The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-08
BALTHAZER WELFLEY.
Condensed History of His life by One Who
Knew Him Intimately.

Knew Him Intimately.
Considerable has already been pub
lished about the life and death of that
most worthy citizen, Balthazer Wei
fey, of Somerset county, Pa, and for
a number of years, in his past history,
a prominent man of Garrett county,
Md. Still something additional and
appropriate can with propriety be
vet written and published.
He was born in Salisbury, Somer
set county, Pa, in 1925. His father
was Peter Welfey and his mother a
Welmer, of prominent family of that
name. The father was potter by
trade-a maker of crooks and earthen
vessels or ware; he was also a school
teacher of the ancient kind-three or
four months in the winter season, was
considered an excellent one for the
times. The writer remembers well,
when three score and five years ago
he crossed and and recrOssed the his
toric Mason and Dixon line morning
and evening from his quiet home to
attend the Welhey school at the
Schultz Stone house, hard by the line
on the Pennsylvania side. He used
the birch or rod frequently to enforce
discipline and good behavior. He and
his pupils used the great goose quilts
dipped in home made ink. Spelling,
reading, penmanship and arithmetic
were well taught in those good old
times. This useful and respected man
died many years ago: he left seven
sons and two daughters, all dead it is
understood, except one, Israel, and
strange to say, he the oldest of all the
family, now well up in his nineties,
living near Confluence, in fair state
of preservation physically and men
tally, according to latest information.
CBalthazer received a fair home edu-
cation, sufficient for all practical uses.
head, thoughtful and deliberate In
boyhood he learned the potter trade
with his father and pursued it for a
time in his early life: he was also at
different times engaged in the making
of brick. In time he embarked in the
mercantile business. About the time
of the great war. he and his brother
in-law, \. &. Keim, moved from Sails
bury to Grantsville, where they con
Quoted a store for some years.
In 1877 he Was elected Senator for
Garrett county for four years as a Re
publican. He made a true and faith
full representative of the people Of his
adopted county and left behind good
record. But after his senatorial term
expired, he returned to his native
county and state, and again entered
into the brick making business at the
old Shultz Stone house place, then
back to Salisbury, but in his latter
years he was not in any active bus
mess on account Of age and physical
intirmity. His wife was a daughter of
Judge Jonas Keim, one of Somerset
cOunty's most foremost men for many
years.
In his young years he had some
taste for home military affairs. He
was Captain several years of a noted
militia company in Salisbury, in the
forties. The uniform was very pic
turesque and gaudy, with long hunt
ing shirts OF yellow flannel and red
trimmings, leggins of red flannel from
the knees to the shoe tops, with head
gear to match. People would flock
to town in large numbers on parade
days. The late Daniel FOrney was
the first Captain of the Comp ny and
had great pride in it. Captain b.
Weltley was the tallest man o. the or
ganization. There are yet a few who
remember this noted Company on its
muster days. Hardly one OF it is yet
Lying since the death of its once COM
mander, DIR. D. p. Welfley. who died
in Cumberland in 1886, md was a
brother, also the Rev. join Welfey,
a Lutheran minister.
This poor statement will not an
swer for a tribute to the life long
friend in the departed B..Ithazer Wei
fey, but really, an account of his
character and recogni ed merit, he
deserves such a notice.
Cumberland, Md, Sept. %, 1908.