C. L. Welden, a prominent citizen of Maysville, and junior member of the firm of Orr & Welden, general merchants, was born in Hart County, Ky., on September 29, 1851. He is the son of Washington B. and Mary M. (Highbaugh) Welden, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The former, when seven years of age, removed to Kentucky, where he resided until 1855. In that year, with his wife, he immigrated to Harrison County, Mo., making the journey in a wagon. They are now living upon the farm which they pre-empted. Our subject remained at home until 1877, when he began clerking in a store at Edinburg, Mo. After a few months he went to Maysville, Mo., and thence to Bridgeport, Harrison County, where he was engaged in merchandising for about fourteen months. He the returned to Maysville, and clerked for Orr & Son for six months, after which he became a member of the firm, and engaged in business at McFall, Mo. At the end of thirteen months he sold his interest, and returned to Maysville. From that time until August 1883, he was disabled on account of an accidental gun shot. He then went to Caldwell County, where he conducted a store for nineteen months. At the end of that time he returned to Maysville, and on November 10, 1885, formed his present partnership. He also owns a one-half interest in a store at Weatherby, Mo., conducted under the firm name of McClure & Welden. On January 14, 1875, he was united in marriage with Lieulla Williams, who died on November 16, 1875, leaving one son. Mr. Welden chose for his second wife, Fanny, the daughter of William Orr, Sr., to whom he was married on September 11, 1879. They have two children in life, and one dead.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), pp. 590-591.