DEATH OF DR. WELCH

Dr. J. W. WELCH, a prominent citizen, a noted physician and a well known politician of this city, died Monday, June 27, much to the regret and sorrow of all who knew him, his death in a measure being a public calamity and saddening the entire community.

James Wesley WELCH was born in Prince William county, Va., December 15, 1824, and died June 27, 1898, being 73 years, 6 months and 12 days.

When at the age of 10 years, his parents moved to Lincoln county and settled near Troy. He attended the Louisville Medical College, Louisville, Ky., graduated from there in 1848.

He located in Paynesville to practice his profession.

On May 1, 1850, he wedded to Miss Elizabeth Marion DOBYNS. He afterwards moved to Clarksville, where, on February 9, 1855, he lost his wife, one son, B. C. WELCH now surviving the union.

In the fall of 1856, he again changed his location and moved to New Hope.

He was again married October 25, 1859, to Miss Mary Ann CASTLEMAN. To this union were born three children, J. C. WELCH, cashier of the Elsberry Banking Company, Mrs. Chas. DUNCAN of New Hope and Mrs. T. A. BELL of St. Louis.

In October, 1894, he moved to Elsberry, where he has since resided.

He was always an active politician. He had been a member of the County Central Committee at intervals since his residence in the county, and during the Civil War represented Lincoln county in the State Legislature in the years 1861-62.

Dr. WELCH as a man had few equals in many respects. He was scrupulously exact in his dealings. He made many friends by his courteous address and kind treatment. Words of eulogy can not well describe his virtues before a community in which he lived.

He was always delicate even from early manhood and was always subject to severe attacks of sickness, from which his friends thought he would not recover. He always lived in expectancy of death, and spoke of it with perfect complacency. At the age of 70, he expressed himself as living longer that he expected and awaited death with a calmness to be admired. He grew old beautifully and gracefully. With advancing years, the mutual love between him and his family grew with increased strength. Every day his life was prolonged increased the attachment until his wife and children felt they could hardly be reconciled to a dispensation of Providence that would take him from them. They take comfort, however, in the thought that because he was faithful in a few things, God took him and promoted him to a higher and better life. While attending medical college, he united with the Methodist church and has been a consistent member since, and when the Lord called him he found His servant waiting. When Lazarus died Jesus wept with Mary and Martha; so the wife and children feel that when their loved one opens his eyes to the beauty and grandeur of the celestial world and his ears are greeted with the music of the angelic choir, he will receive assurance that his bereaved ones are not without Divine Sympathy. "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away."

He was apparently enjoying his usual health ten days before his death, and while his sufferings were intense and severe, they were of short duration, he being sick only about a week just previous to his death.

Funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church Tuesday evening by Rev. J. M. MAJOR of Clarksville, in a brief and informal manner, the deceased requesting that all ceremonies be short and without ostentation. A large number of sympathizing friends and acquaintances from the town, county and abroad filled the church to overflow. In his death the town loses a noble citizen, the wife a loving husband, and the children an indulgent father.

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