Biography of S P Weldon, Fulton Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown <michael@grnco.net>
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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page 307

S. P. Welden, treasurer of Fulton County, Ark., was born in Jackson County,
Tenn., June 15, 1832, but was reared in the State of Kentucky, receiving fairly
good advantages for acquiring an education in the old subscription schools of
early days. His boyhood days were spent in following the plow, and learning the
blacksmith's trade, the two occupations receiving his attention for a number of
years. He was married at the age of twenty-four years, to Miss Elizabeth S.
Duncan, in Bollinger County, Mo. She was born in Livingston County, Ky., May 7,
1838, and to their union five children were born, all of whom have passed to
their long home: Mary A., born December 27, 1857, died March 14, 1858; an
infant, born May 6, 1859, died the same day; Madoriah F., born July 20, 1860,
died October 23, 1872; Ewell B., born February 2, 1864, died December 19, 1882;
and one other infant, born November 2, 1867, died the same day. Mr. Welden
bought two quarter sections of land in Fulton County, Ark., in 1868, and moved
here in 1881. He resided on his property until elected to the office of county
treasurer in September. 1884, when he located at the county seat of Fulton
County. He was re-elected in September, 1886, and again re-elected in
September, 1888, his majority being each year increased; and although he has
only been a resident of the county a few years, he has become one of its
prominent citizens, and is respected by all for his sterling integrity, sound
judgment and liberal, progressive ideas. He now owns over 900 acres of land in
the county, ten forty-acre pieces being in one body. He is an old line
Democrat, and is the master of Salem Lodge No. 418, of the A. F. & A. M. Mr.
Welden was the third in a family of twelve children, seven boys and five girls,
eight of whom are now living, born to William Welden and wife, formerly a Miss
Jones, the former being probably a native of North Carolina, born June 12,
1809, and the latter of Tennessee, born May 11, 1809. William Welden moved to
Tennessee with his father when young, and was there married to Mary R. Jones,
subsequently following the occupation of farming. He is still living, and is
residing at Pinkneyville, Livingston County, Ky. His wife died on the 18th day
of March, 1865. The paternal grandfather, Daniel Welden, was born in North
Carolina, and died in Kentucky at the home of our subject, between ninety-five
and one hundred years of age. He was a veteran in the War of 1812, under Andrew
Jackson. The great grandfather, Pines Welden, was a Revolutionary soldier, and
was of Scotch-Irish descent.