Résumé

Timothy John Welsh, Sr., had a varied and successful San Francisco architectural practice and engaged in other pursuits such as operating an early building and loan association.

Draftsman, San Francisco, CA, c. 1872.

Principal, Thomas J. Welsh, Architect, San Francisco, CA, fl. 1877-1910. From at least 1877 until 1883, Welsh had an architectural office at 302 Montgomery Street in San Francisco. Others in San Francisco's architectural community also leased space in the building at 302 Montgomery, including Vitruvius Frazee, Jules Godart, Wiliam Mooser, Sr., and William Schrof. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1877, p. 465, and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1883, p. 1106.) He did extensive work for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco and the city's Board of Education.

In 1889, the Daily Alta California newspaper published a review of leading architectural firms operating in the city. It said of Welsh: "Mr. Welsh entered upon his professional career in San Francisco some ten years ago, since which time he has done a great deal of work which he can justly refer to with pride. He is the present architect for the Board of Education. Among the many buildings designed by him may be mentioned the Cleveland, Moulder, Page-street, Spring Valley, Point Lobos and the Kate and Fillmore schools, all of which have been pronounced by the press and also by the superintendents, Messrs. Moulder and Anderson, to be models of beauty, possessing unsurpassed facilities for light and ventilation. He also built the Opera House and the Hall of Records at Woodland, the Roman Catholic Church at Santa Cruz, and Saint Catherine's Convent, San Rafael. He is the superintending architect for the new Cathedral, Dominican Church and Seventh Day Adventists Churches in Oakland and in Healdsburg, and many beautiful and costly residences in this and other cities. He is also President of the Mutual Building and Loan Association." (See "T.J. Welsh, Room 95, Flood Building," Daily Alta California, 07/07/1889. p. 9.)

President, Mutual Building and Loan Association, San Francisco, CA, c. 1889.

Professional Activities

Welsh did considerable design work for the Catholic Church in the Bay Area, during the late nineteenth century. Architectural historian Daniella Thompson, a specialist in Berkeley architectural history, indicated that Welsh designed 16 churches in San Francisco for the Catholic Archdiocese. (See Daniella Thompson, The Berkeley Daily Planet.com, "East Bay Then and Now: Shipping Magnate's Mansion Is Rare Survivor on Oxford Street," published 09/08/2006, accessed 11/22/2017.)

In 1908, Welsh was listed as an Architectural Editor of the Architect and Engineer of California. (See Architect and Engineer of California, vol. 13, no. 2, 06/1908, p. 78.)

Relocation

Thomas J. Welsh, Sr., was a native of Australia, who came to the US as a child. The US Census of 1900 indicated that he had arrived in the US in 1850, although it was likely later than this, probably between 1852 and 1854. (See Ancestry,com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 0174; FHL microfilm: 1240104, accessed 12/10/2021.) The 1886 San Francisco voter register indicated that Thomas had received US citizenship as a result of his father's naturalization that occurred in either the 1850s or 1860s. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 62; FHL Roll Number: 977213, accessed 12/10/2021.)

Thomas lived with his parents and three siblings in San Francisco as per the 1860 US Census. (Strangely, the census omitted his younger brother William, the second of his siblings born in CA, and his sister Mary Ann. Both William and Mary Ann died in early childhood, six days apart on 11/20/1860 and 11/26/1860, respectively. The census page was recorded on 07/24/1860.) (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: San Francisco District 10, San Francisco, California; Roll: M653_67; Page: 353; Family History Library Film: 803067, accessed 12/10/2021.)

The 1870 US Census listed Thomas Welsh living in San Francisco, but several of its facts appear to have been incorrect. It listed Thomas as a "coal merchant", and his brother John, as an architect. (Their occupations were likely reversed.) John was also listed as having been born in Ireland, which was not the case. The census form showed Thomas owning $1,000 worth of real estate and having a personal estate of $1,000. Others in the household included Thomas's mother Mary Welsh (whose birthplace was inaccurately noted as "Australia,") and his siblings Johanna Welsh, Mike Welsh, Eliza Welsh, Joseph Welsh, and Thomas Welsh's wife, Bridget Welsh, then 21 years of age and pregnant with her first child. Additionally, another person, John Waters (born c. 1855 in CA) also resided in the Welsh household. The census indicated that Mike also worked as an architect. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: San Francisco Ward 11, San Francisco, California; Roll: M593_84; Page: 663A, accessed 12/10/2021.)

