Buena Vista, GA and the Welch Family

Buena Vista, GA and the Welch Family, by Dr. Michael Baglino, Ed. D. – social researcher

The Old South and the Catholic Church

How is this a Catholic themed article?  You’ll have to make your way to the last paragraph.

Buena Vista is a small rural community located in SW Georgia’s Marion County.  Formerly known as Pea Ridge, GA at the time of the Civil War.  Sarah Lavonia Baglino [nee Bailey] was born there on October 8, 1951.  She was the daughter of Johnnie and Temmy Bailey.  Oh no, maybe it was Sarah Ann Bailey who was born there on September 1, 1951.  Well it seems the Marian County Health Dept. might have gotten a few things confused.  Listed by the county recorder as a ‘colored’ girl, it took months to finally get the record straight some 65 years later. Or was it straightened?  

Demographically, Buena Vista of about 2,000 inhabitants, both then and now, is 65 % black, 25 % white and 10% Hispanic [recent immigrants].  We visited a few times, first for a family reunion located a few miles off the main road.  This is the community where the Baileys had lived.  The most recent visit was rather enlightening for us.  We ate at an Italian restaurant, a Mexican restaurant was located downtown, as well as a Black owned country food café.  Cute place, peaceful of course.  Town’s claim to fame was as the home of Josh Gibson, legendary Negro league baseball star.  

Now, Georgia has really changed over the years.  Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah are all larger metropolitan areas, globally connected, and home of many a corporation and professional sports enterprises.   The old south is hard to find today.  We found it.

After a quick lunch we strolled around downtown to visit some stores and historic sites.  Buena Vista Antique shop was inviting.  No one there save for its elderly owner.  “Hi ! We’re visiting from South FL and my wife was born in this town in 1951.”  “Oh, really how nice,” he smiled.  “My name is Mickey Welch, owner.  What is your name?”  “Bailey,” my wife responded, “Slaughter was my mother’s maiden name.” I know the Slaughters and their cousins, the Jacksons – Coot, Curl, Shawbean, Seibe, Pinch.  Live out there a few miles off the main road as long as we can remember.”  These are but a few names he threw out.  How nice, how exciting that he knew them all.  After a short chat, we ventured on to the street and central plaza and visited the grocery.  

.“Hi ! We’re visiting from South FL and my wife was born in this town in 1951.”  “Oh, really how nice,” he smiled.  “My name is Billy Joe  Welch, owner.  What is your name?”  “Bailey,” my wife responded, “Slaughter was my mother’s maiden name.” I know the Slaughters and their cousins, the Jacksons – Coot, Curl, Shawbean, Seibe, Pinch.  Live out there a few miles off the main road as long as we can remember.”  Rather elderly chap.  These are but a few names he threw out. Wow !  After a short chat, we ventured on to the central plaza and visited the ‘5 and 10 cent’ store.  

.  “Hi ! We’re visiting from South FL and my wife was born in this town in 1951.”  “Oh, really how nice,” he smiled.  “My name is Jennie Welch, owner.  What is your name?”  “Bailey,” my wife responded, “Slaughter was my mother’s maiden name.” I know the Slaughters and their cousins, the Jacksons – Coot, Curl, Shawbean, Seibe, Pinch.  Live out there a few miles off the main road as long as we can remember.”  Older woman.  These are but a few names she threw out. Wow again !  After a short chat, we ventured on to the central plaza and visited the bank.  Thought I’d get some cash.  

.  “Hi ! We’re visiting from South FL and my wife was born in this town in 1951.”  “Oh, really how nice,” he smiled.  “My name is Tommy Welch, bank President.   What is your name?”  “Bailey,” my wife responded, “Slaughter was my mother’s maiden name.” I know the Slaughters and their cousins, the Jacksons – Coot, Curl, Shawbean, Seibe, Pinch.  Live out there a few miles off the main road as long as we can remember.”  Up there in age for sure.  These are but a few names he threw out. Another wow !  Seemed a pattern was developing.   So we ventured out on to the central plaza and visited the furniture store.

.  “Hi ! We’re visiting from South FL and my wife was born in this town in 1951.”  “Oh, really how nice,” he smiled.  “My name is Clint Welch, owner.   What is your name?”  “Bailey,” my wife responded, “Slaughter was my mother’s maiden name.” I know the Slaughters and their cousins, the Jacksons – Coot, Curl, Shawbean, Seibe, Pinch.  Live out there a few miles off the main road as long as we can remember.”  Ready to retire, I’d guess.  These are but a few names he threw out.  Oh boy !

Walked across the street and visited yet another store, hardware.  .  “Hi ! We’re visiting from South FL and my wife was born in this town in 1951.”  “Oh, really how nice,” he smiled.  “My name is Willie Welch, owner.   What is your name?”  “Bailey,” my wife responded, “Slaughter was my mother’s maiden name.” I know the Slaughters and their cousins, the Jacksons – Coot, Curl, Shawbean, Seibe, Pinch.  Live out there a few miles off the main road as long as we can remember.”  Certainly past middle age.  Seems the Welch family owned everything downtown at the least.  I would think the surrounding farmland too.

At the center of the circular plaza was the courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It was closed.  We looked on the historical marker outside its doors.  Marion County Courthouse is presided by the Honorable George F. Welch, County Judge.  Wonder how old he was.  Well, well, Well. The Welch family have got things wrapped up here.  They own everything and run everything, a family oligarchy for years and years.  We know that because when we look back at Sarah’s birth certificate, it was signed, approved, and registered by none other than James Welch, 1951, mistakes and all.  Yep, we found the old south.  It still exists.  But considering the Welch owners’ ages, perhaps, perhaps that is about to end. 

Which bring us to the Catholic theme of this story.  Well, being the old south, there is no Catholic church in this town nor within dozens of miles and probably only one or two at that.  However, to this social researcher, the mission of Columbus has even reached Buena Vista.  Think of it.  The new Mexican population is predominantly Catholic. The one Italian family in town is probably Catholic.  The Columbus mission was to spread the Gospel and in that he was successful since western civilization is predominantly Christian.  Further the multicultural nature of western civilization has even reached Buena Vista all because of Columbus facilitating the interchange of 4 continents.  The times they are a changin’.