Richard J. Welch
Richard J. Welch | |
|---|---|
Welch c. 1932 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 5th district | |
| In office August 31, 1926 – September 10, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Lawrence J. Flaherty |
| Succeeded by | John F. Shelley |
| Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from the at-large district | |
| In office January 8, 1916 – September 30, 1926 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Payot |
| Succeeded by | Frank J. McGovern |
| Member of the California Senate from the 19th district | |
| In office January 1, 1901 – January 6, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Lawrence J. Dwyer |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Grant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Joseph Welch February 13, 1869 Monroe County, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 10, 1949 (aged 80) Needles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery |
| Party | Republican Union Labor |
| Spouse | Sarah O'Connor Welch |
| Children | Garrett Welch |
Richard Joseph Welch (February 13, 1869 – September 10, 1949) was an American county clerk and politician. He sat in the United States House of Representatives for 12 terms from 1926 to 1949, serving a district in San Francisco, California. Before this, Welch had been a state senator. As of 2025, he is the last Republican to represent San Francisco in the House.
Biography
Born in Monroe County, New York, Welch was educated in the public schools. He moved to California in early boyhood and settled in San Francisco. He worked on a farm in Freeport, and then was apprenticed as an ironworker, which led to his becoming trained as a machinist. He later served as clerk of the San Francisco County Superior Court.
Early political involvement
Welch became active in politics as a Republican, including serving as treasurer of his local Republican Club, helping organize campaign events for the ticket of William McKinley and Garret A. Hobart during the 1896 presidential campaign, and organizing San Francisco's Dewey Republican Club in 1898. He served in the California Senate from 1901 to 1913.
Welch was the harbormaster for the port of San Francisco from 1903 to 1907. He served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1916 until September 30, 1926, when he resigned, having been elected to Congress.
Congress
Welch was elected to the Sixty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lawrence J. Flaherty. He was re-elected to the Seventieth and to the eleven succeeding Congresses and served from August 31, 1926, until his death in a hospital in Needles, California, September 10, 1949. He was succeeded by John F. Shelley and was the last Republican to hold this seat.
During his tenure, Welch served as chairman of the Committee on Labor (Seventy-first Congress), and the Committee on Public Lands (Eightieth Congress). He successfully introduced the Filipino Repatriation Act of 1935, which intended to exclude Filipinos from immigrating to the United States and repatriate those who wished to return.[1]
Death
He died on September 10, 1949 at the age of 80. His body was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California.
Electoral history
Republican Richard J. Welch won the 1926 special election to replace fellow Republican Lawrence J. Flaherty, who died in office. Data for this special election is not available.[2]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 47,694 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 51,708 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 59,853 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 67,349 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 89,751 | 93.8 | |
| Communist | Alexander Noral | 5,933 | 6.2 | |
| Total votes | 95,684 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 82,910 | 94.8 | |
| Communist | Lawrence Ross | 4,545 | 5.2 | |
| Total votes | 87,455 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 91,868 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 119,122 | 95.8 | |
| Communist | Walter R. Lambert | 5,232 | 4.2 | |
| Total votes | 124,354 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 85,747 | 92.7 | |
| Communist | Walter R. Lambert | 6,749 | 7.3 | |
| Total votes | 92,496 | 100.0 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 112,151 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 94,293 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard J. Welch (Incumbent) | 116,347 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
See also
References
- ^ Dodge, Charles L. (May 1930). "Order Native Sons Golden West engaged in worthwhile undertakings". Grizzly Bear: 3. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ 1926 special election results
- ^ 1926 election results
- ^ 1928 election results
- ^ 1930 election results
- ^ 1932 election results
- ^ 1934 election results
- ^ 1936 election results
- ^ 1938 election results
- ^ 1940 election results
- ^ 1942 election results
- ^ 1944 election results
- ^ 1946 election results
- ^ 1948 election results
External links
- United States Congress. "Richard J. Welch (id: W000265)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Richard Joseph Welch, Late a Representative from California. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. 1950.
- Media related to Richard J. Welch at Wikimedia Commons
- Richard J. Welch at Find a Grave
- Join California Richard J. Welch
This article incorporates public domain material from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Federal government of the United States.