FREDERICK E. WELLFARE, foreman of the copper shops of the Quincy Railroad at Beardstown for the past nine years, was born in Candage, Erie county, New York, June 23, 1858. He was bur one year old when his parents moved to Illinois. He is the son of John Wellfare, who was born in England, of English parentage, and was yet a small child when his parents brought him to the United States and settled in New York. Here he grew up in the town of Candage and acquired a complete knowledge of the coppersmith's trade, also tin, sheet-iron and pipe fitting; and, having become skilled in these departments of mechanical work, he came in 1859 with his family to Illinois. Here he was connected for about two years with a prominent manufacturer of copper pipe, sheet copper and brass goods, and his skill secured him the formanship of the shops. Finally he was offered a partnership, but refused it and went to Aurora to take charge of the copper shops of the main line or Chicago division of the Quincy Railroad. He was afterward connected with this large corporation for about thirty years, but owing to failing health he had to withdraw and entered into the hardware business, in 1883, in Aurora; but, not receiving the proper relief for his malady (catarrh of the head), he went to Kansas, and after two years, not being able to stand the heated winds, he went in 1886 to Los Angeles, California, and there opened and has since carried on a first class restaurant. He is now about sixty years of age. He was married in Youngstown, New York, to Harriet Myers. She was born and reared in the Empire State, and was of German parentage. She is yet living and is about three years her husband's junior. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Wellfare is a sound Republican in politics.
Our subject is the eldest of three sons and three daughters yet living. He began when about twelve years of age with his father in the Quincy shops. Here he has remained with the exception of about three years. One year he was with his father in his hardware store at Aurora, and later was one year with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, with headquarters at Dubuque, Iowa, and the last year with the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad, with headquarters at St. Joseph, Missouri. Since then he has been in the employ of the Quincy Railroad, for the last eleven years at Beardstown. He is a practical and thorough workman in his department. He also does the tin and sheet-iron work for the St. Louis division, and the steam-pipe fitting for it also.
He was married in Aurora, to Miss Almira Warner, of new York, born in 1862. She was brought to Cook county in 1867, and reared near the city of Chicago. She is the daughter of John P. and Julia (Havens) Warner, both now living near Aurora. Mr. Warner is a stock-breeder, and he and family live on a farm one mile southeast of Aurora.
Mr. and Mrs. Wellfare are good, hard-working young people. Mr. Wellfare is a member of the Ark Lodge, No. 116, I.O.O.F., of Beardstown. He is a sound Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Wellfare are the parents of two bright little children, - Lydia, aged seven, and Dare, aged four.