Representative Thomas Welstead View All Years
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Thomas Welstead
Black Hawk County
Born in Allegany County, New York, January 24, 1838, and is a son of John and Margaret (Wilcox) Welstead. Thomas Welstead was only a child of 10 years when he left the parental roof, which the loss of his mother made seem less a home. He went to school in Allegany County and was a classmate of United States Senator Teller, long before the great silver deposits were found in the West that made the latter a millionaire. Mr. Welstead remained in New York until he had attained his majority, working faithfully and industriously at whatever he found to do in the way of honest labor, but watching for an opening to better his condition. In 1863 he left the Empire State for the West and lived two years in Carroll County, Illinois, engaged in farm work, before he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in the fall of 1865. Mr. Welstead was one of the first settlers in Bennington. His first few years were filled with strenuous work and he was obliged, like others, to endure many of the privations necessarily attendant upon pioneer life, but perseverance and industry brought their reward. Soon acre was added to acre, the whole extent of the property under his control was put under cultivation, substantial buildings were erected, orchards and shade trees were set out, and comfort and plenty took up their abode. Mr. Welstead purchased land until he owned a farm of 240 acres, which he sold in order to remove to Waterloo, to give his children educational advantages. After settling in Waterloo, Mr. Welstead engaged in the buying and shipping of stock. While residing on his farm in Bennington township he served as school director, township trustee and township assessor, and on all occasions displayed the public spirit and desire to be of service to his fellow citizens that has been one of his notable characteristics. In 1882 he was elected by the Republican party, of which he has always been a staunch adherent to the State House of Representatives. and during his term of office served the county well. He was on the school committee when the second appropriation was made for the Iowa State Normal School at Cedar Falls. In 1879 he was elected a member of the Board of County Supervisors. At Allegany, New York. Mr. Welstead was married to Lucy Bennett, a daughter of Henry Bennett. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge at Waterloo.
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