The Culpepper, Gay, Dunlap, Layfield, Poole and Welch Family:Information about Martha Edna Bell
Martha Edna Bell (b. March 01, 1868, d. June 26, 1958)
Notes for Martha Edna Bell:
A Brief Biography of Martha Edna Bell Welch
By Jessie Welch Jenkins
Born in Beuna Vista, March 1st, 1868, who attended school there and married Thomas Jefferson Welch
August 15th, 1886 at the home of her Susan Singer Bell and went to live in a little four room house built for them near Grandpa Welch's.
The first of her family to arrived on September 6th, 1887, and a regularly until 1908. Lloyd being the youngest was born during her 40th year.
It should be noted that her father William Henry Bell was a Confederate Veteran, volunteered for service
very young. Both were born before the tragic Reconstruction era, while the south generally, was in ruin.
and there was almost no school..such as they had operated several months in the year. No one seemed to be able to finance them, as the State was brokefrom the thievery of the Carpet-Baggers
who has seized power through some infamous acts.These scoundrels were the fore-runners of our present day refugees, and should not have been allowed here. Certainly we should know that we must not tolerate their later cousins, who are utterly devoid of any principles, whereas these earlier cousins maintained the highest ideals and standards. Most of them had to work, they did not let it embitter them.
To the very last, the dainty way mama used her dear old hands proved the aristocraticblood flowed throughher veins.
She always maintained great pride in keeping as well dressed and was very cleaver in copying styles from the pictures, and cutting her own patterns. I always remember the pretty dresses she made for me, and never balked at the work involve. We never worea petticoat, panties that were not trimmed or tucked and ruffled. Despite her numerous tasks, she would have never done work on Sunday, and as long as she lived, it worried her to see people violate the Lord's day.
When it came time for parents, who wanted their children to have an education, had to do something about it. Papa was always in the fore frontand always contributed more than his pro-rate share. Also,
she accepted the extra burdens of boarding teachers, free, so that we might have a better one. Both of them were always aware of their own limited education and did not spare themselves in their efforts to give us a better "chance" then they had. I often wonder if we ever appreciatedthem as we could have for their scarifies and their sterling qualities, as we should have, and grieves me a little now.
She loved people, and was exceptionally devoted to her children; she was never happier then when we were all at home. They both expected us at least every Christmas and 4th of July, generally celebrated with barbecue or an old fashioned picnicspread in the grove. She was always fastidious about her linens. Everything had to be snow white and well ironed. Until the last she never used an untrimmed pillow case or an un-ironed sheet.
She loved pretty verses and often reread her cards. sometimes copying verse she particularity liked to memorize them, and insisted on selecting her own Christmas cards which she did with great care, selecting the right verse for the right recipient. She wrote an interesting letter. With proper training she
could have been a good writer.
According Mary Nelle Boling's notes:She married at the home of her grandmother Susan Singer Bell.
More About Martha Edna Bell:
Burial: Unknown, Preston, GA.
More About Martha Edna Bell and Thomas Jefferson Welch:
Marriage: August 15, 1886, Marion County, GA.
Children of Martha Edna Bell and Thomas Jefferson Welch are:
- +Maymie Edna Welch, b. October 04, 1898, Preston, Georgia, d. April 06, 1966, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Lily Jessie Welch, b. September 06, 1887, Beuna Vista, Georgia, d. May 29, 1974, Winter Park, Florida.
- +Ellie Rena Welch, b. June 08, 1889, Marion County, GA, d. May 19, 1980, East Point, Georgia.
- +Eva Mae Welch, b. May 29, 1891, Dawson, GA/Dawson Co., GA, d. 1989, Gainesville, Georgia.
- +Thomas Russell Welch, b. July 13, 1895, Webster County, Georgia, d. December 14, 1991, Preston, GA.
- Samuel Jefferson Welsch, b. September 15, 1902, Preston, GA, d. September 21, 1990, Marietta, Ga.
- +Eura Jean Welch, b. March 04, 1905, Preston, Georgia, d. February 24, 1993, North Carolina.
- Lloyd Elbert Welch, b. June 15, 1908, Preston, Georgia, d. January 23, 1974, Columbus, GA.
- Solomon Welch, b. February 06, 1897, d. February 07, 1897.