December 29, 1903 - Thomas Welch Dies

Thomas Welch converted to Methodism in England at the age of 19, and he later surrendered his life to ministry in the 1840s. Soon after, he began having issues with his voice that prevented him from being heard from the pulpit, so he decided to take up dentistry and medicine. He moved from New Jersey to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While there, he spoke with an alcoholic friend who was burdened because he could not take wine during communion because he feared it would cause his addiction to begin again. Because of this, Thomas Welch invented a pasteurized grape juice to allow his friend to take communion again, and this eventually became the business that is now Welch’s Grape Juice. Welch, who died on December 29, 1903, never profited from his business, but the entity later became profitable under his son, Charles.