[2] Welker left the family farm at the age of 14 to take a job as a clerk in a store in Millersburg, Ohio.

[1] In 1848, Welker was the Whig nominee for the 31st United States Congress, but lost in the largely Democratic district.

[1] With the outbreak of the American Civil War, on May 14, 1861, Welker was appointed judge-advocate of the second brigade of the Ohio Volunteer Militia at rank of major and served with General Jacob Dolson Cox.

[5] He then served as Judge Advocate General of the State of Ohio for the balance of 1861 and was the superintendent of drafting under Governor David Tod, commencing August 15, 1862.

[5] Welker enlisted on February 16, 1865 in the Union Army as a private in Company I, 188th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

[1] Concurrent with his federal judicial service, Welker was a Professor of political science and international law at the College of Wooster from 1873 to 1890.

[12] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress