James Welch and Ellen Kane, County Kerry / Clare

Hello,

I am hoping to find information about my ancestor James Welch. James was likely born in County Kerry or Clare around 1831. I know nothing about his parents, siblings or extended family. He immigrated to the United States in the early 1850s and eventually settled in the State of Ohio in a town call Circleville. He married a woman name Ellen Kane, who was very likely from County Clare. I am unfortuantely in the same position with Ellen in that I do not know anything about her siblings, parents or extended family.

James Welch (Welsh or Walsh) and Ellen Kane (Kain, Keane, Cane, Cain etc) has three children - John, Edward and Mary. There may have been another daughter named Amanda but this is speculative. All wer born in or around Circleville, Ohio (Edward may have been born in Fayette County). James fought in the civil war in the United States for nearly the entire duration. He fought with Company E, 73rd regiment OVI (Ohio Volunteer Infantry). He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg but continued to participate in much of the war. He sustained other bad injuries from an train accident. Eventually after the war James returned home. His wife Ellen died (for reasons I do not know) in Circleville, Ohio in February of 1879. His son John eventually married Agnes McKenzie and they bought a farm in Galena, Ohio. Edward joined the army and traveled throughout the country until the early 1880s, eventually returning to Ohio and marrying a woman named Katherine Dodd. Edward became a railroad foreman. Mary married Patrick J. O'Connor but died at a very young age, the mother of several children. 

James Welch's civil war paperwork indicates he was born in Kerry. An obituary indicates he was born in Clare. I have two possible relatives in Circleville named William and Patrick Welch, but I cannot make a definitive connection. I also have several Kanes in Circleville which I think are relatives but I cannot be sure. I think Ellen was from Clare but cannot prove it.

I continue to look for information on James Welch and Ellen Kane. Unfortunately I know so little about their extended families in Ireland. I'm hoping to eventually learn who their parents and siblings were. I've done extensive DNA testing without much luck thus far. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone in Ireland that might recognize these names or any parts of this story.

Thanks for reading! I look forward to hearing from anyone out there!

- KCW