The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1896-06-12
he Submitted to a Surgical Operation
From Which He Meyer Recovered
The City in Mourning.
FUNERAL SERVICES
Were Held in the Catholic Church, a
Large Crowd Of Friends Followed
the Remains to the Grave.
DEATH COMES ONCE MORE.

Hon. r. d. Welch Died Saturday After
noon After a Four Days. Illness
1t seems as though Mitchell has been
peculiarly unfortunate in the past few
years in the loss of leading citizens
but none harbored the idea for a mo-
ment that the Hon. r. D. Welch would
be the next victim of the grim reaper,
but such is the case-Richard D.
Welch is dead. The news was brought
down town shortly after two o'clock
that his life was cut short but il
seemed impossible and was quickly
denied, but an immediate visit to his
residence by The REPUBLICAN repre-
sentative confirmed the rumor, and
the man whom all men esteemed it a
favor to be called his friend and who
was warmly admired was taken to the
home up above.
Last Monday Mr.. Welch submitted
to surgical operation for the removal
of tumor. The operation was per-
formed by Drs. Crane & Dundas and
chloroform was administered. After
the operation was finished it was seen
that the chloroform had a different
effect on the patient than had been
anticipated, but it occasioned no SER
ious alarm and as soon as the effects
of it would wear away it was consid-
cred he would be himself again. We'd
nesday and Thursday Mr.. Welch
showed signs of fever which retar-
ded his recovery but it was reduc-
ed and most OF the time he rested quite
easily.
On Friday MIR, Welch was feeling
considerably better and conversed quite
freely with friends who called during
the day. In the evening his fever
came on again with greater force than
ever and continued through the night.
Saturday Mr.. Welch was delirious and
required four men to hold him on the
like sleep from which he never awak-
ened and at 2:15 o'clock the slender
thread which hung between life and
death snapped in twain and his soul
was waited to the great beyond. His
death was due to neuralgia of the heart.
The deceased was born at Altoona,
Penn, in 1850 and and year or two
after moved to Anamosa, Iowa, where
he passed the days of boyhood, excep,
the interval when he attended college
at the state university in Iowa City
In 1880 he was married to Miss Anna
Sullivan at Galena, ILL.,, from which
union there are five echildren-four boy:
and one girl. In the spring of 1882 Mr.
Welch moved to Mitchell and estab
lished himself in the blacksmithine
business at which he was successful.
In the spring of 1892 Mr.. Welch wa:
chosen by the citizens of Mitchell tc
preside over the city as mayor, having
previously served as an alderman OF
, the council for six or eight years. A:
Mitchell's mayor Mr.. Welch acquitted
himself in manner that was clothed
in honor. During those two years ht
was called upon to deliver several ad
dresses in corn palace times. He would
lay aside his leathern apron aud from
the blacksmith's anvil to the speaker
rostrum he would deliver most excel
lent address. His administration cal
be rememb bered as being most success
full one, laboring as hard for the city
welfare as for his own personal inter
ests. Politically he was a democrat anG
: when the vacancy in the receivershi1
, of the United States Land offic,
: occurred he received the highest en-
r dorsements from home and abroad TO
t the appointment. He received itat tn,
) hands of President Cleveland and OF