Adam David Welker

Entries for sons in the book "Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia".... "Adam Welker, a High Councilor in the St. Joseph Stake of Zion, Arizona, was born February 19, 1841, in Adams County, Illinois, the son of James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker Welker. In 1852 he emigrated to Utah and located in Willard, Box Elder county. His father having died in 1844 when he was very small, and he being the youngest child of the family, he was constantly engaged in making a living for himself and mother. He was baptized in June, 1855, ordained a Deacon in 1857, and ordained a Seventy in the 59th quorum, February 8, 1859. In 1864, responding to call, he went back to the Missouri river as a church teamster in an ox-train, to bring emigrants to Utah. On February 22, 1865, he married Agnes Dock and in the same year moved to Bloomington, Bear Lake County, Idaho, where he resided until 1883, passing through many trials and hardships in helping to subdue that cold and inhospitable country.

His health failing in the high altitude, he concluded to move south, which he did in November, 1883, and located at Safford, Graham County, Arizona, on the Gila River, where he purchased a good farm, on which he still resides. By the foregoing it will be seen that Elder Welker has always been energetically engaged in helping to convert desert lands into farms and beautiful homes. On December 5, 1898, he was ordained a High Priest and set apart as a High Councilor in the St. Joseph Stake, in which calling he still labors faithfully. Elder Welker has twelve living children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are members of the church and some of them occupying prominent positions."

SOURCE: Latter Day Saints Biographical Encyclopedia, Published by Andrew Jenson History Company, Printed by the Deseret News. 1914. Author: Andrew Jenson, Volulme 2, Page 199 and 200.

From another source, Family Search.org:

Adam Welker was born February 19, 1841, at or near Columbus, Adams County, Illinois. His father's name was James Welker, and he was born August 19, 1803, Rowan County, North Carolina. James Welker's father was also named Adam, and he was born in Pennsylvania. Adam Welker's mother's name was Elizabeth Stoker, and she was born February 18, 1800, in Ashe County, North Carolina. Her mother's name was Catherine Eller and she married Michael Stoker. Adam Welker's brothers were James Wilburn, John, and Jacob, and his sister was Mary Catherine Welker, who married Thomas Billington Nelson.

Adam Welker moved with his family from Illinois to Willard, Box Elder, Utah, and from there they moved to Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho. Most of his older siblings had been born when the Welker family was living in Ohio, where they had moved from North Carolina in the early 1820's.

Adam married Agnes Dock on February 22, 1862. Ten children were born to them in Bloomington, Idaho. Adam Welker was a good farmer and raised stock, horses and cattle.

Many family members were called to go to Gila County, Arizona, to take up land and settle there. Adam was not called, but he and his brothers, John and Jacob, decided to go to Arizona to build homes and farm the land. They drove their horses and wagons and arrived with their families at Safford, Layton, Graham County, Arizona, near Solomonville in 1883. He moved his family to Layton to be near the foothills on ten acres of land. He later built a lumber house then later built a brick house. Two more children were born seven years after they arrived, Elmer and Delbert.

Adam Welker was appointed supervisor of the Montezuma Canal and served for several years. Adam brought fifty acres of school land in North Safford, across from Austin Evans farm. Adam was a successful farmer. He raised alfalfa, corn, wheat, barley and raised stock, horses and cattle. He was a religious man and was chosen high councilman by President Andrew Kimball, father of President Spencer Kimball and served several years. His education was limited but he educated himself.

He traded ten acres of land where he was living for John Morris' home in Layton--for one acre of land, a brick house with orchard and garden. He and his wife sent four sons on missions for the church. His wife, Agnes Dock, passed away February 25, 1913. He lived alone in his home, but his daughters came and assisted him. He passed away February 1, 1926, in Layton, Graham County, Arizona.

SOURCE: Written by Lola Fonda Welker (some punctuation added for clarity and some additional family genealogy information added to the above.)

