The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1889-07-19

tunities aro better, far better, than
his were. Let not your achieve.
ments DO less. Acting On the advice
/ Of St. Paul, ho wooed and captured
the affections Of Miss Rachel Murtlocl
daughter Of tho Rev. Thomas Muir.
dock, and they were united in holy
wcdlock November 25ll 1868. The
union proved IL be II most fclicitous
one. AS they were not blessed wit ii
children to cheer, comfort ard amuse
them with their little prattle, and
numerous witty questions; they made
pets Of each othar. yVcll might
Isaac mud licbecca have cnvied them
AS q husband, brother Welch was
kind, loving, patient and tender, anu
dotted with strong affections upon his
wifo. It is in this sacred relation OF
life, that the true character Of a man
is cxtnpliiied "nd I,oroiii lie stood
unexcellcd, md illustrated the truth
of the beautiful lines:
Domestic happiness, thou only bliss
Ut Pnradiso TINT has survived the fall!
..,hou ihou ART tho muse Of virtue; in thino arms
iloaven born and destined to tho skios Il gain
AS citizen, ho wns patriotic and
always obedient tn the laws Of his
country. III politics lie was repub-
licnn---not a rndicnl, nor u rascnl-a
true, honcst republican. As II negro,
he wa full Of race pride, and labored
earnestly and zealously for the ad.
vancement ofthe materinl interest of
hs people. He never minded being
called negro, provided the first
syllable wns pronounce nc not mia, and
the Inst syllable gro not qer.
have often heard him say, that he
wanted no higher honor, on earth
than to be Il big negro. We'll, you
all know hc was large negro. and
most OF you, must agree with me that
he was Il big-I mean grcut negro. /.
Would to God we had thousand
such negroes in this county, and then
the race question would be solved in
Marlboro
Altho he had no children Of his own
no man in the community took greater
interest in school matters than he.
This was due to the fact, that his re,
markablc foresight revealed to him
the Importance of educating the chill
dren OF his racc, as under the pecn-
liar circumstances of affairs they
must not only keep paco with the
progress of other races, but must
actually gain ground upon thorn, or
tore We elS 0cc} }lpy II a@5 subordinate SSp place
10 is |Ts fssas
May we be inspired by.his noble iexs ex.
ample to grea. er cxcttion in prepar-
ing our children to act we'll their part
upon the stage Of life.
The man, who raises family with
out securing for them home around
which pleasant memories Of child
hood may cluster, will die a debtor
to himself his family and his race
Brother Welch said he rented land
Tor II while but was soon convinced,
that the rent system was not calcu-
lated to develop manhood and inde-
pcndcnce; so lie worked hard and
lived economically saving q little
out OF every crop, no matter what
wants went nnsupplicd. He soon
found that his savings made ~ hand
some sum and in 1873, tho nickles,
the dimes, the quarters and the dols
lars were converted into fine plan
ta'ion, which he afterwards enlarged
and greatly beautilied.
DO not think that his heart was
on earthly treasures. He desired to
accumulate aronnd him tho comforts,
which God intended for his children
while tabernacling here below, it is
true. But his greatest concern was
to store away n sufficient treasure in
hoaven. Ho was happily converted
in 1875, and joined Hopewcll NJ. T..
Church, during the pastorate Of Rev.
A. Adams. He has over since been
one Of its most CONSTANT and promi-
nent members, his door was always
open for the preacher, and hia family.
The deserving beggar never loft his
house empty handed. Tho sick lie
delighted to visit.
How faithfully he lived up to his
illasoillo oDilgatl0ns, brethren, you
know, and ! know! 1t is not necessary
to tell those who arc ignorant Of our
obligations.
Fow if any colorcd men in this
county wore held in greater esteem
by the white people, than was brother
Welch, merit will he admired when.
ever found by Intelligent people. re-.
gardless Of color His best friends
we're found among the business mon
of Benpettsvillc, this wns because they
found him strictly honest, upright
and square in all of his transactions.
The fhct that his funeral was the
largest colorcd funeral ever witnessed
in this county, and the largest nnm-
Der of white people, who followed
him to his grave is u moro eloquent
eulogy than [ can hope to deliver.
Members Of Hopewcll church, YOU