Individual Details

I could not find Ruth in 1880 - she should have been listed as Ruth Patterson, wife of John W. Patterson. I did find a John W. Patterson, age 28, living with James R. Emerson in 1880. Also there was a Ruth Cantrell, age 32, born in South Carolina. Did her husband J. W. Cantrell die before the mid 1880's and she marry Patterson? They were only a page apart on the 1880 census. If this is the correct Ruth, she may have had several marriages.

Here is the census record:
J. W. Cantrell, age 46, b. TN
Ruth, age 32, b. SC, as were father and mother
Leander Cantrell, age 15, b. TX
Mary Cantrell, age 13
Joab Cantrell, age 11 [I would think these three were Cantrell's by a former marriage]
Sarah Cantrell, age 10 months [likely a child of Cantrell & Ruth]
Albert McDonald, stepson, age 12, b. MS
Nancy McDonald, stepdau, age 11, b. MS [Albert & Nancy probably Ruth's childre]

Other reasons this is likely the correct lady include the fact that her family lived in Mississippi for some years, and Ruth's sister Emily was married to a McDonald/McDonnell.

WorldConnect Database states that she was married to an unknown McDonald, had children Albert & Nannie. She married a Cantrell in Texas. She married (3) John Woodall Patterson in Texas. Ruth is said to be buried in Henderson Co TX.

Birth	3 Nov 1847	Anderson County, South Carolina
Death	27 Jan 1917	Texas

Father	Albert Garrison Welborn (1813 - 1890)
Mother	Nancy MURPHY (1816 - 1869)
Sibling	Sarah Elizabeth Welborn (1837 - 1930)
Sibling	Charity Savilla Welborn (1839 - 1919)
Sibling	Julia Hester Welborn (1842 - 1939)
Sibling	Mary Jane C. Welborn (1844 - 1930)
Sibling	Susan Frances Welborn (1846 - 1918)
Sibling	Lucinda Welborn (1851 - 1930)
Sibling	Emily Catherine Welborn (1853 - 1947)
Sibling	Caroline M. Welborn (1856 - )