Welch, M. H., Middlebury, was born in Ireland, County Sligo, on September 14, 1820. He came to America with his parents in 1830, and settled in Brandon, Rutland county, Vt. He received his education in the public schools of this town, and remained on the farm until eighteen years of age. He then went into a shop to learn the machinist trade, and remained in the same shop for about eight years. He was married in 1844 to Harriet A. Hubbard, who was a native of Windsor county, Vt. He came to Middlebury, Vt., in 1849, and there worked for James Davenport, with whom he remained for five years, after which he returned to Brandon, Vt., and there engaged in the hardware business, a business which he followed for about three years. After giving up his business in Brandon, Vt., he returned to Middlebury, Vt., and then organized the firm of Welch & Earl, which continued until Mr. Welch retired from the business in the spring of 1869. He died on April 14, 1874. He was an esteemed citizen and prominent business man of the town; was selectman of the town for about three years, and also held many other minor offices.
