Major William Joseph Nelson Welborn
Nov. 23, 1821-Apr. 16, 1862

William Joseph Nelson Welborn was born in Texas on November 23, 1821. He married Bernetta Crossland in Kentucky on July 29, 1843 and had one child. She died on October 21, 1845. He remarried to Rebecca Erwin McLemore on November 17, 1846 and had six more children. Major Wilborn was a blacksmith and a farmer who owned several hundred acres in Kentucky.

He entered the Civil War being commissioned Major of the 7th Kentucky Infantry. He was with the regiment a short time until the battle of Shiloh. Here he was seriously wounded on April 6, the first day of battle, while the 7th pushed across a field.

In General Cheatham's official report he states, "In the charge first mentioned the Second Brigade lost many of its bravest and best officers and men. Major Welborn, of the Seventh Regiment Kentucky Volunteers...fell, mortally wounded." Major Welborn died in Corinth, Mississippi 3 days later.