U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Welton, Willie Miles (1868-1942) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 738-739, WILLIE MILES WELTON. There were four brothers of the Welton family, who came to this county before the War of the Revolution. They settled on the South Branch of the Potomac, and became participants in several engagements with the Indians. On page 77 of the History of the Valley of Virginia, by Samuel Kercheval, published in 1850, is an account of an Indian massacre given by Job and Aaron Welton of Petersburg, Virginia, which says: About the year, 1756, a party of nine whites left the fort opposite the present village of Petersburg to assist Mr. Job Welton to cut his father's meadow and hunt his cattle. They took their rifles with them, as was invariably the practice, and after collecting the cattle turned in and cut a portion of the meadow. As night approached a proposition was made by Mr. Welton to return to the fort, but after some consultation it was agreed on to repair to the shelter of a large elm tree in the meadow where they had been mowing and where they concealed themselves in a winnow of the grass, and where they soon fell into a sound sleep, from which they were sometime afterwards roused by the crack of a rifle. Mr. Welton was lying with his brother Jonathan under the same blanket, and the latter was shot through the heart. The party sprung to their feet and attempted to escape. In his alarm, Mr. Welton forgot his rifle and fled in company with a Mr. Delay. They proceeded about 200 yards pursued by an Indian, when Mr. Delay wheeled and discharged his rifle, which brought his pursuer down. At the same instant that Delay wheeled the Indian threw his tomahawk, which sank into the back of Mr. Welton severing two ribs. He fell to the ground supposing himself mortally wounded by a rifle ball, while Delay, pursued by another Indian, was taken prisoner and killed. When Mr. Welton recovered he reached the fort, where he lay three months before the wound healed. This fort was on the farm of John W. Welton, near Petersburg. The next day after this a party left the fort and pursued the Indians to Dunkard Bottom, where Dr. Turnley says the Indians took Delay, and when surprised by the appearance of his captors, shot him. The subject of this sketch is descended from Wright Welton, who was from Patterson Creek, Mineral county, West Virginia, the father of Isaac, who died in Preston, near Bretz, March 4, 1909. Isaac Welton was born in Hampshire county. West Virginia, near Burlington, July 26, 1838. On May 3, 1867, he married Mattie W. Miles, daughter of David Miles, a prominent citizen of the county living near Reedsville. Mrs. Walton was a graduate of the Morgantown University; was a school teacher and of recognized social standing among Preston county people. In the name of the ladies of Reedsville, she delivered a touching and appropriate address, beautiful and patriotic, to the Valley Rangers of Preston county at the time of the leaving of Captain Isaac Kirk's company for the seat of war, and to whom she delivered the flag. She died May 20, 1877. The only child of this union was Willie Miles Welton, born in Hampshire county, near Burlington, July 23, 1868. The second marriage of Isaac Welton was to Mary Reger, of Upshur county, West Virginia, on April 9, 1878. One son, Frederick Reger, was the fruit of this union. Nannie K. Welton, born May 16, 1872, and now the wife of Edward Brown, was an adopted daughter by Mrs. Mary Welton who was born and raised near Buckhannon, West Virginia, and is still living. Mr. W. M. Welton married Elizabeth Demarest, daughter of John and Elizabeth Davis, November 24, 1909, the nuptial feast occurring at Piedmont, West Virginia. Their only child, Martha Elizabeth, a remarkably bright little girl, first saw the light of day November 5, 1910. The mother was born May 2, 1885. The homestead farm was first occupied by Mr. Isaac Welton, who bought it of Isaac Knowlton. It is situated near Bretz and consists of 200 acres and over. It is well adapted to fruit and stock raising, and is well kept up for those purposes. Mr. Welton is a Republican, but not a politician. He is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, a member of the Methodist Church at Reedsville, and is a director of the bank in that place also. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #6901 FULL-NAME: William Miles Welton BIRTH-DATE: July 23, 1868 BIRTH-PLACE: Burlington, Mineral County, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: April 27, 1942 DEATH-PLACE: Reedsville, Valley District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Elizabeth D. Welton, age 58-yrs) OCCUPATION: Farmer (Retired) / General Farming FATHER: Isaac J. Welton (born in Burlington, W.Va.) MOTHER: Mattie W. Miles (born in Reedsville, W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: cerebral / arterio-sclerosis INFORMANT: Davis Welton (of Reedsville, W.Va.) BURIAL: Reedsville Cemetery, Reedsville, W.Va. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------