An article posted on Family Search reads as follows:

Adam Welker, an early pioneer in both Bear Lake County, Idaho, and the Gila Valley, was born February 19, 1841, near Columbus, Adams County, Illinois, to James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker Welker. When he was very young his father moved from Madison, Ohio, to Hancock County, Illinois, about 15 miles southeast of Nauvoo, Illinois, where the father filed a homestead on some land and built a log cabin, barn granary and other buildings. They cleared and farmed part of the land. Here James Welker died when Adam was about four years of age, leaving his wife to care for the children. Because of the persecution of the Mormons there and the burning of their homes and buildings, the family was forced to leave the area. They were only able to sell their interest in the land and buildings for two three year old steers and an old U.S. musket.

The family then moved to the area of Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they lived and farmed until 1852-1853 when the family, including Adam, crossed the plains and made their way to Utah, settling in Willard, Box Elder County. While in Willard, Adam Welker responded to a call from the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints (LDS) and joined a group to drive oxen teams to Winter Quarters on the Missouri River to bring back LDS emigrants to Utah. Adam Welker drove a yoke of oxen in this ox train which was under the leadership of William B. Preston, the captain.

On February 22, 1865, in Willard, Utah, he married Agnes Dock who was born April 28, 1846, in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland, and who had come to the United States in 1863. The following fall they moved to Bloomington, Bear Lake County, Idaho, one of the first settlers in the area, along with several other members of the Welker family. Here he farmed, raised horses, cattle and sheep and lived for the next 18 years.

Because of the severe winters found in Bear Lake County and his failing health he decided to move to the milder climate in the Gila Valley in Arizona. Taking three wagons and the horses, Adam Welker, his wife, five sons and five daughters, joined with the others to make up a wagon train of 21 wagons. The train was under the leadership of his older brother, John Welker. Another brother, Jacob Welker, and his family were also in this wagon train. The Welker families and a number of other families left Idaho in September, 1883. Two and one half months later on November 30, 1833, they arrived in the area known as Layton, where he resided the remainder of his life. He immediately took up land and with the help of his sons placed the land under cultivation.

On February 13, 1913, Agnes Dock Welker died in Safford. Thirteen years later Adam Welker died on April 2, 1926. Adam and Agnes Welker had twelve children: James Robert Welker, Mrs. Heber Chase (Agnes Almeda) Layton, Adam David Welker, Mrs. Benjamin F. (Mary Almira) Peel, Mrs. Joseph Ernest (Miriam Alvira) Westover, William Bamsley Welker, John Arthur Welker, Mrs. Jacob Eberhart (Euphemia May) Zundel, Mrs. Joseph Henry (Ida Luella) Bingham, Raymond Alexander Welker, Elmer Adolphus Welker, and Charles Delbert Welker.

SOURCE: Mount Graham Profiles, Graham County, Arizona, 1870-1977.

Obituary: Friday, April 9, 1926: Death Comes to Aged Pioneer of Safford: Adam Welker Dies After a Brief Illness at the Age of 85 Years - Funeral Services Held on Monday Afternoon.

With the passing of Adam Welker on the night of April 2, 1926, the Gila Valley loses another one of its early day settlers by the summons of this man to the Great Beyond. Death came to the old time resident after a brief illness at his home in Layton, where he had lived since first coming to Arizona. His remains were laid to rest in the Union cemetery on Monday, April 6th, following funeral services at the Layton ward meeting house of the Mormon church, where many of his friends and neighbors gathered to pay their last respects to one who had lived among them for so many years. The church had been beautifully decorated with flowers and a profusion of spring blossoms and floral offerings from friends laid upon the casket. J.W. Greenhalgh, high priest of the Layton ward, presided over the services and spoke of the long acquaintance he had with the deceased during his lifetime on earth and the good works that he had done. Other speakers were Mrs. George Jacobson, Austin Evans and President John F. Nash, all of whom spoke in the highest esteem of the departed citizen. Mrs. Jacobson related many incidents of his pioneer days in Utah, Idaho and Arizona.

