From 1912 Book, History of Marshall County Iowa

William Welp:

“A man who boldy faces the responsibilities of life and by determined and untiring energy carves out for himself an honorable success, exerts an influence on the general community that does not quickly vanish. To such men life is so real that they find no time to plot either mishchief or vice. Their lives are bound in their duties; they feel the weight of their citzenship and take pleasure in sowing the seeds of uprightness. Such has been the career of William Welp , one of the progressive and influential agriculturists and stock men of Washington Township, Marshall County, wll known proprietor of the beautiful “Evergreen Stock Farm” one of the showplaces of this section of the County.

Mr. Welp was born in Jo Davies Couty, Illinois, March 10, 1854. When fifteen years old he came with his parents to Marshall county, Iowa and settled with them in Jefferson Township and he has continued to reside here having witnessed an taken part in the wonderful growth of the locality. His father B. H. Welp, became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of good land here which he brought up to a high state of cultivation and became well-to-do and was a highly honored citizen in the early history of the County. He was born in Hanover, Germany in 1809 and he died in Jefferson Township, this county, in 1891. He married Teressa Kobbe also born in Hanover, Germany in 1819 and who died in Jefferson Township this county in 1883. Garret H. born in 1842, died in 1873; Mrs Teressa Lemker born in 1846, died in 1910; Clemons born in 1849, died in May 1872; William, of this review; Christina Renger born in 1857 residing in Kossuth County, Katie Meyer born in 1865 also lives in the above named county.

William Welp grew to maturity on the home farm which he worked as a boy and attended the public schools during the winter months. He was married on February 21, 1884 to Rosa Blink, who was born in Eden Township, Marshall County, April 1, 1861 the daughter of Joseph and Margareet (Halter) Blink, the father born in Germany, march 29, 1834 and the latter in France July 15, 1836. Mr. Blink immigrated to America in 1852 and located in DeKalb county Illinois coming on to Eden Township Marshall County Iowa in 1860 and locating with his wife at Rhodes, being among the pioneers fo this locality. All of their children, named below, werre born in Eden Township, with the exception of George, the oldest, whose birth occurred in Illinois on January 15, 1859 and whose residence is still in at Rhodes. Rosa, wife of Mr. Welp, of this sketch, Lewis, born October 5, 1862 lives at Melbourne; Anna Retz born October 4, 1864 lives at Anoka South Dakota; Albert J. born February 2, 1867 lives in Eden Township; Leopold born December 28, 1868 lives in Eden Township; Clara Marshall born December 17, 1873, lives at Rhodes; Ida Elliott, born August 5, 1876 lives at Newton, Iowa; Charles born August 3, 1878 lives in Eden Towhship.

To Mr. and Mrs. Welp, eight children have been born, named as follows: H. B. and Mrs Margaret Rosemeir, twins the fomer living in Washington Township and the latter in Eden township were born December 12, 1884; R. J, born March 14, 1887 lives in Washington Township; Catharine born May 18, 1890, lives with the two preceding brothers on the farm in Washington Township; Edward, born December 13, 1892 is assisting his father in the care of his business interests in Haverhill; Idam Mary, born August 18, 1895 died in early infancy; William, born December 11, 1898 lives at home; Vincent born September 30, 1903 is attending school at Haverhill. All these children have had the advantages of a good education in the parochial schools at Haverhill and the family belongs to the Catholic church at that place, being faithful and liberal supporters of the same. Fraternally, Mr. Welp is a member of the Knights of Columbus at Marshalltown. He served as a Trustee of Logan Township for six years in a very credible manner.

Mr. Welp has been very successful in a business way and he is one of the substanial and influential business men of the county. Besides his valuable “Evergreen Lawn Stock Farm” in Washington Township, he owns fine farming land in Eden and Logan Townships, embracing in all six hundred and eighty acres of soil as rich as this noted and greatly favored county can boast, and on this land are three sets of substanial buildings, and all the land is under a high state of improvement and cultivation. A splendid grade of various kinds of livestock is handled, which owing to its superior quality, always finds a ready market. In addition to the above mentioned holdings, Mr. Welp owns a modern, attractive and commodious home in Haverhill, equipped with every late convenience and tastily furnished. He recently purchased the lumber and coal yards at the same place and an extensive business is carried on in both lines. Mrs. Welp is hte owner of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land at Kingfisher, Oklahoma. For the benefit of her health she and Mr. Welp spent six months on the Pacific Coast and in the mountains of the West in 1910.

This is one of the highly honored and esteemed families of the County, for they have ever borne reputations above reproach, been public spirited, hospitable, charitable and gained the confidence and good will of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances through their well ordered and useful lives.