Re: Obituary for Clement Welch 1893-1917
WELCH, DAVIS, HIGH
Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email) In Response To: Obituary for Clement Welch 1893-1917 (Marilyn Holmes)
Date: 11/4/2018 at 17:46:38
Clement Sheldon Welch
3 October 1892 ---- 25 March 1917Sister Claims Welch's Body
Remains of Clement Welch taken to Lovilia for Burial—Sister, Mrs. F. A. Davis Comes to Claim Body.Through the efforts of George E. Knapp, county attorney and through information furnished by Carl Wenner, for whom Welch worked for two years, a sister and brother-in-law of the man who met a tragic death from the bullet of nightwatchman Gordon at Garrison a week ago were found at Lovilia and notified of the death of Welch. They arrived in the city Wednesday morning and took charge of the arrangements for burial.
Mr. Wenner knew of a Mr. Babby at Bussey, in Marion county, with whom Welch took a trip to Oklahoma two years ago, and County Attorney Knapp telegraphed to him concerning relatives of the young man. Mr. Babby answered that he would notify a sister of Welch and they would be in Vinton Wednesday morning. Mr. & Mrs. F. A. Davis, of the deceased arrived on the early morning train from Lovilia and from them it was learned that the father and mother of the young man were also alive and living at Checotah, Oklahoma, and also that another brother and four other sisters are living. They stated that they had not heard anything from Clement for three years, and were almost heartbroken at the tragic ending of their brother, who was always known to them as an honest straightward, clean man. They attributed his down fall to the company he drifted into as in no other way could they account for the change in his character.
The young man was twenty-four years and five months old and was born in Marion county, near Knoxville. Four years ago he left home, and two years ago he came to Garrison and went to work as a farm hand, working for Carl Wenner, who thought of him as an honest, industrious young man, and said that he was an excellent workman. The first wrong step known of the young man is this vicinity was at the time the depot at Garrison was entered and robbed.
Clement Sheldon Welch, youngest son of Mr and Mrs. James Welch, of Checotah, Okla. formerly of Columbia, was born in Marion County, October 3, 1892 and died in St. Luke's hospital at Cedar Rapids, March 25, where he had been taken for an operation. He died the day following the operation. The remains were brought to Knoxville last Thursday morning. The funeral was held Thursday afternoon, March 29, at Olive Chapel, Burial was made in the Olive Chapel Cemetery.
Vinton Eagle --- Vinton, Iowa
March 30, 1917*****
CAPTURE WELCOMED BY WOUNDED MIN FOUND IN BARN NEAR GARRISON
Man Who Was Shot While Attempting to Rob Store
Since Thursday Without Care or Food.
BROUGHT TO HOSPITAL HEREUnfed and unattended since early Thursday when he dragged himself for more than a mile to hide in a barn at the edge of town, Emmett Welch, who was shot through the groin while attempting the rob the Farmers Mercantile store at Garrison, Ia., welcomed capture today when his hiding place was discovered by Ray Harmon. While Welch pleaded for a drink of water, Harmon summoned Deputy Sheriff R. E. Overman, who with a posse has been conducting a search over the county, and the wounded man was placed under arrest and brought to Cedar Rapids for medical attention at St. Luke’s hospital. Because of the nature of his wound and a lack of attention, Welch’s condition is regarded as serious.
Was Shot by Watchman.
Welch was shot at 1 a.m. Thursday, when C. C. Gordon, watchman at the mercantile store, came on him in the act of crawling through a window that he had forced. Gordon struck at Welch with a club, but when the man dodged the blow, the watchman drew his revolver and fired. There was an outcry as Welch disappeared and Gordon, frightened for the moment, ran to telephone the town marshal. When he returned Welch had disappeared.
First Story Contradicted.
According to a report received at the Cedar Rapids police department yesterday, Waterloo bloodhounds followed a trail to a spot near the Rock Island station at Vinton, and it was later said that a man was seen to emerge from a hiding place nearby and board a northbound train. Welch's story, however, contradicts the whole theory, however, for he declares he made his way directly to the Harmon barn and concealed himself there until his discovery today by Harmon.Welch has been employed as a farmhand in Benton county for the last five years. His capture will serve to clear up some pending charges against him, as he broke jail at Vinton during January, 1916, while being held during the investigation of the burglarizing of the Garrison freight depot.
Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette --- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Saturday, March 24, 1917***
FARM WORKER PAYS LIFE AS PENALTY
HE TRIED TO BE A BURGLAR
Emmett Welch Dies in Cedar Rapids Hospital Result of Shot Fired by Watchman.For his attempted burglary of the Farmers Mercantile company store at Garrison, Iowa, early Thursday, Emmett Welch, a farm laborer of Benton county, paid with his life. Welch died at 8 p.m. yesterday in St. Luke's hospital from the effects of a revolver wound through the groin, inflicted by C. C. Gordon, watchman at the mercantile store, complicated with physical exhaustion resulting from his hiding away for two days in a barn near the town. Welch was suffering of his wound and a lack of food on Saturday and he was at once brought to Cedar Rapids and given medical attention at the hospital. His condition was considered serious at the time, however, and although the bullet wound was not in itself fatal, his recovery was doubtful. Following his discovery in the Garrison barn by Ray Harmon, Welch was placed under arrest by Deputy Sheriff R. E. Overman, in whose custody he was brought to Cedar Rapids. In addition to being wanted for the attempted burglary, Welch, had he lived, would have been arraigned on a charge of breaking Jail at Vinton during January, 1916, where he was being held while an investigation of the looting of the Garrison freight depot was underway. The body was taken to Vinton today, where a coroner’s inquest will be held before burial.
Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette --- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Saturday, March 26, 1917****
[Clement Welch's death certificate states that the cause of death was "Toxcemia Exhausion" of one day duration; no mention of the gunshot injury; burial listed as in Vinton, Iowa; informant was his sister, Mrs. F. A. Davis; his parents were listed as James Welch and Eliza High.]
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