Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-12-31
Hon. Crawford Welsh.

II becomes our painful duty to chronicle
the death Of this ased and esteemed citizen,
60 long aud favoraby known to the people
Of Belmont Co., which sad event occurred,
Of Pneumonia, at his late residence, Dec.
18th, 1868, in the S0th year Of his age
He was born in York Co., Pennsylvania,
July 7th. 1874, elnigrated to Ohio 1908,
settled, with his surviving companion on
the farm where he continued to reside, until
called from labor to reward. And though
there are many points Of interest connected
with bis long, and, in some respects, event
ful life, yet the brief space allotted to an
Obituary, will allow only cursory glance
at one or two traits Of his general character.
Ho was unquestionably man of ability.
Or strong and vigorous mind, with keen
and ready perception, aud Of great powers
off mental analysis, with, un enlightened
moral sense and of tried veracty. he pos
sessed talents which eninenty qualified him
to Gil any office oil honor or trust to which
the people might have called him. And
they manifested their confidence in his
ability and worth, and their appreciation Of
his services, by electng him for four terms
to represent them in the State Legislature.
And though when engaged in public life,
he freely discussed all great questions sub
mitted to the arbitrament OF the people,
yet even his antagonists never accused him
of corruption, or political empiricism, but
they awarded him the highest need ofprase,
by allowing that he was at least honest in
his convictions Using the best light he
had, carefully weighing all the facts in the
case, after mature ,ieliberzti0n, he arrived ut
speedy and logical conclusions. And these
conclusions once formed becanre matters of
conscience, and 6xed and settled principles
OF action W1hout Ia,tering' or shrinking
iro'h c"lscqueNes' nc nau tue nr'phvss anu
energy oi VIM wneu 'he qHes'nn OF du,y
was clearly presented TO labor earnestly to
carry out MS own conslctfons oi right.
trmness of purpose with the haoit OF
giving personal ATTENTION to whatever con
cerned MS own interest or That OF others
cominitted 10 MS cnarge' 1ormed, iudeed,
one o. the leading traits OF ms character,
"A lew weeks previous 10 MS decease, ne
commenced writing letter TO his son 10 the
Army, and after referring to.the probability
OF his being confined to his room all winter,
he remarked, that he dld not know how 1t
would go, issuing orders from his room, as
ne had always been USED to having his
Hoadquarters 10 the neld' ,.
rms Is emphatlcai'y true-true OF MS
whole iife. Ihis one snort sentence CON
tans the germ OF his character, and reveals
the principle to which, under. the blessing
OF God, he was so largely indebted for his
success in life. Il enabled him to triumph
over all opposing difficulties in the cultiva-
tion OF his mind 1t rendered him success
fu! in his various business enterprises; and
1t led the way to usefulness and honor. In
all his relations to society, aud in all depart
ments of life, he aimed to have his "head-
quarters where duty and interest deman-
ded his presence. His being left an orphan,
and cast on his own resources at an early
age, had, perhaps, tendency to develope
this trait, and laid the foundation OF that
self-reiIsnt spirit, that Independence OF
thought, and that manliness OF character
ior which he was distinguished.
In ia35 gracious spirit OF revival swept
over TINS part OF the county. ANA among
the numbers VINO united with the NJ. H.
Church at that time, under the ministry OF
hev; David merlyman' were Bro. welsh
and ~. wife. And though never what Is
called a loud professor, ms exemplary
conduct and his humble and unaffected
plety-comnanding the esteem and conn.
dence OF all who knew him--clearly evinced
tnat ne had been the subject OF gracious
chsnge. Indeed, to most persons, course
OF practical piety Is more convincing
evidence OF spiritual ne ana OIL lVing
,alth m Christ. than u they sought their
osvelopmsht IN ood'iy exercise. An,
Wnsre sucn persons profess TO nave peace
WIN you! inc absence OF external pnysl
cal e1ouon certainly forms no rational
gr9Mhd lot dehylng y!
me same aDll,'y, integrity, ana nrmness
81 purpose wnicn nad marked ms previous
lnG, became an Important element hi'
religloas character after ms union with the
InGrcn. Si hi rSr period OF % ty:nvs years ear,
uu''"s WHY" "e o'D,"'"1u a" o'no,a' '"."
ton 10 II, he was never known voluntarily