GILLESPIE B. WELDEN occupies the responsible position of postal clerk of the Illinois Central Railroad, running between Chicago and Centralia, in which latter place he makes his home. He was born in Bradford County, Pa., December 4, 1839, and is the son of Matthew W. Welden, also a native of the Keystone State.
The father of our subject was reared and married in his native place, his wife bearing the maiden name of Lydia A. Camp. Matthew W. was a farmer in Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1849, the winter seasons being occupied in lumbering. Thinking to better his condition in this then far western county, he came with his family to Illinois and located in Lee County, where he lived until 1857, and then removed to Du Quoin. In the last-named place he was engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, in 1872. Gillespie B. was a lad of nine years when his parents came to Illinois, and in Lee County his education was conducted in the common schools.
On the outbreak of the Civil War, in April, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company G, Twelfth Illinois Infantry, at a time when the first call was made for seventy-five thousand volunteers. He only enlisted for three months, and on the expiration of that time again entered the ranks of the same company, this time fora period of three years. He participated in many hard-fought battles of the war, being present before Ft. Donelson, Ft. Henry, Shiloh and Corinth. At Shiloh he was severely wounded and was thus disabled from active service for about three months. Again at Corinth he received a slight wound.
Mr. Welden was mustered out of service at Chattanooga, Term., August 1,1864, and returning to Illinois, located at Cairo, where he was given employment in the postoftice. Later he entered the railway postal service, which line of business he has continued to follow ever since, with the exception of the year 1868, when he was removed by President Johnson. His first route lay between Cairo and Centralia, between which points Mr. Welden traveled until 1890, when his "run" was changed to Chicago and Centralia.
Our subject was united in marriage January 6, 1867, to Miss Delia E. Middleton, and of their union were born two children: Alfredda, now Mrs. Edward P. McFarland, residing in Centralia, and Matie.
In politics Mr. Welden is a strong Republican.
He is the oldest postal clerk in the employ of the Government on the Illinois Central Railroad, and in Centralia, where he has made his home for nearly thirty years, he is widely and favorably known. Socially, he is a Grand Army man, and in religious matters worships with the Methodist Episcopal congregation at this place.
Mrs. G. B. Welden is the daughter of Watson J. Middleton, a native of Tennessee and the son of William Middleton. In an early day, her father came with his parents to luka Township, Marion County, where he grew to manhood and was married to Miss Mary McGuire, also a native of Tennessee. Grandfather William Middleton was a prominent man in his locality and a soldier in the War of 1812.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 209-210
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer