found in History of Montgomery County 1902
William D. Whelchel – Over three decades has this prominent and worthy representative of the agricultural followed the plow in Montgomery County. Under his hand he has seen the bare prairies blossom as the rose, and a well ordered farm take the place of nature’s wild waste. Mr. Whelchel has retired from active farm work, however, and is enjoying the fruits of past labor and economy.
William D. Whelchel was born in Bates county, Mo. in 1845 and is the son of John J. and Louisa Bullard Whelchel. They were farmers,, the father having been born in Indiana in 1818. Shortly after their marriage, the parents removed to Bates county, Mo., and later to Linn county, Kan., where the father died at the age of fifty-four years. Their family consisted of 10 children. William was reared to young manhood on the Missouri farm, and in 1862, came with the family to Kansas. He remained with his parents until his marriage, Jan. 5, 1868. Mrs. Whelchel’s maiden name was Samantha L. Williams, daughter of John R. and Sarah Adams Williams. Her father was born in Memphis, Tenn., entered the ministry of the Baptist church at eighteen, and died in April of 1881. Her mother was born in Benton County, Illinois and died at the comparatively early age, in 1864, aged fifty-three years. She was the mother of twelve children: Elizabeth who married Wm. Dillion of LaCygne, Kan,; Marion who was killed in the Civil War; Wm. R. of Washington; Harriet who died at sixteen years; Thomas J., Sarah, John and Hattie, also died, ; Augustus W. of California; Mrs. Whelchel, Elvira, Mrs. Wm Agnew of the Indian Ty,; Mary died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Whelchel are parents of eight children, all of whom but two are living, and occupying honored places in society. The eldest was John C., born Jan. 15, 1869 married Hattie Norris and is a farmer in Oklahoma Ty.; his children are; Dottie, Inez, Homer, Clayton, Frankie and James; Wm. F. born Dec. 17, 1870 married Matilda Arizona Williams, who died Feb. 27, 1903; Charles, born June 4, 1872 and died Jan. 29, 1873; Hattie born Nov. 6, 1878, and died Nov. 23, 1900, was the wife of Harry DeMot – left one child Tressie; Walter, of Elk City, married Ethel Hancock, who died May 17, 1902; James a farmer of Louisburg township was born Oct. of 1881 and married Bertha Hope; Gracie Sunshine, born Oct. 23, 1885, is a student of the Montgomery County High School; and Chester Iven, born Jan. 10, 1888 is a sturdy farm lad at home.
For a time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Whelchel lived in the home neighborhood, and in 1870 came to what was then the wilds of Montgomery Co., They located on the claim where they have since resided. The farm is in Louisburg township, eighteen miles from Independence, and four miles from Elk City, the nearest market town. It consists of one hundred ninety three acres of excellent farming land, and presents in its substantial improvements and well tilled fields, a most pleasing sight to the eye. For the first time in thirty two years, Mr. Whelchel, in 1902 laid by the plowshare and placed the cultivation of his fields in the hands of others. Soo long a period of faithful service certainty entitles him to lay on his oars as it were though difficult, as it is to divorce himself from all labor.
The people of Montgomery county have ever found in Wm. D. Whelchel a man who had the interests of the municipality at heart. He has used his influence at all times in securing the best educational advantages for his district and has been active in making his township and her people contented and law abiding. His political principles are those advanced by the Reform party, and he is consistent and earnest in his support of that ticket.
taken from South East Kansas Tribune dated 1-28-1891
W. D. Whelchel, of Louisburg has grown rapidly in wealth during the past year. In 1890 he was assessed by a Republican assessor and paid $16.72 on $607 personal property, and 74.10 on real estate. The alliance assessor in 1891 assessed Mr. Whelchel on $2,508 of personal property upon which he will pay $84.25 tax, while his real estate tax is reduced to $55.06. It is all right too, as Whelchel is a calamity howler and has plenty of property.
taken from the Elk City Sun dated March 24, 1922
Mrs. W. D. Whelchel passes on
Mrs. W. D. Whelchel, for many years a resident of this community, passed on March 2 at her home in Burbank, Calif. The deceased was born in Illinois 72 years ago and when six years old moved with her parents to Montgomery County, Kansas, where she was married in 1868 to W. D. Whelchel, who has been her companion for 53 years. Mrs. Whelchel was the mother of eight children, three of who survive; Mrs. T. B. Sanderson of Burbank, Calif., Walter and James Whelchel of Fullerton, Calif. She also leaves 20 grand children and 5 great grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Whelchel went to California about twelve years ago on account of the latter’s health and they have since resided there. Interment was made at Santa Monica, Calif. The husband and children will have the sympathy of many Elk City friends in their bereavement.