Background
J. A. Welch was born in Illinois, February 2, 1860. He came to California in 1881. From 1894-1897, he was City Attorney for
San Jose. In 1903 he became Judge of the Supreme Court of Santa Clara County. He was active in promoting the construction
of the Bayshore Highway and Skyline Boulevard, the building of which did much to forward the commercial development of Santa
Calra County.