Bio-Miner, IreneWelsh

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Irene (Miner) Welsh
(1889-1967)

Irene (Miner) Welsh was born on Sept. 21, 1889 in or near Mill Run, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of William Henry "Squire" and Sara Jane (Basinger) Minerd.

On Jan. 22, 1909, when she was age 19, Irene married 23-year-old James Franklin Welsh (1886-1966). Her father, a justice of the peace, performed the ceremony. James was the son of John and Ellen (Nickla) Welsh of Mill Run.

The Welshes had seven children – Cathryn Marie Stillwagon, Margaret Helen Miller, Thelma Ream, John Henry Welsh, Gertrude Williams, James Clyde Welsh and Daniel Leslie Welsh.

They resided in Mill Run for many years. In 1920, their home was next door to Irene's parents, with James working in a local coal mine. When the federal census was taken in 1930, they resided in Mill Run, with James employed as a laborer for Georges Construction. Living just a few doors away were Irene's brothers and sisters in law, Frank and Ida (Grimm) Miner and Clyde and Jane (Hiles) Miner.

In about 1943, the Welshes moved to Connellsville, Fayette County, where James secured a job with Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation.

Sadly, the Shadow of Death visited the family in 1966. James died on June 3, 1966 in Connellsville, at the age of 80. He was laid to rest at the Normalville Cemetery. That same year, married daughter Cathryn Stillwagon also passed away.

Irene outlived her husband by only little more than a year. She passed away on Sept. 30, 1967. She is buried beside her husband in the Normalville Cemetery.

~ Daughter Cathryn (Welsh) Stillwagon ~

Daughter Cathryn Welsh (1909-1966) married Lewis J. Stillwagon (died 1965). They resided in Bullskin Township, Fayette County, for 35 years. Lewis worked for the Scottdale Wood Products Company.

~ Daughter Margaret (Welsh) Miller ~

Daughter Margaret Welsh (1912- ? ) married Charles L. "Chick" Miller (1906-1971). The Connellsville Daily Courier said the he “was a former miner for the White Bridge Coal Co.”

Grandson Charles "Skip" Miller Jr., a U.S. Navy veteran, lost his life in an automobile accident in 1979.

Grandson William C. Miller (1945-1989) was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

~ Daughter Thelma (Welsh) Ream ~

Daughter Thelma Welsh (1914-1997) married George Washington Ream, the son of Joe and Sadie (Harbaugh) Ream. Circa 1968, Thelma resided in Scottdale. Said a newspaper, she was "employed at Scottdale Wood Products and the Connellsville State Hospital."

Granddaughter Pauline Leslie and her husband Alvin generously have donated jars of their “Somerset County Honey” as door prizes for our reunions the past several years.

Bird's eye view of industrial Scottdale

~ Son John Henry Welsh ~

Son John Henry Welsh (1916-1973) lived in Ousian, Ohio, where he was married and had a family.

~ Daughter Gertrude (Welsh) Williams ~

Daughter Gertrude Welsh (1919-1996) married Harry E. Williams. They resided in Connellsville and were married for 57 years.

~ Son James "Clyde" Welsh ~

Son James "Clyde" Welsh (1925- ? )

~ Son Daniel Welsh ~

Son Daniel Welsh (1927-1976) "was a lifelong resident of Bullskin Township and had been employed by R.E. Uptegraft Manufacturing Co., Scottdale," said the Daily Courier. He was married and had children.