One of the best-known citizens of Brown township, Hancock county, Indiana, is Walter H. Welborn the genial merchant and postmaster of Willow Branch. Walter Welborn is well-known throughout Hancock county and in addition to his business connections mentioned above, is also the secretary of the Willow Branch Independent Telephone Company. A progressive and upright man, he is held in high esteem by a large number of personal and business acquaintances.

Walter H. Welborn was born in the township where he now resides on July 11, 1877, a son of Alonzo Welborn, who was born in Henry county, this state, January 10, 1850. Alonzo Welborn was reared and educated in Henry and Hancock counties where for many years he has engaged in farming. Alonzo Welborn married Minerva E. Trees, who was born in the town of Warrington, this county, April 29, 1855. She was educated in the schools of her native town and died at an early age January 8, 1882, leaving Walter H., the immediate subject of this sketch, her only child.

Walter H. Welborn first attended the schools of Warrington and later the district schools of Brown and Jackson townships. He fitted himself for teaching, being thus engaged for eight years, and teaching at Warrington, Wilkinson and Willow Branch, as well as two district schools. In 1903 he quit teaching and became a rural mail carrier, carrying out of Wilkinson, and to this occupation he gave the five following years. In 1908 or 1909, he moved to Willow Branch and forming a partnership with Oren Record, entered into a general store business. This partnership continued until the fall of 1911, when the firm dissolved, Mr. Record taking over the hardware part of the business and Mr. Welborn continuing in the general mercantile line. Besides his store, he runs two merchandise wagons in the vicinity of Willow Branch. He is genial and sincere in his manner and as a merchant is admirably equipped by nature to succeed. On March 27, 1911, Mr. Welborn was appointed postmaster at Willow Branch, having passed the civil service examination previously

Walter H. Welborn was married on December 31, 1899, to Maud Stickler, born in Brown township, Hancock county, on July 28, 1882, the only child of Sanford and Josephine (Record) Stickler, farmers of this county. The mother died when Maud was a child of about one year. Mr. and Mrs. Welborn have two children. Lundy E. is attending the Wilkinson high school and Vivian is in school at Willow Branch. Mr. Welborn and family are members of the Christian church at Wilkinson, of which he is a deacon and otherwise an active member Politically, he chooses to vote independently, but on national issues, leans most strongly toward the Republican platform. Mr. Welborn is a high type of citizen, faithful to all the issues of life, and eminently deserving of the esteem in which he is universally held.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 1123-1124.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI November 20, 2001.

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