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- William Starnes Wellborn, "Will", son of Elias and ELizabeth Wellborn was born 26 June 1826 in Langston, Jackson County, Alabama. On 28 Sept 1856, he married Elizabeth Reynolds, born 16 October 1836 in Bedford County, Tennessee to Henry and Mary (Brown) Reynolds. They had the following children, all born in Jackson County; James Lafayette, born 1857, died 1932, married Sarah Talley; Nancy Melvina, born 1858, died 1919, married William Cabaniss; Sarah Elizabeth, born 1859, died 1924, married John Wooten; David Elias, born 09 Sept 1861, died 25 November 1940 in Floyd County, Texas, married #1 Martha Virginia Cabaniss, #2 Ida Belle Carter; Margaret Ann, born 1863, died 1946, married James Allen; William Starnes, born 1865, died 1869, birned next to his father in Boyd Cemetery, Jackson County, and Mary Etoy, born 1867, after the death of her father, died 1948, married Jim Brown. William and Elizabeth also raised two orphans, William Maples born 1873, who was Elizabeth's sister's child, died 1928, married Nancy Reynolds; and Loren, born 1867, born 1867 in Tennessee, died 1940, married John Freeman. William was an educated man, called upon to handle the legal affairs of the family, acting as an administrator to John Maples, Joshua Wellborn, James Sublett, and his father, Elias, until his death. He was a land owner, farmer and raised horses. In May 1861, William prepared a "List of an Election" for the Alabama State Militia, held in Coffee Town, for the purpose of electing one Mayor General for the 9th Division, one Brigadier General for the 10th Brigade, same Division, also one Colonel for the 35th Regiment. The list has 52 names of local men serving. William and brothers James and George were conscripted into the Confederate Army and enlisted at Murfreesborough, TN on 07 Sept 1862 under Captain Henry F. Smith's Company, Col. A. A. Russell's Battalion of Partisan Rangers, 4th Alabama Calvary. On 09 January 1863, from Jiles County, Tennessee, he wrote to his wife Elizabeth, "I am now at Pulaski at a hospitle, detailed to waiton the sick. We came here yesterday. Our commander (Nathan B. Forrest) is gone to Columbia. I have been down early to Padduca on an expedition and we have had hard times, you may be sure. We was across the river in the swamps three weeks and Old Forrest fought the Yankees twelve times and he whipped them every time but once. He had to run the last time. I was in two of the battles. Nary one of our company was hurt, but I don't know how it happened, for the balls flew as thick as hail. We fought 4000 infantry and whipped them. They had histed the white flag and at that moment was reinforced by 4000 more and we had to leave in a hurry. I rode my little horse to death in that expedition. I have rode a hundred miles without stopping or feeding ..." The letter goes on to tell of the men in his company that were hurt or sick. William surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama, 04 May 1865 and at that time he was described as 5'11, light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. William got jaundice in the War and died 23 June 1867, leaving Elizabeth with six small children and expecting their 7th child. Elizabeth remained in Jackson county until William's estate was settled. In 1887 she and youngest daughter Mary Etoy followed her children to Titus County, Texas. Son James remained in Jackson County on the homestead, where he died in 1932. Elizabeth died 12 Sept 1889 in Cookeville, Titus County, Texas. For futher information, contact Bertha Bohannon Hall or refer to The Wellborn Genealogy by Ann Gahan. Submitted by Bertha Bohannon Hall, DAR #0728330, 2100 12th Street, Alamogordo, NM 88310. page 356-357
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