A voter roll for 1872-1873 noted that the Welsh household address was on Folsom Street between 22nd and 23rd Streets. This document indicated that he first registed to vote on 08/15/1867. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 43; FHL Roll Number: 977099, accessed 12/10/2021.)

Welsh's adult life became very stable, as he lived in the same residence for over 25 years. By 1875, Timothy and Etta Welsh had found a new house at 1215 Tyler Street. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 44; FHL Roll Number: 977099, accessed 12/10/2021.) The 1880 US Census confirmed that they resided at 1215 Tyler Street, although the thoroughfare's name had been changed to "Golden Gate Avenue." (This was done after Tyler had been paved and made the prime entryway to the grand, new Golden Gate Park.) In 1880, they employed a 24-year-old woman, Mary Saar (born c. 1856 in IA), as a household servant, likely to keep track of the family's nine children. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 79; Page: 402B; Enumeration District: 224, accessed 12/10/2021.)

In 1900, Welsh, his wife and eight of his children continued to live at 1215 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francsico, CA. The household also included a servant whose name was poorly transliterated on the US Census form. (It read "Gary Yhhung" [born c. 1870 in China, who came to the US in 1881.]) (See Ancestry,com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 0174; FHL microfilm: 1240104, accessed 12/10/2021.) San Francisco voter records had the Welsh Family living at the same address in 1904. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/10/2021.)

After his wife Etta's death in 1905, the architect's stability began to falter and he began to relocate much more frequently. He moved to a new dwelling at 1134 Haight Street by 1907, living with his children Grace, Alma and Leo. A servant, Cordelia Dugar (born c. 1885 in Ireland) also lodged with the family when the 1910 US Census was done. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 37, San Francisco, California; Roll: T624_99; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0167; FHL microfilm: 1374112, accessed 12/10/2021.)

His address in 1912 was 1817 Oak Street. A year later, Welsh had switched habitations again, dwelling at 948 Haight Street with his son Joseph Aloysius Welsh, a veterinarian. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/10/2021.)

Welsh died in October of 1918, during the time of the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919, although it is not know if this was the cause of his death. He was buried in the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma, CA.

Parents

His father was Michael John Welsh (born c. 1822 in County Tipperary, Ireland-d. 12/27/1867 in San Francisco, CA). He likely emigrated to Australia in the very early 1840s. The 1860 US Census noted that Michael worked as a laborer who possessed $400 worth of real estate. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: San Francisco District 10, San Francisco, California; Roll: M653_67; Page: 353; Family History Library Film: 803067, accessed 12/10/2021.)

Mary Gaffney Welsh (born c. 1822 in Ireland-d. 1901 in San Francisco, CA), Thomas's mother, likely came from the area near Philipstown (later renamed Daingean), County Offaly, Ireland, although her place of birth was listed as Australia erroneously in the US Census of 1870. She may have been baptized in Philipstown, a city about 78 km due west of Dublin. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Library of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Microfilm Number: Microfilm 04202 / 09, accessed 12/10/2021.) Like her husband, Mary left Ireland for Australia just before the Potato Famine of 1845-1848.

Michael and Mary married in Sydney, NSW, Australia c. 1843, and had three children in that country before moving to the US about 1850. Once in CA, they had five more children. In addition to Thomas, their children were John Joseph Welsh (born c. 1847 in Australia-d. 02/14/1915 in San Francisco, CA), Johanna Welsh Rousell (born c. 1852 in Australia-d. 11/14/1911 in San Francisco, CA), Michael James Welsh (born 11/01/1855 in San Francisco, CA-d. 04/26/1926 in Los Altos, CA), William Welsh (born 04/1856 in San Francisco, CA-d. 11/20/1860 in San Francisco, CA), Mary Ann Welsh (born 06/1858 in San Francisco, CA-d. 11/26/1860 in San Francisco, CA), Elizabeth "Eliza" J. Welsh Glynn (born 06/26/1862 in San Francisco, CA-d. 07/05/1923 in San Francisco, CA), and Joseph William Welsh (born 11/1866 in San Francisco, CA-d. 08/10/1921 in San Francisco, CA).

