From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 946-947
 
H. J. WELSHER.  The history of Walworth county is not a very old one.  It is 
the record of the steady growth of a community planted in the wilderness 
scarcely more than a half century ago and has reached its magnitude of today 
without other means than those of industry.  The people who redeemed its 
wilderness fastnesses were strong-armed, hardy sons of the soil who hesitated 
at no difficulty and for whom hardships had little appall.  There was also 
other work to be done, work of various kinds.  Their efficient efforts have 
been fully appreciated by those who came at a later period and built on the 
foundation which they laid so broad and deep.  Among the latter class is H. J. 
WELSHER, the genial and popular manager of the Halls Park Hotel at Delavan 
lake, Walworth county.  While his arrival was not as early as some, yet he 
came in the formative period and has done much toward the general upbuilding 
of the county  which now occupies a proud position among the most progressive 
and enlightened sections of the great Badger state.
 
Mr. WELSHER was born on October 24, 1868, in Rochester, New York, and he is 
the son of Harrison and Mariah (WHITBECK) WELSHER, both natives of the state 
of New York, where they spent their early lives, coming to Wisconsin later in 
life and settling at Madison, and for some time Mr. WELSHER was superintendent 
of the state fish hatcheries.  From there the family moved to Walworth county, 
where they established a pleasant home and became well known, and spent the 
rest of their days here, Mr. WELSHER dying on January 23, 1906, and four years 
later, Mrs. WELSHER died on the same day of the same month, January 23d.  They 
were the parents of four children, namely: Matilda died in 1906; Willard lives 
in Madison, Wisconsin; F. L. is living with H. J., of this review, who is the 
youngest of the family.
 
The immediate subject of this review received his educational training in the 
schools of Walworth, this county, including the high school.  He was but a boy 
when he accompanied his parents to this country and here he grew to maturity 
and has spent the major part of his life, engaging for the most part in 
agricultural pursuits in which he has met with a large measure of success.  He 
assumed the management of Halls Park Hotel in the spring of 1910 and he has so 
far been very successful in this new field, being courteous, considerate and 
obliging and an excellent manager.  This hotel is one of the most popular on 
famous Delavan lake and is a commodious, neatly kept, attractive and 
altogether desirable place to spend the summer months, and here hundreds pay 
annual visits, coming from all parts of the country.
 
Politically, Mr. WELSHER is a Republican.  He belongs to the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows and has been a member of the Modern Woodmen of America for the 
past twenty-three years.  For the past seven years he has been supervisor of 
the Delavan township board and he held the office of deputy sheriff of 
Walworth county for two years.  As a public servant he has been faithful to 
every trust reposed in him, giving the utmost satisfaction to all concerned.
 
Mr. WELSHER was married on October 30, 1896, to Clara Belle HALL, a lady of 
pleasing personality.  This union has been without issue.
 
Submitted by Carol