William M. Welge was born December 27, 1868 near Butler, Illinois in Montgomery County south of Springfield, Illinois to Henry Welge and Martha Simmons. This was where he was located in the 1870 federal census. Henry 29 and Martha 24 were a farming family and they had one child, William. By the 1880 census, the family was still in the same location and the only change was the addition of a daughter named Henrietta aged 8.
On November 20, 1895, William was married to Anette Tuttle in St. Louis, Missouri. In the 1900 census, the married couple were located living in a rental at 4353 Shaw Avenue in St. Louis. William was working as a clerk for a wholesale grocery company.
Shortly after the 1900 census, the couple moved to Marion, presumably which matched the move of a local wholesale grocery business named Reinhardt-Smith Wholesale Grocers to Marion. A 1907 Marion city directory confirmed the couple living at 908 W. White Street. Their son, William Jr., was also listed as working as a clerk for the same firm.
On October 30, 1908, William’s wife Annette passed away at the age of 36 and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Her death coincides with the birth of their third child, a daughter named Mildred who was born the day previous on the 29th.
In the 1910 federal census, a widowed 43 year old William was still living at 908 W. White Street with his son and namesake, William H. Welge Jr. aged 9, son Albert C. 6 and Mildred 1 ½. William had no occupation listed. Living with them was a widowed 57 year old live in housekeeper named Ida Conrad. The home was owned free of mortgage.
In 1912, William was elected as city alderman under Mayor J.H. Burnett and re-elected again in 1913 under Mayor George B. Calhoun. While serving as alderman in 1912, the city council passed Ordinance 40 which established a library board, the predecessor to establishing Marion Carnegie Library in 1916.
In 1913, an article in the Egyptian Press paper indicated that the body of Mrs. William Welge was recently disinterred at Rose Hill Cemetery. The body was found to be in a good state of presentation. The casket was enclosed in an airtight copper lined case and shipped to Butler, Illinois for reburial in Wares Grove Cemetery.
A 1913 advertisement for Reinhardt-Smith Grocer Company at 600 N. Van Buren Street listed William Welge as their Secretary/Treasurer.
When the 1920 census was taken, 50 year old William was a book keeper for a wholesale grocer still living on White Street. Living with him was his son William aged 17 and a live in 54 year old widowed housekeeper named Susan Younkin.
An advertisement in a promotional booklet published in 1926 listed William Welge as Secretary/Treasurer for the Egyptian Grocer Company.
By the 1930 census, William had moved back to the area of Illinois that he was born in. William 61 and his son William Jr. 28 were found farming at Butler, Illinois in a home they owned and valued at $2,100. They had a radio in the home. There were no significant changes when the 1940 census was taken other than their ages, but both William and his son were still living together farming. William indicated that he had worked 52 weeks out of the previous year of 1939. They valued their home then at $4,000 and William Sr. indicated that he had completed his high school education.
By the 1950 census, William had reached 81 years of age but was still working as a farmer. Still living with him was his son, now married William 48 and oddly enough a girl who was listed as Margaret M. aged 17 and his daughter. Presumably, this is William Jr.’s daughter and not William Sr’s although William Jr’s wife was not present either.
William Welge Sr. passed away on March 8. 1954. He was interred in Wares Grove Cemetery at Butler, Illinois with his wife Annette.
Notes on Children:
William Henry Welge Jr., born May 4, 1901, WWII veteran, school teacher in Butler, Illinois, struck by car in Hillsboro, Illinois on October 30, 1961 and died in Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo on November 2, 1961 from injuries. Buried in Wares Grove Cemetery, Butler, Illinois
Albert Case Welge, born June 29, 1903, married Sarah Johnson, died October 30, 1990, burial in Wares Grove Cemetery, Butler, Illinois
Mildred Welge, born October 29, 1908 in Marion, died May 7, 1994 in Hillsboro, Illinois
(Sources: Federal Census records, Marion Daily Republican, Egyptian Press, Marion Semi-Weekly Leader, Lions Club 1926 booklet, FindaGrave.com Marion city street directory, Social Security Death records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 4/5/2024)