Jennie Faubion Welch: Matriarch of The Mountain

Jennie Welch: The Woman Who Remembered

Living an Incredible Life

Jennie Faubion Welch lived a life that stretched from ox teams to automobiles, from split cedar cabins to resort hotels, and from forest stumps to fairways. Born on October 20, 1890, she bridged generations of history and became one of the last living links to the pioneer families who made Welches Oregon.

Many remember her as the quiet woman who ran the antique shop near the old Welch homestead. But long before that, Jennie helped shape the community of Welches.

A Faubion by Birth

Jennie was born into the Faubion family, early settlers of the Zigzag area. Her parents, William and Elizabeth Faubion, raised six children near the Zigzag River. They built one of the area’s earliest lodges—La Casa Monte, meaning “The Mountain House”—to serve travelers along the Barlow Road. William established a post office, which was named Faubion, Oregon.

The entire family was deeply connected to the land and community. Jennie, growing up in this environment, naturally learned to balance hard work with kind hospitality. These skills would later shape her life and the mountain community that she loved.

A Marriage of Legacies

In 1911, Jennie Faubion married Billy Welch, the son of Samuel “Uncle Sam” Welch. Sam had been among the first to homestead the area that would become Welches. Their wedding took place in Vancouver, Washington. To get there, they traveled in a covered wagon through a snowstorm. After the ceremony, they returned home to find six inches of fresh snow on the ground.

Billy had previously lost his first wife, Mamie Kopper, and was raising their daughter, Lutie alone. Billy and Jennie knew each other well and when they were married, Jennie stepped seamlessly into the Welch family, into a growing business, and into a story still being told today.

Building a Mountain Resort

Jennie quickly became the heart of the Welch homestead. Under her direction, the hotel expanded to include 17 sleeping rooms, a full summer kitchen, and a large dining hall. Meals were served family style. Guests shared pitchers of milk and platters of meat, fruit, and cakes. Jennie managed cooks, maids, dishwashers, and ranch hands while also boarding the local schoolteacher, Forest Ranger, and stage driver during stopovers.

She didn’t stop there. After World War I, a friend gave Billy and Jennie 26 boxes of surplus TNT. She and Billy used it to clear stumps from what would become the hayfield. That very land became the first nine holes of what is now the Welches golf course.

In 1905 Billy leased 160 acres to a pair of businessmen to be developed into a golf course and resort. They built a hotel and installed the first nine holes in Billy’s hay field. In 1909 Billy and Jennie took back the property, which now included and hotel and a golf course.

With Jennie and Billy a team, in 1912 they built a general store with a pool hall and an upstairs dance floor. Together, they created a social hub for the community and for visitors. Summer dances filled the room with as many as 150 couples.

In 1928 two more businessmen leased the property but, due to the Great Depression, were unable to maintain the payments. In 1939, Jennie took back the land, preserving what they had built. Billy passed away in 1942 and two years later Jennie sold the golf course—ensuring its future.

Mount Hood Photographer

Jennie was more than a hotelkeeper—she was also a photographer. With her camera, she captured daily life, scenic landscapes, and the guests who came to stay. These photos provide a rare, personal visual record of the Mount Hood region during the early 20th century.

Unlike casual snapshots, her photos were thoughtful and composed. They reflect a deep understanding of the moment and the importance of preserving it. You can read about her work here: Jennie Welch – Photographer

A Shopkeeper with Stories

Jennie loved antiques. So much so that she and her sister Mildred opened an antique shop in Government Camp called “Westward-Ho Antiques and Novelties” in the 1940’s.

In her later years, Jennie operated a small antique store in the home that she built for herself near the old Welch homestead and the resort there. Locals and visitors alike remember stepping inside to browse antiques and curiosities. Many came just to hear Jennie tell stories.

The store wasn’t just a place of business. It became a memory space—quiet, warm, and rooted in the past. Many locals have fond memories of visiting Jennie in her shop, and how welcoming she was. Through this shop, Jennie continued to share stories of her memories of Mount Hood’s past.

A Life That Still Echoes

Jennie Faubion Welch died in December 18, 1985 at the age of 95. By then, she had witnessed incredible change. Electricity, automobiles, paved roads, condos and ski resorts had all arrived. Billy’s homestead had grown into a modern world class resort and golf course.

She was more than the wife of Billy Welch or the daughter of William Faubion. She was a strong and capable woman, running businesses and becoming a community leader in an era when men were known more for those things.

Jennie was a bridge between eras. She recorded, preserved, and passed on the stories of her time. Her legacy lives on in the town that bears the name of the Welch family, in the photographs she left behind, and in the memories of those who stepped into her store.

Jennie Welch became a part of the mountain’s history. To this day the mountain community she loved remembers her.

Sources

• The Oregonian, April 6, 1967 — Obituary of Jennie Welch, age 95.
• The Oregonian, March 5, 1939 — “La Casa Monte: Jennie Welch’s Mountain Home.”
• The Oregonian, July 18, 1915 — Feature on early resort families in the Mount Hood area.
• Sandy Historical Society Archives — Notes on the Faubion and Welch families.
• Mount Hood: A Complete History by Jack Grauer (Portland, OR: Self-published, various editions).
• Family recollections and local history records compiled in Welches PTA Historian Book, 1930.