15 Facts About Adonijah Welch

Adonijah Strong Welch was a United States Senator from Florida and the first president of Iowa State Agricultural College.

Adonijah Welch was admitted to the bar in 1847 and became a high school principal in 1849.

Adonijah Welch spent about a year participating in the California Gold Rush of 1849.

Adonijah Welch served as the first principal of Michigan State Normal School from 1851 to 1865.

In 1865, Adonijah Welch moved to Pensacola, Florida, and eventually to Jacksonville, Florida, for unspecified health reasons.

Adonijah Welch was elected by the legislature to the US Senate as a Republican.

Adonijah Welch served in the Senate for less than nine months but declined renomination.

Adonija Adonijah Welch married Mary Beaumont Adonijah Welch on February 3,1868.

Adonijah Welch served as college president from 1869 to 1883 before resigning.

Adonijah Welch felt that Iowa State was a progressive institution and was proud that it allowed women to attend classes.

From 1885 until his death, Adonijah Welch served as a psychology professor at Iowa State.

Adonijah Welch is interred at Iowa State College Cemetery in Ames, Iowa.

Adonijah Welch Hall, named after him, was constructed in 1895 at Michigan State Normal School.

Adonijah Welch Hall is the second-oldest building on the EMU campus.

In 1984, Adonijah Welch Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places.