Missouri Elizabeth Welch ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

   Cause of her death was senile mind.⁹

   Another name for Missouri was Missouri Ellen Welch.¹²

  General Notes:

Missouri's parents were Peter Stubbs Welch and Elizabeth J. Rains, both born in Tennessee. Her death certificate showed her birth place as Bell County, Texas, but the family wasn't shown in that county until the 1870 census. When she was less than 1 year old the family was living in Pilot Point, Denton County, Texas. From the birth places of the children it is apparent the family came to Texas from Tennessee between 1842 and 1848. Missouri's siblings were Mary J., William Henry, Mary A., Eveline, John R., Cynthia, Martha, and Tennessee.

Excerpt from "Mills County Memories":

It was May, 1877 when P.S. Welch bought his first parcel of land, fifteen acres in all, to begin cotton and cattle production. He eventually added five hundred fifty five acres. Helping him on his farm were his wife and five children, one being Missouri, who married C.A. Head,

At the time of the 1880 census, Missouri was living with her parents and sisters Eveline and Martha in Hamilton County, Texas. A farm laborer, Jeff D. McDaniel was part of the household.

In the 1900 census, Missouri reported that she had borne 9 children with 6 still living. Her sister, Martha Welch, lived with the family at the time of the 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 census. Her father was given as P. F. Welch on her death certificate. The name on her death certificate was Missouri Elizabeth Head. Her youngest son Barton Head was the informant.

OBITUARY
Mother Head, wife of the late C. A. Head, departed this life April 24, 1943. She was living at her son's, J. W. Head, at Lometa at the time of her going. She had lived to a ripe old age and was known and loved by many friends.

She was born in Bell County November 13, 1859, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. S. Welch. She moved to Mills County with her parents and spent the most of her life here.

In 1881 she was married to C. A. Head. To this happy couple nine children were born. Three died in infancy and the remaining are: J. W. Head of Lometa, Mrs. Viola Chappell of Fort Worth, W. W. Head of Goldthwaite, R. E. Head of Eastland, Mrs. T. M. Mitchell of Bruni, Texas, and J. B. Head of Brownwood. These were all at the bedside when her spirit left the body.

The funeral was held in the old home Methodist Church at Center, Bro. Washington and B. Johnson officiating. The remains were laid to rest by the side of her beloved husband at the close of a glorious Easter Sunday.

Thus ended a long and useful life here to be carried amid the wide expanse of the heavenly mansions.

Mrs. C. A. Head
Saturday, April 24, the spirit of Grandmother Head passed away at the home of her son, J. W. Head, in Lometa.

Missouri Ellen Welch was born on November 13, 1859, in Bell County and was last of her generation to join the Heavenly family.

On November 17, 1881, she was united in marriage to Clinton Alexander Head and they lived together nearly 60 years. He preceded her in death two years. To this union nine children were born, of whom three died in infancy. The children who survive are J. W. Head of Lometa, Mrs. Viola Chappell of Fort Worth, W. W. Head of Center City, R. E. Head of Eastland, Mrs. T. M. Mitchell, and J. B. Head of Brownwood. All the children were at her bedside when the end came. Besides these 21 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive. She had five grandsons with the armed forces.

Grandmother Head spent most of her life at Center City, where her memory is revered as a faithful wife, a loving mother and a friend to all.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church at Center City on Easter Sunday with appropriate messages honoring her memory. Bro Washington, pastor of the Methodist Church in Lometa, assisted by Bro. Johnston, pastor of the church, had charge of the services. The body was laid to rest in the Center City Cemetery beside the grave of her husband.

Pallbearers were Messrs. Hardy Collier, Stacy McCasland, Thomas Atchison, Bill Lucas, Z. Karnes, and Sherwood Owens.

Center City
Easter Sunday the frail body of Grandmother Head was brought from Lometa and rests in the cemetery here. She was 83 years, 5 months and 11 days old at her death. Grandmother Head had lived here for many years and all who knew her loved her. All her children attended the services. ^{8 13}

  Additional Information:

• Death Certificate Image: here.

• FindAGrave: Memorial# 49901686.

Missouri married Clinton Alexander Head, son of James Blakely Head and Asenath Catherine Baker, on 17 Nov 1881. (Clinton Alexander Head was born on 14 Sep 1856 in , Blount County, Alabama, United States,¹⁴ died on 15 Feb 1941 in Goldthwaite, Mills County, Texas ¹⁴ and was buried in Center City Cemetery, Center City, Mills County, Texas ^{14 15}.). The cause of his death was chronic nephritis.⁹