The Washington Republican Washington County Friday June 29, 1900 Old Grandpa WELCH, one of the first settlers of Lowe township, and about the oldest man in our county, died Thursday of last week. He and his aged wife moved from their rural home to a cozy little home in Washington where he died. The day of his death he took a walk to the business part of town in the forenoon, enjoyed his dinner at home with some visiting friends and a pleasant chat with them in the afternoon. After their departure he retried for a rest as was his habit. Alas! he closed his eyes in death within five minutes of his retirement, seemingly without pain. He lived to ripe age of eighty-seven years. His funeral procession passed through this neighborhood last Friday wending its way to the cemetery on the old homestead wher ehe located in the spring of 1873 and built the beautiful home that affords his last resting place. He leaves perhaps the largest number of descendents to mourn his death of any one man in the history of our county, numbering about one hundred ! and eighty people, many of which are of our best citizens. Rev. TAYLOR, of Wasington, preached his funeral in the old home amidst a large assembly of old neighbors and relatives. His funeral text was taken from the 14th chapter, 13th verse of Rev., which gives great consolation to all who tread life's rugged pathway. Father WELCH was a loving husband, a kind father, a good neighbor and a devout Christian.