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GEORGE B. WELBORN.
One of the most prominent men in Woodlawn, and one who has been most actively connected with all affairs tending to promote the best interests of that city, is George B. Welborn, a resident of Woodlawn since 1882, and a representative man of business, postmaster of the city for many years, as well as Republican representative from the forty-sixth district in 1910.
Born September 3, 1854, at Mount Vernon, Indiana, George B. Welborn is the son of Dr. E. E. Welborn, a native of that state. The Welborn family originally came from the Carolinas, but migrated into Indiana. Dr. Welborn practiced medicine in Indiana for years. In 1854 he located in Centralia, Illinois, where he remained for three years, and
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in 1857 he removed to Mount Vernon, Illinois, where he practiced medicine until 1889. His health declined to such an extent about then that he abandoned his practice and went to Colorado in the hope of restoring his depleted strength, but he died in Denver in 1892. He married Frances Boswell, of Princeton, Indiana, and they were the parents of six children who reached years of maturity. They are Anna, Arthur, Mary, Gussie, Henry and George B.
George B. was educated in the public schools and in Irvington Academy. In 1875, when he was twenty-one years of age, he engaged in the drug business in Oiltown. In January, 1882, he removed to Woodlawn and again engaged in that business, and he is still actively identified with that industry. Mr. Welborn has achieved no little prominence in Woodlawn in the years of his residence there. He has become identified with many and various commercial and financial organizations, and he is a heavy stockholder as well as president of the Woodlawn Bank. He was first appointed to the position of postmaster of Woodlawn during Garfield's administration, and has been the incumbent of that office during every Republican regime since then. In 1910 he was elected representative of the forty-sixth district, and during his term of service acted upon many important committees, among them being the committees on appropriation and corporations, fish and game, banks and banking, congressional apportionment, and others. His career as a legislator has been marked by unusual honesty and integrity of purpose, and he fulfilled in every detail the expectations of his constituents as their representative. Mr. Welborn was a supporter of Senator Hopkins for the United States Senate, and opposed the election of Senator Lorimer. He has given some attention to various fraternal organizations, prominent among them being the A. F. & A. M. of Mount Vernon, he being a member of the Knights Templar, as is he also of the Modern Woodmen and the Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1882, on New Year's day, Mr. Welborn married Miss Nellie I. Pratt, daughter of Frank Pratt, of Centralia, Illinois. He is an engineer in the employ of the Illinois Central, and began his service with them in 1853, when the road was first put through that district. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Welborn. They are Hattie, Arthur, Frank, Laura, Nellie and George, the latter two being twins and named for their parents. Hattie, Frank and Laura are married, the three remaining being members of the houshold of Welborn.