Harris Alexander Welker

When Harrison Alexander Welker completed his World War I Registration Card in 1918, he was 45 years old, having been born November 14, 1872, in Canada. He declared himself to be an alien, although he was technically a U.S. citizen based on his parents citizenship. At this time he is living in Dehlm, Bonneville, Idaho with his wife Phoebe, and his occupation is listed as a farmer. He describes himself as being tall, with a medium build with blue eyes and light brown hair.

In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Harrison Alexander Welker, 47 years old, is living in Butte, Bonneville, Idaho, is married, owns him own home, is able to read and write, and with him are his 28 year old wife, Phoebe, and their children, Melvin L., age 9, Roy, age 5, Elvira, age 4 years and 10 months, and Arvilla, 2 years and 2 months old. He is listed as a farmer. Unfortunately, only 7 years later, Harrison has died. In a 1928 and 1929 U.S. City Directory for Salt Lake City, Utah, his widow, Phoebe, is living with her son, Melvin, a laborer, and Phoebe is employed at Utah Radio Products Company. They are living at 3131 Imperial.

In the 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Phoebe, age 38, is living with Melvin A., 20, Harry, 16, Elvira, 15, Orvilla, 12, and Harvey G., 8, who was only 5 years old when his father died in 1927. The family is living in Newberg, Yamhill County, Oregon. In this census, Melvin is listed as a Day Laborer, and Harry is listed as a helper in a cannery. None of the other family members are working, including Phoebe. Their address is on North West Street. They were renting their home for $15.00 per month, and the had no radio in the home, which was something the census taker asked about in the 1930 census. They must have had a really hard time getting by during the Great Depression, which was raging at the time.

By 1931, Phoebe is living in Portland, Oregon, with Melvin,, and probably her other children, and they are renting a home at 1007 E. Sherman. Phoebe is listed as a factory worker and Melvin is listed as a laborer. Melvin's brother, Ray, is also living in the home with them and is listed as a laborer.

By the 1940 U.S. Census, Phoebe has remarried, and is living with her husband George D. Adams, age 53. Phoebe is 48, and with them is Phoebe's youngest son with Harrison, Harvey G. Welker, who is 18 years old and is listed as an apprentice mechanic, repairing all machinery. Phoebe and her husband do not have a listed occupations in this census, but they do have a daughter, named Idonna Sue Adams, age 4.

Phoebe's maiden name was Perry, and she was from Utah. In the 1900 U.S. Census she had been living with her parents, Don C. Perry, 37, and Martha, 33, and older brother Francis, 14, older sister, Carlottte, 12, and Marcha, 10, as well as her younger sisters, Tracy, 6, Arvilla 3, and Eleanor 1, They were living in North Ashley, Uintah, Utah, at that time, and her father's profession was listed as a Farmer.

Her Oregon Find A Grave Index record shows she died January 9, 1887 in Portland, Oregon. The headstone on her grave reads, Phoebe Perry, September 1, 1891, to January 9, 1987, wife of Saddler George D. Adams. She is buried in the Willamette National Cemetery, Plot: K, O, 1631, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA. The address of the cemetery is 11800 SE Mt. Scott Boulevard, Portland, OR 97266. The record is imported from the U.S. Veteran's Affairs, and says that she may have served in the U.S. Army, or maybe her husband did. There is a cross inside a circle above her name, which may indicate he was a chaplain. Per the U.S. Veterans Gravesites, the record says she is buried at Section K, Site 1631, so I'm not sure which record is correct.