John Richard Welch was born in Virginia, April 10, 1837, and died July 22, 1920 at the ripe old age of 83 years. He was a veteran of the civil war. He enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. The funeral services were conducted at the home Thursday afternoon at one o'clock by Rev. Ferguson and interment was made in the Bonne Terre cemetery.
He is survived by his wife and four daughters, Mrs. Earl Cole of Bonne Terre; Mrs. Jesse Metcalf of Fonath, Nevada; Mrs. Elmer Groom of St. Louis; Mrs. Wm. Griffin of Bonne Terre. Also two sons, Edward of Kansas and Bert of California. Besides these he had 23 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.