The choir sang several beautiful selections and Mrs. Fred Jacobson sang a solo, "O, My Father." There was also a vocal quartet by Mrs. Jacobson, Mrs. Amon Cook, Jodie Bingham, and Hy Smith. At the cemetery the grave was dedicated by John Moffett.

Adam Welker was the son of James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker Welker and was born February 19, 1841, in Adams County, Illinois. His father died when he was five years old, leaving his mother with seven children. The family passed through the hardships and persecutions of the Mormons related to the early days of the church in Missouri and Illinois, of which religious organizations they were members. At the age of eleven years, the deceased immigrated with his mother's family to Utah and when he reached the age of twenty three, he and others, with William B. Preston as their captain, were called to take ox teams to the Missouri river to assist other Mormon Saints on their long journey across the plains to Utah.

In the year 1865 he was married to Miss Agnes Dock at Willard, Utah, going from there to Bear Lake, Idaho in the fall of the same year, where they resided for the next eighteen years. In September, 1883, the family left Bloomington, Idaho, in company with Christian Madsen, P.J. Jacobson, their families and several other members of the church, for Arizona, arriving in Safford in November after a long and hazardous trip of nearly three months.

Mr. Welker located in the small town called Layton and has made his home there ever since, although at one time he owned the land on which his son, Ray Welker, now lives and also the land in the same vicinity owned by Henry Clifford. During his long lifetime here, Mr. Welker saw the valley grow from a mesquite wilderness and desert waste into the beautiful and rich farming community that it is today. In this work he had the satisfaction of knowing that he did his share of the labor and shared the hardships incident to the settling and reclaiming a new country that was infested with hostile Indian tribes. His wife died at the family home in Layton on the 12th day of February, 1913.

He reared a large family, five daughters and seven sons, eleven of whom are now living, the other one, Mrs. Jodie Bingham, dying a few years ago. The children are James Robert Welker, Mrs. Heber C. Layton, Adam D. Welker, John A. Welker, Raymond Welker and Elmer Welker, all of this valley. Mrs. B. F. Peel, Mrs. Ernest Westover, and Delbert Welker of Los Angeles, and W. B. Welker of Phoenix. The posterity of this pioneer numbered 185, of these there were 79 grandchildren and 77 great grandchildren living, there being 17 dead.

Obituary for Agnes Dock Welker: The Graham County Guardian, Safford, Graham County, Arizona, Friday, February 28, 1913, 19th year, Page 1 Column 6: Death of a Pioneer:

In the death of Mrs. Agnes Dock Welker, wife of Adam Welker, this community has lost one of its earliest pioneers her death occurred at her home Tuesday afternoon, February 25, 1913. Mrs. Welker's fatal illness lasted about four months. She had been under treatment here and at Los Angeles. Three weeks before her death the Los Angeles physician announced that she was suffering with a cancer on the liver and that she could not possibly live.

The funeral will be held in the Layton church at 2:00 this afternoon. Mrs. Welker was born in Scotland April 28, 1847, came to the United States in 1863, arriving in Salt Lake the same year. She was married to Adam Welker at Willard, Utah in 1865, and moved to Bear Lake, Idaho, the same year and lived there until they came to Arizona in 1883. They settled in Layton and have resided there ever since. She leaves a family consisting of her husband, seven sons and five daughters.

Son of James and Elizabeth Stoker Welker.

Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia
Volume 2 Biographies Welker, James R. Welker, Adam, a High Councilor in the St. Joseph Stake of Zion, Arizona, was born Feb. 19, 1841, in Adams county, Ill., the son of James Welker and Elizabeth Welker.

In 1852 he emigrated to Utah and located in Willard, Box Elder county. His father having died when he was very small, and he being the youngest child of the family, he was constantly engaged in making a living for himself and mother. He was baptized in June, 1855, ordained a Deacon in 1857, and ordained a Seventy in the 59th quorum, Feb. 8, 1859.

