North Dakota Governor. Born in the Yorkshire, England village of Bellerby, in 1879 his family moved to Pembina, North Dakota near the Canadian border. He became a farmer, also serving as Vice President of the Merchants bank of Pembina County. In 1900 Welford was elected Pembina Town Clerk, a post he held for over 20 years. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1907 to 1911 and the North Dakota Senate from 1917 to 1921. Originally a Democrat, Welford became active in North Dakota's Nonpartisan League, an organization of farmers and small businessmen that was formed to counter the influence of large corporations, including railroads, banks and millers, and which usually affiliated with Republicans in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1934 he was the successful Republican/NPL candidate for Lieutenant Governor and served from January 7, 1935 to February 2, 1935, when Governor Thomas Moodie was removed from office. Welford then succeeded to the governorship and served until January 6, 1937. His term was marked by efforts to cope with the effects of a drought and the Great Depression, and he successfully lobbied President Franklin Roosevelt to visit North Dakota and pledge additional federal aid. He ran unsuccessfully for a full term in 1936, defeating William Langer for the Republican/NPL nomination, but losing the general election to Langer, who ran as an independent. After leaving office Welford retired to his Pembina farm. He died while en route to a hospital in Altona, Manitoba, where he was being taken after becoming ill.
North Dakota Governor. Born in the Yorkshire, England village of Bellerby, in 1879 his family moved to Pembina, North Dakota near the Canadian border. He became a farmer, also serving as Vice President of the Merchants bank of Pembina County. In 1900 Welford was elected Pembina Town Clerk, a post he held for over 20 years. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1907 to 1911 and the North Dakota Senate from 1917 to 1921. Originally a Democrat, Welford became active in North Dakota's Nonpartisan League, an organization of farmers and small businessmen that was formed to counter the influence of large corporations, including railroads, banks and millers, and which usually affiliated with Republicans in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1934 he was the successful Republican/NPL candidate for Lieutenant Governor and served from January 7, 1935 to February 2, 1935, when Governor Thomas Moodie was removed from office. Welford then succeeded to the governorship and served until January 6, 1937. His term was marked by efforts to cope with the effects of a drought and the Great Depression, and he successfully lobbied President Franklin Roosevelt to visit North Dakota and pledge additional federal aid. He ran unsuccessfully for a full term in 1936, defeating William Langer for the Republican/NPL nomination, but losing the general election to Langer, who ran as an independent. After leaving office Welford retired to his Pembina farm. He died while en route to a hospital in Altona, Manitoba, where he was being taken after becoming ill.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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