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David Welker |
David Welker was born on May 30 or 31, 1810 in Union Township, Knox County, the son of of John and Elizabeth (Gaumer) Welker Sr., and the first of the family to be born in Ohio.
David was twice married. His first bride was Margaret Darling (or "Durbin") (1811-1856), daughter of Abraham and Rhoda (Shrimplin) Darling. They were wed on March 29, 1832 in Knox County. The couple produced 10 children over the span of two decades, from 1833 to 1853. They include Rhoda Workman, Dickson Lemuel Welker, Dora Price, Lilburn Welker, Mary Markley Stephens, Jane Butler, Sarah Welker, Marilla Shaw, Catherine Welker and Wilburn Morgan Welker.
In about 1848, the family relocated to a farm in Kerton Township, Fulton County in Central Illinois.
Sadly, Margaret died there on March 26, 1856, just three days before what would have been her 45th birthday. Her remains may have been transported back to Ohio for interment in Pleasant Valley View Cemetery in Monroe Township, Knox County.
After eight years as a widower, David married again, to Rachel M. (Riley) Morningstar (1820-1891). She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Hannah Riley, originally of Washington County, PA who had migrated to Ohio in about 1805. Their nuptials were officiated by justice of the peace Doty Farmer in Knox County on Jan. 6, 1857. She brought four children from an earlier marriage -- Abraham Morningstar, James Morningstar, Carrie Morningstar and Philander Morningstar.
The couple produced four more children -- George Riley Welker, Eda L. Welker, Emma Welker and Charles W. Welker. Sadly, the youngest three of these offspring died in childhood.
Their marriage lasted for six years, until David's death on May 22, 1863 in Kerton Township, Fulton County. As with his first wife's, David's body is believed to have been brought back to Knox County for burial.
Rachel lived for another 28 years as a widow. She suffered the death of her 21-year-old son Philander Morningstar on Nov. 5, 1870. She passed into eternity on Nov. 15, 1891. She was placed into repose in the Morningstar Cemetery.
~ Daughter Rhoda (Welker) Workman ~
Daughter Rhoda Welker (1833-1924) was born in 1833 in Jackson Township, Knox County.
She married (?) Workman ( ? - ? ).
Rhoda died on Sept. 26, 1924.
~ Son Dickson Lemuel Welker ~
Son Dickson Lemuel Welker (1835-1899) was born on Aug. 20, 1835 in Jackson Township, Knox County.
On April 6, 1868, in Fulton County, IL, he was united in holy matrimony with Caroline Potter ( ? - ? ).
Dickson died in Woodland Township, Fulton County on April 2, 1899.
~ Daughter Dora (Welker) Price ~
Daughter Dora Welker (1836- ? ) was born in about 1836.
In about 1850, she married (?) Price ( ? - ? ).
~ Son Lilburn Welker ~
Son Lilburn Welker (1838-1864) was born on Feb. 2, 1838 in Jackson Township, Knox County. In about 1848, he relocated with his parents to a farm in Kerton Township, Fulton County in Central Illinois.
Sadly, he died at the age of 26 in Kenton Township on Nov. 29, 1864. The cause of his untimely death is not yet known. His remains were placed into repose in Morningstar Cemetery in Fulton County.
~ Daughter Mary (Welker) Markey Stephens ~
Daughter Mary Welker (1840-1925) was born on Aug. 17, 1840 in Jackson Township, Knox County.
When she was age eight, in about 1848, she migrated with her parents to a farm in Kerton Township, Fulton County in Central Illinois.
She was trice married. Her first wedding was to Adam Markley ( ? - ? ) in about 1859.
She married for a second time in about 1864 to William Stephens ( ? - ? ).
She died in Woodland Township, Fulton County on July 29, 1925.
~ Daughter Jane (Welker) Butler ~
Daughter Jane Welker (1842- ? ) was born in about 1842 in Jackson Township, Knox County.
She married (?) Butler ( ? - ? ).
Nothing more is known.
~ Daughter Sarah Welker ~
Daughter Sarah Welker (1845-1857) was born on Oct. 6, 1845 in Jackson Township, Knox County.
When she was age three, in about 1848, she migrated with her parents to Illinois, settling on a farm in Kerton Township, Fulton County.
Sadly, she did not live to adulthood. On Jan. 15, 1857, she passed away at the age of 12. Burial was in Morningstar Cemetery in Fulton County.
~ Daughter Marilla (Welker) Shaw ~
Daughter Marilla Welker (1848- ? ) was born in about 1848 in Jackson Township, Knox County.
As a newborn, she traveled with her parents and older siblings to Central Illinois, making their home on a farm in Kerton Township, Fulton County.
On March 22, 1868, in Bluff City, Schuyler County, IL, she was married to Daniel Shaw ( ? - ? ).
~ Daughter Catherine Welker ~
Daughter Catherine Welker (1850) was born in 1850 in Kerton Township, Fulton County, OH.
~ Son Wilburn Morgan Welker ~
Son Wilburn Morgan Welker (1853-1916) was born on Sept. 27, 1853 in Kerton Township, Fulton County.
He married Emma J. Smith ( ? - ? ).
He died in Fulton County on Aug. 16, 1916.
~ Son George Riley Welker ~
Son George Riley Welker (1858-1898) was born on Jan. 10, 1858 in Kerton Township, Fulton County.
At age 25, on May 13, 1883, he married Alice M. Farwell ( ? - ? ).
George died in Woodland Township, Fulton County on Oct. 11, 1898.
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Copyright © 2000, 2015-2018 Mark A. Miner |
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Many thanks to Ken Moffitt for sharing his family's history compilations. |