W. G. Weldon was born in Hart county, Kentucky, November 29, 1835; son of Jonathan and Sarah Weldon, nee Burch. They were both natives of Pittsylvania county, Virginia, and were reared there, but moved to Hart county, Kentucky, and were there married and lived from 1830 till 1856, then moved to Missouri and located in Harrison county. His father died on April 20th, 1880, but his mother is still a resident of Daviess county. Young Weldon was an apt and industrious student and after graduating at Camden Seminary, Kentucky, he began school teaching and after coming to Missouri was engaged for ninety-six months teaching in Harrison and Daviess counties, and was considered one of our leading and most successful educators. During the war he was a member of the Missouri State Militia, and in 1864 became orderly sergeant of Company E, Forty-third Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. He was captured by Price’s forces on October 15th, 1864, and kept a prisoner for three months, then exchanged. After the close of the war he engaged in the mercantile business and farming in Daviess counties, and has made a success of both. He has acquired some very fine property and established an enviable reputation as an accommodating and thorough business man and today takes the lead among the active and public spirited men in this community.
He was united in marriage on December 25th, 1858, to Miss Mary J. Hardin, a native of Indiana, born September 23, 1839. Her father, Rev. John Hardin, is still a resident of Daviess county and has been in the ministry of the Baptist Church for many years.
Mr. and Mrs. Weldon have had six children, four sons and two daughters; viz., Emma J., born May 26, 1860; James H., born January 7, 1862; Claude J., born April 23, 1866; Charles H., born January 25, 1870; Sarah E., born June 25, 1872; and Walter G., born April 20, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Weldon are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which church the ancestry of both have been noted for their devotion and consistency.