In 1864, responding to call, he went back to the Missouri river as a Church teamster in an ox-train, to bring emigrants to Utah. In 1865 (Feb. 22nd) he married Agnes Dock and in the same year moved to Bloomington, Bear Lake county, Idaho, where he resided until 1883, passing through many trials and hardships in helping to subdue that cold and inhospitable country. His health failing in the high altitude, he concluded to move south, which he did in November, 1883, and located at Safford, Graham county, Arizona, on the Gila river, where he purchased a good farm, on which he still resides. By the foregoing it will be seen that Elder Welker has always been energetically engaged in helping to convert desert lands into farms and beautiful homes.

In 1898 (Dec. 5th) he was ordained a High Priest and set apart as a High Councilor in the St. Joseph Stake, in which calling he still labors faithfully. Elder Welker has twelve living children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are members of the Church and some of them occupying prominent positions.

The above graciously shared by Sharla, Find A Grave contributor #46940689.

View [http://genealogy.az.gov/azdeath/032/10321838.pdf" target="_blank online death certificate].

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 10 2016, 17:01:22 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

Ordination

59 Quorum of the 70's - Willard, Utah

Divorce

The marriage of Myra Kirk and Adam Welker was ended in divorce (14 Dec 1917).
She was first married to a Frederick Charles Gietz (1865) on 11 May 1893 which ended in divorce. She married thirdly a Lehi Larson (1857) on 9 Feb 1920. The temple sealing was cancelled on 26 Sep 1918. She was the daughter of John McClure Kirk (1840) and Nancy Agnes Hamilton.

Sources:

1. Family record of James R. Welker (deceased) 2. Date of civil divorce, Clerk of the Superior Court, Graham Co. 3. Date of temple sealing cancellation from letter dated 24 Mar 1954 from Robert Burton, Salt Lake Temple 4. Family records of Myra K. Larson 5. Temple Index Bureau and Logan Temple

! Personal records in possession of Ora

! Personal records in possession of Ora Stoker Whittier ! Personal records in possession of Ora Stoker Whittier
Adam Welker , James wilburn welker, John Welker, Mary Catherine, chidren of James and Elizabeth Welker Isaac M. Stewart Company Individuals Known to Have Traveled in This Company

ISAAC M. STEWART COMPANY

DEPARTURE 19 June 1852 ARRIVAL 28 August 1852 NUMBER IN COMPANY 208 CAPTAIN Isaac M. Stewart

From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 J

From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996. AFN # BAPISM: 25 JUN 1855 6 DEC 1967 MARRIAGE DATE: 21 JUL 1914 (DIV) From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996. AFN # BAPISM: 25 JUN 1855 6 DEC 1967 MARRIAGE DATE: 21 JUL 1914 (DIV)
Temple ordinances In the last year of his life, Adam Layton was taken by his children on a gurney to receive his ordinances in the Mesa Arizona temple.

From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 J

From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.

LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew J

LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol 2, pg 199 Adam Welker a High Councilor in the St. Joseph Stake of Zion, Arizona, was born Feb. 19, 1841, in Adams County, Ill. the son of James Welker and Elizabeth Welker. In 1852 he emigrated to Utah and located in Willard, Box Elder County. His father having died when he was very small, and he being the youngest child of the family, he was constantly engaged in making a living for himself and mother. He was baptized in June, 1855, ordained a Deacon in 1857, and ordained a Seventy in 59th quorum, Feb. 8, 1859. In 1864, responding to call, he went back to the Missouri river as a Church teamster in an ox-train, to bring emigrants to Utah. In 1865 (Feb. 22nd) he married Agnes Dock and in the same year moved to Bloomington, Bear Lake county, Idaho, where he resided until 1883, passing through many trials and hardships in helping to subdue that cold and inhospitable country. His health failing in the high altitude, he concluded to move south, which he did in November, 1883, and located at Safford, Graham County, ARizona, on the Gila river, where he purchased a good farm, on which he still resides. By the foregoing it will be seen that Elder Welker has always been energetically engaged in helping to convert desert lands into farms and beautiful hommes. In 1898 (Dec. 5th) he was ordained a High Priest and set apart as a High Councilor in the St. Joseph Stake, in which calling he still labors faithfully. Elder Welker has twelve living children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are members of the Church and some of them occupying prominent positions.

