Otto Rudolf Eduard Welke

     Otto Rudolf Eduard Welke, son of Wilhelm Eduard Christlieb Welke and Augusta Bertha Wenski, was born at 8 a.m. On 3 May 1863 at Schwente (Święta), Flatow, Marienwerder, Westpreußen (German Confederation).^1,4 He was baptized on 25 May 1863. His godparents were Inspector Rudolf Wenski, Mrs. Charlotte Choms, and Miss Alwine Wenski.⁴ On 6 March 1864, he 5 1/2 months old, lost his mother, Augusta Bertha Welke.^6,4

On 22 December 1896, Wilhelm Eduard Christlieb Welke conveyed the Hof Nr. 2 at Schwente (Święta) to Otto, for 79000 Marks, with the commitment that Otto would support his father for the remainder of his life. Along with the land, Otto received about 450 sheep, 18 horses, about 40 cattle, 10 wagons, various harrows, iron barrels, two grain threshing machines, two grain rakes, a sowing machine, two clover sowing machines, a machine to cut chaff, ten iron plows and four two bladed plows, a three bladed plow, a four bladed plow, two carriages, two basket-carriages, two hunting sleds, four work sleds, and much more.

During his time on the farm, Eduard had built several new buildings, drained a portion of the land, and in general raised the value of the property. The buildings were insured against fire in the amount of 78000 Marks, the inventory for 97000 Marks, making a total of 175000 Marks.^1,7

Not long after receiving the property, Otto sold the Hof Nr. 2 to his nephew Willy Hahlweg from Kölpin, who later divided the land up.^1,8 Otto then purchased land at Adl. Schönberg, Bromberg, Posen.¹

Otto married Bertha Henriette Wilhelmine Mewes, daughter of (?) Mewes and Susanna Seehafer, on 26 February 1897.^1,9

Rinally, Otto sold the land at Adl. Schönberg.¹

Bertha died on 14 August 1919, at Bydgoszcz (Bromberg) at age 50, leaving Otto as a widower at the age of 56 years.¹

Otto retired at Sitno (Wilhelmsort), Bydgoszcz (Bromberg), Pozna ń.¹ He died on 20 January 1922 at Wilhelmsort at age 58 years, 8 months and 17 days.¹