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Charles Augustus and Ethel Mae Welter
Ethel Mae ARCHER, born 27 Sept 1884 in
Tracy, MN was the daughter of Wilbur (William) Franklin and Ida
Frances Pierce Archer. She married Charles Augustus WELTER on 22
June 1904 in her home in Lamberton, MN. Charles was born 25 Sept
1879 in Medo Township, MN. He was the son of Nickolas and Emily
Marie Will Welter. Nickolas was of Dutch descent and Emily of
Scottish descent. Charles and Ethel moved to Lucan, MN in 1904 where
Charles was in the Livery and Dray business.
They were active in public and church
affairs. They had six children, all born in Lucan. During the 1900’s
there were few high schools in the area and children had to be
boarded out to families in towns that had a high school in order for
them to get an education. They wanted their children to have an
education but to also live with them while going to school, so they
decided to move to Gary, IN in 1919. They bought a candy store
called "The Sugar Bowl" when they arrived in Gary and while Ethel
ran the store, Charles joined his brother, William welter, in the
contracting business.
They build the following buildings in
Gary: Ardel Apartments, named after William’s daughter. Elaine
Apartments, named after Charles’ daughter (my grandmother), located
on Virginia Street. Webber Apartments, named after one of the
investors. Archer Hotel, named after Ethel’s family. Kelvinator
Store, appliance store run by Charles and Ethel. Alexander
Apartments, named after William’s wife. Retlew Apartments, Welter
spelled backwards, located at 5th Polk. Pierce Apartments, named
after Ethel’s mothers family, located at 4th Pierce. Cressmoor
Country Club in Hobart, IN, built in 1924-25. The first and largest
golf course built in Northern Indiana. It was a 36 hole golf course
with 18 holes of sand greens and 18 holes of grass greens. (I have
copies of the original year book for Cressmoor that I could copy and
send to you.) Charles and Ethel sold the Kelvinator store during
World War II as appliances were not being manufactured during the
war. They bought the Ardell Apartments which consisted of 50
apartments and managed them until they retired to Sarasota, FL in
1957.
Charles died 23 Oct 1963 in Sarasota and
Ethel died 4 Mar 1984 in Darlington, WI, just six months before her
100th birthday. They are buried in Manasota Memorial Park,
Bradenton, FL.
Source: Sumbitted by: Linda
(Walter⁄Eldridge) Wells - WhisperW@aol.com
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