Spouse

He wed Bridget "Etta" Vincent O'Brien (born c. 11/30/1848 in Albany, NY-d. 01/30/1905 in San Francisco, CA).

In 1850, Etta resided in Albany, NY, with her parents, Cornelius and Eliza O'Brien (both born c. 1817 in Ireland). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1850; Census Place: Albany Ward 3, Albany, New York; Roll: 471; Page: 153b, accessed 12/10/2021.) According to the 1850 US Census, he worked as a porter. Ten years later, he had become a grocer. The O'Briens seem to have rented rooms to lodgers to earn added money. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Albany Ward 1, Albany, New York; Roll: M653_719; Page: 227; Family History Library Film: 803719, accessed 12/10/2021.) By 1870, it appears that Etta worked as a servant on the household staff of John Root (born c. 1802 in NY), an Albany underwear magnate. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Albany Ward 6, Albany, New York; Roll: M593_898; Page: 364B, accessed 12/01/2021.)

Children

The 1900 US Census reported that Thomas and Etta Welsh had had ten children altogether, nine of whom survived in that year. (See Ancestry,com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 0174; FHL microfilm: 1240104, accessed 12/10/2021.) Another source listed that they had eleven children. (See Find a Grave.com, "Thomas John 'T.J.' Welsh," accessed 12/10/2021.) They included: James Joseph Welsh(born 11/1870 in San Francisco, CA-d. 01/24/1924 in San Francisco, CA), Thomas J. Welsh, Jr.,(born 10/1872 in CA-d. 07/09/1915 in San Francisco, CA), Joseph Aloysius Welsh(born 01/27/1875 in San Francisco, CA-d. 07/10/1941 in Yountville, CA),Howard A. Welsh (born 02/22/1877 in San Francisco, CA-d. 01/24/1940 in San Francisco, CA),Anna Rose Welsh Tucker (born in 1877 in San Francisco, CA-d. 11/01/1940 in Kirkland, WA), Oliver Aloysius Welsh (born 12/25/1879 in San Francisco, CA-d. 08/10/1935 in San Francisco, CA), Mary Grace Welsh Costello (born 03/17/1881 in San Francisco, CA-d. 09/07/1955 in San Francisco, CA),Grace Mary Welsh Lynch (born 04/26/1882 in San Francisco, CA-d. 05/20/1941 in San Francisco, CA), Alma R. Welsh (born c. 06/1887 in CA),Alphonsus Liquori Welsh (born 01/1885 in San Francisco, CA-d. 07/22/1886 in San Francisco, CA)andMervyn Leo Welsh (born 07/04/1889 in San Francisco, CA-d. 09/13/1935 in San Francisco, CA).

An "Annie Shea" was listed in the 1880 US Census as having been an "adopted child." It is diffiuclt to know if this was Anna Rose Welsh Tucker or another child, as their birthdates did not align. The 1880 Census recorded Annie Shea's birthdate to have been c. 1871.

At least three of Thomas Welsh's sons went into the building design or construction. San Francisco voter records for 1896 indicated that Thomas J. Welsh, Jr., continued to live in his parent's residence at 1215 Golden Gate Avenue and worked as a tilesetter. His elder brother James also had the same address and worked as a draughtsman, possibly for his father. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 99; FHL Roll Number: 977621, accessed 12/10/2021.) San Francisco voter records of 1910, stated that Mervyn worked as an electrician at the time. See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/10/2021.)

Biographical Notes

Voter records for San Francisco of 1896 described Thomas John Welsh, Sr., as standing 5-feet 7-and-3/4-inches tall, with a fair Caucasian complexion, green eyes and brown hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 99; FHL Roll Number: 977621, accessed 12/10/2021.)

The San Francisco voter registers of 1910, 1913 and 1916 recorded that Thomas Welsh, Sr., voted as a Democrat. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/10/2021.)