Census Records

1. In the 1870 census for Bloomington, Rich co., Utah. Adam Welker 29, farmer, has property worth $500 and personal assets worth $600, born in Ohio. His wife, Agnes 23, keeping house, born in Scotland. Their children are all born in Utah: James R. 4, at home; Almeda 2, at home and Adam D. 8/12 or Oct 1869, at home. Also there are two other children living with them: Elizabeth Stevenson 10, born in Utah and Sarah Stevenson 13, also born in Utah. Next door is the Jacob and Angeline Welker family.

2. In the 1880 census for Bloomington, Bear Lake co., Idaho, Adam Welker, 39, rancher, married, born in Illinois. His father was born in South Carolina and his mother in North Carolina. His wife, Agnes, 36, keeps house, married, born in Scotland as were both of her parents. Their children living with them were all born in Idaho: James R., 14, son, at school; Agnes, dau., 12, at school; Adam D.?, 10, son, at school; Maryanne?, dau., 8, at school; Mary E., dau., 8, at school; William B., son, 6; John A., son, 4; Euphemia, dau., 2.

3. In the 1900 census for Precinct 1, Graham co., Arizona, Adam Welker, head, 59, farmer, married for 35 years, born in Feb 1841 in Ohio. Both of his parents were born in Pennsylvania. His wife, Agnes, 53, married 35 years, she had 12 children and all are still living, born in Apr 1847 in Scotland. Both of her parents were born in Scotland. The children living with them are: Luella, dau., 19, single, born in Aug 1880 in Idaho; Raymond, son, 17, at school, born in June 1882 in Idaho; Elmer, son 12, at school, born in Dec 1884 in Arizona and Delbert, son, 12, at school, born in Aug 1887 in Arizona.

4. In the 1910 census for Precinct 1, Graham co., Arizona, Adam Welker, head, 69, first marriage, married for 45 years, farmer, born in Illinois, but the birth place for both of his parents is given only as United States. His wife, Agnes, 63, first marriage, married for 45 years, she had 12 children and all are still living, born in Scotland as were both of her parents. Those living with them are: Charles S., son and partner, 22, first marriage, married 0 years, farmer, born in Arizona; Lola or Zola? L., dau. in law, 20, first marriage, married for 0 years, born in Arizona. Her father was born in Colorado and her mother in Utah.

5. In the 1920 census for Safford Precinct, Graham co., Arizona, Adam Welker, head, owns own property, 78, divorced, born in Illinois, but his parents are listed as just born in the United States.
He is living next/with this son Charles D. Welker, head, 32, married, born in Arizona. His father was born in Illinois and his mother in Scotland. His wife, Lola L., 30, married, born in Arizona. Her father was born in Colorado and her mother in Utah. Their children were all born in Arizona: Harry, son, 9; Maurine,dau., 6; Marguerite,dau., 5/12 or Aug 1919.

Adam and Myra's sealing cancelled on 26

Adam and Myra's sealing cancelled on 26 Sept 1918

GEDCOM Source

Description: 02 Apr 1926 Safford, Graham, Arizona, United States Unknown. Possible Primary Causes: 1) Cardio disease, 2) Influenza. (Per Arizona State Board of Health Vital Statistics Certificate of Death, State Index #108, Local Registrar #28)

GEDCOM Source

1850 Census

GEDCOM Source

To standardize.

GEDCOM Source

Changed to standard format.

GEDCOM Source

To further standardize.

GEDCOM Source

9594-S8W Myra Kirk Gietz, "Utah, County Marriages, 1887-1940" "Utah, County Marriages, 1887-1940", database, <i>FamilySearch</i> (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2BL-BQ2 : 4 August 2017), Adam Welker and Myra Kirk Gietz, 1914. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2BL-BQ2