Capt. I.A. Welch Died at St. Albans Yesterday.
Ripe in Years and Honors
Highly Esteemed Citizen, Identified with Coal Field's Development and Growth.
Funeral Will be Tomorrow.

Capt. I.A. Welch, one of the pioneers of the Pocahontas Flat Top Coal Field, died at his residence in St. Albans, W.Va., yesterday morning, aged about 73 years.

Capt. Welch came to this section in 1873 to examine and report on the coal deposits. He became identified with the development of the section, and was probably the most widely known man in the field. The town of Welch was named in his honor.

Several years ago Capt. Welch was married to Miss Thrasher of Giles county, Va. And removed from Bramwell to St. Albans.

Four sons and three daughters, children of his first marriage, are all dead before him.

He was a mane universally esteemed, and his death casts a gloom over the community.

His remains will be brought to Bramwell, where the last sad rites will be observed tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 16 February 1902