HOUSE, 60th and 62nd General Assemblies, 1917-19, 1921-23; representing Decatur and Benton counties; Democrat, Born at
Decaturville, Decatur County, Mar, 10, 1891; son of Pat H. and Nettie Welch. Attended Union City Training School, Obion County;
University of Tennessee. Knoxville, Knox County; graduated in law from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Wilson County. Married
at Union City Oct. 2, 1917, to Helen Verline, native of that place, daughter of Jack P. and Nettie (Beck) Verline; two sons —
John Vo and Benjamin Carlyle, Jr. Employed at several jobs before entering and during his study of law at Cumberland University;
in practice of law at Decaturville when elected to legislature; moved, 1922, to Memphis, Shelby County, where he continued
law practice until death. In World War I; inducted at Decaturville Aug. 27, 1918; assigned as pvt. to 157 Dep.Brig.,
attended Officers Training School, Camp Gordon, Ga; honorably discharged Dec. 20, 1918. Member Methodist Church; Phi Gamma
Delta fraternity. Died at Memphis Feb. 2, 1954; buried in Memorial Park,
Sources: Information supplied by son, John V. Welch, Memphis, and by Tenn. War Records Bureau; Decatur County Herald, Oct. 23, 1914; Aug. 30, 1918; Mar. 3, 1922; Jan. 14, 1943; Memphis Commercial Appeal, Feb. 2, 1954; Memphis City Directory, 1922.1954; Tenn. Vital Statistics, Death Certificate 3652/
Biographical Directory Tennessee General Assembly 1796-1969 Preliminary No. 13
Benton and Decatur Counties TN State Library and Archives
J.B. WELCH
J. B. Welch and wife Frances Jackson were the parents of Felbert Lee, Nicholas, Maggie, Sallie Ann, Frances, Donna, Mahalia, Edwin, and Troy. J. B. bought 100 acres of land from John W. Delaney on January 4, 1851. This land was located in the Garrett Community and is the first mention of this family in Decatur Co. Felbert Lee married Nancy Addie Chumney, daughter of John and Martha Smith Chumney on December 13, 1888. Maggie married a Lockhart, Sallie Ann married a Harmon, Frances married a Lacy, Donna married a Parsons, and Mahalia married a Long.
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