Hi there, I just had to let you know how much I enjoyed reading this post. I am researching Welch and Purser lines from around Cheneyville - they moved there from Copiah County, Mississippi in 1873. My great-grandfather, A.C. Welch and his family were Baptist and belonged to the Beulah congregation, as did my grandfather, W.W. Welch and his wife Kate. My father was baptized at Beulah and became a deacon there at an early age. A.C. Welch's wife was a Purser before marriage. Her cousin (with whom she was raised) was named Robert Higdon Purser. I found and old obituary he wrote about her and was convinced from reading it that he must have been a Baptist minister - and later found out I was correct. From what I have learned, there were many Pursers who were Baptist minister. In any event, my own family are Baptists here at First Baptist in Lafayette ( don't know if it came from Vermilion Baptist) - but it seems my family has benefited from the work done by Rev. Willis for over 100 years and I certainly enjoy reading the history of it. Where do you find the book about Baptist History in La.? It sounds interesting as well. Again, thanks for the posts - they are very interesting. Teri Welch

Teri, Do we connect? 1 Eddie" Harold Eugene WELCH b: February 21, 1912 in Monroe, Ouachita Parish, LA d: November 24, 1977 in Alexandria , Rapides Parish, LA .. +Odile Bernardine THIELS b: August 22, 1911 in Alexandria , Rapides Parish, LA m: October 21, 1941 in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, LA d: December 31, 1998 in Alexandria , Rapides Parish, LA ... 2 Donald WELCH ....... +Carol Diana MELDER ......... 3 Jennifer Colleen WELCH ......... 3 Jason Edward WELCH ......... 3 Adam Corey WELCH ... 2 Ronald Eugene WELCH b: March 11, 1948 ....... +Virginia Claire BRUYNINCKX b: December 02, 1951 in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, LA m: January 31, 1975 in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, LA ......... 3 Wesley Eugene WELCH b: October 12, 1977 ......... 3 Clint Daniel WELCH b: March 08, 1982 ... 2 Brenda WELCH ....... +Wayne Charles GREMILLION ......... 3 Chad Michael GREMILLION ......... 3 Blake Aaron GREMILLION ... 2 Peggy Ruth SCARBOROUGH ....... +Ancel C. IRBY b: October 07, 1939 ......... 3 Karl Randal IRBY ............. +DEBBIE b: in Mississippi ......... 3 Lisa Nadine IRBY ......... 3 Curtis Ivan IRBY ......... 3 James Eric IRBY ... 2 Glynn Lamar SCARBOROUGH, Sr. ....... +Alice VAUGHN ......... 3 Susan K. SCARBOROUGH ......... 3 Glen Lamar "Scooter" SCARBOROUGH, Jr. ............. +DEBRA ............... 4 Amanda SCARBOROUGH ............... 4 Melissa SCARBOROUGH Ben Mertens mertensb@bright.net 740-477-3830 -----Original Message----- From: Teri Welch [mailto:schmooey@bellsouth.net] Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 8:02 PM To: LARAPIDE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [LARAPIDE] Amiable Baptist Church was 175 years old Saturday, September 6, 2003 Hi there, I just had to let you know how much I enjoyed reading this post. I am researching Welch and Purser lines from around Cheneyville - they moved there from Copiah County, Mississippi in 1873. My great-grandfather, A.C. Welch and his family were Baptist and belonged to the Beulah congregation, as did my grandfather, W.W. Welch and his wife Kate. My father was baptized at Beulah and became a deacon there at an early age. A.C. Welch's wife was a Purser before marriage. Her cousin (with whom she was raised) was named Robert Higdon Purser. I found and old obituary he wrote about her and was convinced from reading it that he must have been a Baptist minister - and later found out I was correct. From what I have learned, there were many Pursers who were Baptist minister. In any event, my own family are Baptists here at First Baptist in Lafayette ( don't know if it came from Vermilion Baptist) - but it seems my family has benefited from the work done by Rev. Willis for over 100 years and I certainly enjoy reading the history of it. Where do you find the book about Baptist History in La.? It sounds interesting as well. Again, thanks for the posts - they are very interesting. Teri Welch ==== LARAPIDE Mailing List ==== Have you backed up your data lately?