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<!-- EDIT BELOW THIS LINE - Isaiah A. Welch (November 3, 1824 – February 15, 1902), was a surveyor and geologist who served briefly as a delegate of the Virginia state assembly and as captain in the army of the Confederate States of America. His surveys of the 500,000 acres was instrumental in developing the Pocahonatas Coalfield of southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia. He was a founder or manager of several coal companies in the region. Contents •	1 Early life •	2 Civil War •	3 Postbellum career •	4 •	5 Notes •	6 References •	7 Further reading •	8 External links

Early life Welch was born in Doddridge County, Virginia (now West Virginia). In 1846 he married Mary Snyder. They had seven children all of whom predeceased Welch. Virginia State Legislature Welch was elected to three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates from Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1859, 1861 and finally in 1863. Welch served on the select joint committee to investigate the “outrages at Harper’s Ferry”. This committee was charged with investigating the factors that allowed the attack of John Brown at Harper’s Ferry and making an official governmental response to raid. The new state of West Virginia was officially recognized by the Federal government of June 20, 1863. Two delegates from Kanawha County served in the new West Virginia, while Isaiah Welch continued to serve the same county in the Virgina state legislature. Civil War In late 1862, Welch was appointed as the quartermaster of the 13th Virginia Light Artillery Battalion and was given a commission of Captain in the army of the Confederate States of America. During his term of service the battalion was assigned to help protect the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. This unit fought in the Battle of Cloyd’s Farm on ???, 1864; the Overland Campaign and finally as garrison troops during the Siege of Petersburg. Elements of the 13th Virginia Light Artillery Battalion were stationed near the explosion that was blown in the Confederate defense line on July 30, 1864 and were instrumental in stopping the Union attack in what became known as the Battle of the Crater. Welch resigned his commission on August 1, 1864 and his resignation was accepted in October 1864. Postbellum career As a civilian again, Welch settled at Dublin Depot, Virginia and for several years operated a steam driven sawmill. During this time Welch was contacted by another ex-Confederate veteran, Jedediah Hotchkiss. Hotchkiss commissioned Welch to conduct a survey of the timber and coal resources of the Cary Morris tract located in southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. This 500,000 acre covered much of McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh and Wyoming Counties in West Virginia and Tazewell County in Virginia.

Isaiah Welch died in St. Albans, West Virginia on February 12, 1902 at the age of 77. He was buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Freeman, West Virginia near the city of Bramwell, West Virginia. He was buried with his first wife and his youngest son John Floyd Welch. Notes References Further reading