Family Birth: Born on the Fourth of July

Reverend James M. Welch is relatively well-known if you have Cowden ancestors from Pennsylvania. He is the author of the 1904 genealogy book, Ancestry and Kin of the Cowden and Welch Families, which can be found on the Internet Archive.

James is my husband's 2nd cousin 3 times removed and was born on the upcoming holiday, the Fourth of July, in 1869. His parents, Robert & Mary Cowden Welch, lived in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, not far from where I live now. After graduating from Washington & Jefferson College in 1888, James went on to attend the Allegheny Theological Seminary. His biography is listed in W&J's alumni directory, which can be found in the U. Grant  Miller Library Digital Archives:

"WELSH [sic], JAMES MARCUS--Son of Rev. R. C. and Mary C. (Cowden); born Canonsburg, Pa., July 4, 1869; U. P. T. S., pastor Second Church, Indiana, Pa.; married June 2, '99, Martha Gwynn [McLaughlin], Philadelphia, Pa., United Presbyterian minister, Indiana, Pa."

James & Martha didn't have any children, and he died too young. According to his death certificate on Ancestry.com, he died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 17, 1916, at the age of 46 of erysipelas, a facial infection.

Note: It's important to remember that published family histories are not necessarily accurate. Use them as a starting point, but always track down records to verify the information.