JOSEPH F. WELBORN among the representative men of Posey County not one has identified himself with its material growth more creditably than Joseph F. Welborn; not one is there who has labored with greater zeal to the end that the County might reach a position second to none in the great State of Indiana; not one is there who can lay claim to a more emulative spirit of public improvement than he. Indeed, we feel that he is entitled to a position that has been reached by few, when we consider the extent of his sacrifices of time and contributions of money to promote the best interests of his fellow citizens. He has always kept in view the prosperity of the County and has been a public benefactor in every sense. Mr. Welborn was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, August 6, 1818, and in I833 emigrated with his family to Mt. Vernon, where his father for five years worked at the trade of wagon-making, while his son Joseph cultivated a small farm in the vicinity until he was twenty-one years of age, when he removed to Robinson Township and engaged in stock-raising and farming with eminent success. He paid particular attention to fine stock and acquired the reputation of being an excellent judge of horses and hogs. In 1844 he married Miss Nancy Mills, whose father, David Mills, was one of the early settlers of the County and who was a man of considerable prominence in his day. Her brother, Felix Mills, was elected Sheriff several times and also filled the position of County Treasurer, discharging the duties of those offices with great efficiency and rare ability. In 1856 Mr. Welborn leased his farm and removed to Mt. Vernon, where he associated hinself with the late Wm. J. Lowry, with whom he engaged very extensively in the grain and pork-packing business until 1872, when the firm was dissolved by mutual consent. In that year, in company with Charles A. Parke, E. T. Sullivan, and S. M. Leavenworth, he organized the Mt. Vernon Banking Company, of which he was chosen President, from which he retired 1877, leaving the institution on the highway of prosperity. In 1858, he was elected County Treasurer for two years, during which time he showed much executive ability and great business capacity. He was prominently identified with the organization of the Mt. Vernon and Grayville Railroad Company, of which he was President until its consolidation with the Chicago and Illinois Southern Railway Company. In 1876 the nominee of the Democratic County Convention for Representative in the Legislature and was elected by a handsome majority the regular election of that year. He served in the capacity of Legislator two years with honor to himself and credit to the County. He was for fifteen years Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee,and was also a Delegate to the National Convention held Chicago, in 1864, when George B. McClellan was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency of the United States. In 1881, he the actively participated in securing an appropriation of money and the right of way to aid the E. & T. H. R. R. in the construction its line through the County to Mt. Vernon, contributing not only time, but money for the success of the movement. A half century hence the name of Joseph F. Welborn will be mentioned with a feeling of greater veneration than it is now perhaps. It will be written in connection with emulative deeds and acts which perpetuate memory through the ages.

Submitted by: Michael L. Tedrow
History and Directory of Posey County 1882 by: W. P. Leonard

HENRY SCHNURR was born December 6, 1825, at Dudenhofen, Hesse Darmstadt, where his father for a number of years engaged in the business of brewing and distilling. In the year 1838 the family emigrated to America settling in Marrs Township, Posey County, where Mr. Schnurr's father entered 160 and purchased 200 acres of land, and followed the pursuit of farming. When Henry was 23 years of age he was married to Miss Louise Bodamer, the ceremony having been performed on the 17th of June, 1848. By this union sixteen children have been born, eight of whom are now living. Mr. Schnurr continued the occupation of a farmer, and succeeded at it until the month of June, 1874, when he removed to Mt. Vernon, where he purchased the Belleville Mills, and has ever since that time been engaged in the manufacture of flour. He has secured to himself the reputation of an excellent business man, and his success - the result of indomitable energy and executive ability - warrants it most fully. His flour, manufactured under a new process, has become famous for its superiority, and in consequence of this fact he finds it hard to meet the demands for it. Mr. Schnurr is a man in whom the utmost confidence can be reposed, and a man of whom it can be said will meet his obligations, with that promptness which characterizes sterling integrity. He is a consistent Christian, having been a member of the Methodist Church for a number of years, and his influence upon his family has been productive of much good. Nothing can be said which wonld reflect upon the honor of his children. His son Henry is the manager of the mills at Mt. Vernon, and in conducting the business entrusted to him he shows marked capacity as a man of business. Mr. Schnurr's sons are all intelligent young men, and bid fare to "make their mark" in the world, while his daughters, under the careful training of their devoted and affectionate mother, show an aptitude in household matters which speaks highly of their tutor. Truly, the children are "worthy of their sire." Mrs. Schnurr was born in Germany, but came to America with her par-ents at an early day. Since her marriage to Mr. Schnurr she has labor-ed hard to the end that success might be the terminating point of their lives, not only financially but in every other respect, of which she must at this time feel assured. In his social as well as business rela-tions Mr. Schnurr is regarded as an exceptional man. Besides being the owner of farming land in Posey County, he owns valuable property in the city of Evansville.

Submitted by: Michael L. Tedrow
History and Directory of Posey County 1882 by: W. P. Leonard

GEORGE D. ROWE few men in the Southern part of the County are better known than the subject of this sketch. By his affability, his generosity and his other excellent traits of character he has won to himself a host of fast friends. George Duckworth Rowe was born of poor but respectable parents in Black Township, August 16, 1828. His father, Samuel Rowe a carpenter and farmer, emigrated from North Carolina to Posey County in 1809. His mother, also from North Carolina, was the daughter of Absalom Duckworth, who came to Posey County in 1805, and at whose house the first term of the Circuit Court was held. George was the third son by the marriage of Samuel Rowe and Mary Duckworth who removed, with their family, to Harrison County, Indiana in 1830. Here George remained until 1845, when he returned to his native home, where he taught school and engaged in farming until October, 1872, when he was elected Trustee of Black Township, defeating a very popular opponent. He was re-elected in 1874, and again in 1876, and when he had served nineteen months on the last term he was compelled to vacate the office in favor of his opponent, who contested the election on the ground of ineligibility caused by the occupancy of the office more than two successive terms, the result of an appeal taken to the Supreme Court of the State. The decision of the Supreme Court qualified him for the candidacy at the election held in October, 1878, when he again availed himself of the opportunity to represent the Township as its Trustee. He was elected in that year by a handsome majority and re-elected in 1880, and is now he incumbent of that responsible position. No better index to a man's qualifications for office, morally or intellectually, can be found than that which is shown in a hearty and continued indorsement of his constituency. He is Republican in everything that the word implies.

He was married to Martha A. Hamilton, of this County, on March 3,1852, by which union he has become the father of eleven children, which fact implies the opinion that he has faithfully complied with the Biblical injunction which teaches all to "multiply and replenish the earth." His children are all living, five of whom are married. He is public spirited in every sense, and has been a liberal supporter of all enterprises calculated to promote the interests of the County.

Submitted by: Michael L. Tedrow
History and Directory of Posey County 1882 by: W. P. Leonard