John Russell WELCH

The following bio was taken from pages 439-440 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Gloria Riley

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

John Russell Welch (September 15, 1878-September 12, 1951) was born in the Zion Hill Community. He was the son of John Thomas and Mollie (George) Welch. His grandparents were early pioneers, John and Larissa (McKnight) Welch, who settled in the Minden area in 1849. Larissa Welch was a charter member of the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. John Russell Welch had a brother, Ben, and two sisters. They grew up on a farm and attended country schools. John Russell surrendered to Christ in salvation at the age of fifteen, later became a deacon, and on December 9, 1908 was ordained to preach the gospel at Zion Hill Baptist Church. Three pioneer East Texas preachers conducted his ordination—Brethren J. J. Burks, E. E. Jones, and E. S. McElroy. Some of his early pastorates included Shiloh, Sardis, Maple Grove, Pleasant Hill, Sulphur Springs, and County Line in Rusk County. His pastorates were in that era of hard times when money was scarce. He supplemented his livelihood by growing his own food, operating a grocery store, being postmaster, tax-assessor collector for Minden School District, and presiding as judge of election precinct 19. John acquired the nickname “Buster” and was often called John Buster Welch. After he began preaching, he spent many long hours reading books, papers, and especially the Bible. He had a faithful mule called “Bill,” which worked to his buggy and carried him many miles in all kinds of weather to pastor his churches. In later years John secured an automobile. John Russell Welch married twice. His first wife was Rosa Lee Knight, born September 26, 1879, daughter of Jesse and Helen (Welch) Knight, whom he married May 1, 1898. They were parents of seven children, with only three daughters living to adulthood. Dovie Lillas, born May 13, 1905, married Eugene Bowman, and had no children. Octava Gertrude, born April 2, 1907, married James Locke. They had one son who died in infancy. Gertrude became a teacher. Mamie Grace, born October 28, 1908, married Joe Williams, who had two children by a former marriage, Gwen Ray Dennis, who married Elsie Hatton of Florida, and Marilyn Dennis, who married G. C. Rodriguez. Rosa Lee Welch died July 3, 1910, and John then married Emma Frances Lee, daughter of Thomas H. and Susie A. Moreland Lee. She was born December 13, 1885 and died February 2, 1943. Their living children and their families are listed below. Emma Clydell, born March 11, 1916, married Elmer Bradford and had Doreen, who married H. G. Turner; E. C., unmarried; Angelina, who married Delco Grounds; and Kay, who married Jim Payton. Gusta Elizabeth, born July 14, 1918, married Chester Arthur Husband, Sr. Their children are: Chester Arthur (Bill) Jr., who married Donna Urban; Judy, who married Rusty McManus; and Jane and Valrie, unmarried. Bertie Mozelle, born July 5, 1921, married Melton Broker. Their children are Charles, unmarried, and Nancy, who married George Stewart. Johnnie, born July 21, 1924, married Joe Conway. Their children are Joe Earl, who married Carol Ellison, and Janet Sue, who married John Parker. John Russell Welch, both his wives, and several children are buried at Zion Hill Cemetery. Written by Gertrude Locke