age. During the following five years he assisted his father in
     the cultivation of the farm. He was married in the Deep Creek
     Catholic church, February 15, 1896, by Rev. Peter O'Dodd, to Miss
     Maggie Cleary; who was born on the 24th of August, 1864, and is a
     daughter of Patrick C. Cleary. After his marriage Edward Welsh,
     Jr., commenced farming on his own account, and operated rented
     land until the fall of 1900, when he purchased one hundred and
     twenty acres on section seventeen, Washington township, on which
     he has made a number of useful improvements. He raises a high
     grade of stock for market, and in business affairs is meeting
     with well-deserved success. Religiously he is a member of St.
     Mary's Catholic church at Deep Creek township, and is a young man
     highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.