Welcome Mowry was born 3 April 1842 in Putnam to George Aldrich [some sources say George W.] (1804 - 1889) and Nancy Jack Mowry (1806 - 1888). He had eight brothers and sisters: Martha Aldrich (1829 - ?), Jesse (1831 - 1917), Thomas (1833 - 1899), George (1835 - 1903), Robert (1837 - 1891), Margaret Aldrich (1839 - 1898), Mary (1844 - 1862), and Nancy Ann (1846 - 1942). He was educated in the grade schools there and received his secondary education at Dover Academy. A resident of Wyanet, he enlisted in Company D, 7th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, on 18 August 1861. He was promoted to sergeant on 3 September 1861, reduced to private 3 November 1861, and mustered out on 27 September 1864. While in the service, he was often a scout and participated in the battles of Corinth, Coffeyville, Tupelo, Iuka, Coldwater, Holly Springs, Oxford, and Jackson, Mississippi. Following his initial enlistment, he re-enlisted, this time in the 151st Illinois Infantry. He was a sergeant in command of Brigadier General Henry Moses Judah's headquarters guards. He was discharged in February 1866. He married Lucinda Sapp on 5 September 1866 in Wyanet at the age of 24. They had three children: Lorena C. (1868 - 1943), Burdette F. (1870 - 1950), and Alzada B. (1873 - 1960). In 1867 they moved to Tama County, Iowa. In 1883 he was elected a State representative. He was an Iowa Republican elector in the 1896 presidential election, and in 1898 he was elected a railroad commissioner. He lived the remainder of his life in Tama County and died in Oneida on 14 April 1907.
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