The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-05-15
BEATRICE WELLH
DIES IN CHICAGO
Former Well Known Keno
shan and Civic Leader
Died Saturday.
NOTED AS PIANIST
Was Active Among Women of
Kenosha and First Woman
Member of School Board.


a teacher of music and formerly one
of the best known women of Kenosha,
died on Saturday night in Chicago
following an attack of acute atrophy
of the liver. Mrs. Welles had been
i'll for just a week and she was taken
to the hospital on last Wednesday.
Her condition had been critical since
that time and she had been in state
of coma for four days before her
death. The announcement OF her
death came as a great shock to many
friends in Kenosha as only a few
very near relatives here had known
of her serious illness.
On account of the very prominent
position Mrs. Welles had held in
woman's work in Kenosha and in the
advance ment of music and art In the
city, her death comes as great sor-
row to many people.
The remains will be brought back to
Kenpsha for interment on Tuesday. A
short service will be held at the chapel
at 1858 North Clark street, Chicago,
at half past ten o'clock Tuesday morn
| ing. The Lake View Musical club of
which Mrs. Welles was the vice presi-
in charge of a musical service after
which Mr.. Horace Bridges will speak.
The remains will be brought to Keno
sha on the train leaving at one o'clock
Tuesday afternoon and laid at rest in
the Ives family plot at the Green
Ridge cemetery. The Rev. |. W. Corey
of the First Baptist church will read
the short service at the cemetery.
Native of Springfield.
Beatrice Ives was born Nat Spring
| field, ILL.,, September 1, 1882, the
daughter of Benjamin and Lucy Ives.
She was educated in the schools at
Springfield and in early life showed
great talent as pianist. Later she
removed with her parents to Chicago
and for some time she was a student
of the Chicago Normal College of
Music Later her art was developed
under the tutelage of some of the
best known masters of. the piano in
both Chicago and New York.
Early in life she attained note as
player and she was for years known
as one of the best of the younger
pianists in Chicago.
| In 1904 she was married to Richard
/ H. Welles of Kenosha, and they came
to Kenosha to make their home. Mrs.
Welles at once assumed command
ing place in the musical and social
life of Kenosha. Ea
Was Inspiration. for Musical Uplift.
Mrs. Welles was not only an artist
as "a pianist but she was a great
student of music and she took great
interest in the advancement of all
things musical. She was the inspira-
tion for the organization of several
clubs among the musicians of Keno
sha and she had an important part in
all of them. She was active in the
work of the Schubert club of Keno
sha and in the Woman's club of Ke-
nosha during the years of her resi-
dence here. She was also active as
worker in many of the other organi-
kzations of the city.
A number of years ago she gave up
her residence in Kenosha and removed
to Chicago where she held "a high
place in musical circles. She spent
much of her time in teaching and as
vice president of the Lake View Mu-
\ SASstt ciSoOSAdbAOI SHC llctO lA0NA W w
with the musical life of the larger
city. From her busy time as teacher
she found some time to give recitals
and only recently she appeared before
Kenosha audience in most charm
ing musical and literary entertainment.
The rare personal beauty and un-
usual personal charm, coupled with
her ability as a great artist, won for
her high place among the unsteady
inclined in Chicago. She had arrived
at the zenith of her career and when
she was stricken only a short time
ago she had arranged for many i'm
/ portant concerts and symphony reci-
tails to be given in Chicago, Milwau-
kee and New York during the summer
and early autumn. Leaders of the
musical life of Chicago today paid
tribute to her as one of the most
noted artists ever developing in the
middle west
Interested in Civic Work.
During her residence in Kenosha,
Mrs. Welles took a great interest in
i civic work. She was one of the lead
ers in the organization of the parent
| teacher associations in Kenosha. She
was the first woman ever elected as a
member of the board of education in
Kenosha, and she had most import
ant part in urging more comprehen-
sive program for the schools Of Ke-
nosha. She was interested in the
work of the Kenosha Red Cross and
had some part in the work of prac-
t.cally all of the organizations in
KanoSha foY. ciyic uDlift
Mrs. Welles is survived by her hus-
band, Richard H. Welles, and two
sons, Richard Ives Welles, connected
with the government fisheries at Boze-
man, Mont, and George Orson Welles
of Chicago.