Pioneer Families of Grand Traverse County, Michigan

John Alva Welborn was born in March 1851 in Wayne County, Indiana, son of John Curtis Welborn and Louisa Reynolds. He was married first in August 1870 in Wayne County, Indiana to Alice Ann Connor. Alice Ann was born in March 1845 in Indiana, daughter of Edward Connor and Euretta King. The Welborns appear to have lived in Missouri briefly (around 1871) before returning to Indiana. They moved to Grand Traverse County, Michigan between 1880 and 1881. In 1881 John Welborn owned land in Garfield township. He was working as a farmer.

Alice Ann died in Garfield township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan on 31 January 1901. Her obituary stated that the hired girl heard her fall out of bed, went upstairs and helped her back into bed. The girl went to look for help and Alice Ann died while she was out.

John was married the following year on 18 June 1902 in Grand Traverse County to Eliza White Reynolds. Eliza had been born in 1848/1849 in North Carolina, the daughter of Henley and Mary Jones White. The Welborns moved to Oregon during the 1910s to 1920s. Shortly before his death he returned to Michigan.

John died at the home of his son James in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan on 5 January 1932. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan next to his first wife.

Children

1. James Edward Welborn was born in May 1871 in Missouri. He died in 1935 in Cooper township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

2. Charles D Welborn was born in March 1874 in Indiana.

3. Henry C. Welborn was born on 14 March 1878 in Indiana. He died on 28 December 1911 in Traverse City Michigan.

4. Ernest Garfield Welborn was born 11 July 1880 in Indiana. He died 5 February 1937 in Grand Traverse County, Michigan.

5. Mary Lois Welborn was born 15 July 1883 in Garfield township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. She died on 13 January 1949 in Grand Traverse County.