Benjamin Franklin Welty (August 9, 1870 October 23, 1962) was an American soldier and attorney who served two terms as a U.S. representative from Ohio from 1917 to 1921.

Early life and military service

Born near Bluffton, Ohio, and Pandora, Ohio, Welty's parents emigrated from Switzerland to Ohio in the mid-1800s. He attended the common schools and the Tri-State Normal College of Indiana. He graduated from the Ohio Northern University at Ada in 1894 and from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1896. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1896 and commenced practice in Lima, Ohio.

He served as city solicitor of Bluffton from 1897 to 1909.

Spanish-American War

He also served as a private during the Spanish–American War.

Legal and political career

He became prosecuting attorney of Allen County 19051910, and was a lieutenant colonel in the Ohio National Guard 19081913. He served as special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General 19111913, and was a special assistant in the United States Department of Justice 19131915.

Congress

Welty was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fifth and Sixty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1917 March 3, 1921). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1920 to the Sixty-seventh Congress.

Later career

After his Congressional career, he was employed with Inland Waterways Association 19211924. He resumed the practice of law until 1951, when he retired.

Death and burial

He died in Dayton, Ohio, October 23, 1962. He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery, Shawnee Township, Ohio.

References

Retrieved on 2009-03-04

External links