555 S. 19th St. 

667 Center St. 

John Thomas Welch was born 4 Feb 1868 in California to Irish immigrants Thomas and Ann [Murrey] Welch. The Welch family came to Oregon by 1880 and took up land near McMinnville, OR. When John was in his twenties, he left the farm and took work in Salem at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill.  

He married Matilda Ann Dunsford 29 Dec 1898 in the home of the bride’s mother, Salem, OR. The couple met at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill where they both worked. John in the Dye House and Tillie (Matilda) in the Finishing department. They lived first with Matilda’s mother at 377 Chemeketa St., then moved to 555 S. 19th Street in 1910. They would be the parents of three children: Ruby, Raymond and Russell. Infant son Raymond died in 1902 from lung fever. John left the woolen mill in 1909 and took a job with the police department in Salem. 

Tillie’s uncle Richard H. Bone, retired farmer, paid for an addition to be built on the family’s home and moved in with them. He died in November 1916 after being struck and dragged by a train. John was chief of police at the time. 

John was a member of the Oregon National Guard and an expert rifleman at Camp Perry. He trained fellow marksmen and was chosen to represent the guard in nationwide competitions. He served in WWI. After his return from the war, he took security guard type work and private investigations before being rehired by the police department. In the early 1920s the family moved to Portland where John worked as a house detective for the Imperial Hotel. He would hold this position for 22 years.  

By 1940 the couple was living apart, John in the Imperial Hotel where he worked and Tillie with daughter Ruby in Portland. Tillie died 7 Jan 1942 at the age of 76, in Portland. John followed a year later on 2 Jan 1943. Cause of death was bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis. They were buried together in Rose City Cemetery in Portland, OR. 

1909 Welch John T, machinist TKWM Co, bds 377 Chemeketa 

1910 Welch John T, engineer, res 555 S 19th  

1913  Welch John T (Tillie A), police, res 555 S 19th 

1917  Welsh John T (Tillie A), watchman Supreme Court bldg., res 555 S 19th 

1900 John T. Welch. Age: 32. Birth Date: Dec 1867 in California. Residence in 1900: South Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Marriage Year: 1898. Occupation: Gardener. Additional household members: Tillie Welch, age 32 (wife). 

1910 John T. Welsh [Welch]. Age: 42. Birth Date: 1868 in California. Residence in 1910: 555 S. 19th St. Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Engineer. Industry: Street Roller. Additional household members: Matilda Welsh [Welch], age 44 (wife), Ruby E. Welsh [Welch], age 9 (daughter), Russell Welsh [Welch], age 6 (son). 

1920 John T. Welsh [Welch]. Age: 51. Birth Year: abt 1869 in California. Residence in 1920: 657 Center St. Salem Ward 2, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Engineer. Industry: Fruit Evaporator Co. Additional household members: Tillie Welsh [Welch], age 53 (wife), Ruby Welsh [Welch], age 18 (daughter), Russell Welsh [Welch], age 16 (son), Esther Bailey, age 21 (boarder) 

1930 John T. Welsh [Welch], Age: 63. Birth Year: abt 1867 in California. Residence in 1930: 1192 East Harrison, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Detective. Industry: Hotel. Additional household members: Matilda A. Welsh [Welch], age 65 (wife), Laura F. Hayes, age 8 (granddaughter). 

1940 John T. Welsh [Welch], Age: 72. Birth Year: abt 1868 in California. Residence in 1940: Imperial Hotel, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, boarder in hotel. Occupation: Elevator Operator. Industry: Hotel.  

John Thomas Welsh [Welch] Birth: 4 Feb 1868 in California. Death: 2 Jan 1943 (aged 76) in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Burial: Rose City Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Memorial ID: 175815923 

OR Statesman 21 Jul 1900, p 8 – Birth of Daughter 

OR Statesman 25 Dec 1902, p 8 – Death of Infant Son (Raymond) 

OR Statesman 18 Jan 1910, p 1 – J.T. Welch, Street Commissioner 

OR Statesman 5 Apr 1910, p 1 – J.T. Welch, Resigns as Commissioner 

OR Statesman 21 Nov 1916, p 1 – Death of Uncle, Tillie’s Inheritance 

Capital Journal 12 Jun 1926, p 5 – Visit of George H. Dunsfords  

Capital Journal 20 Oct 1930, p 7 – Mrs. J.T. Welch visits Salem 

Oregonian 8 Jan 1942, p 3 – Death Notice Matilda 

Oregonian 4 Jan 1943, p 17 – Obituary John 

1994.087.0002 Scrapbook (news clipping of Dunsford-Welch marriage)