Ira Wells Sr (1820 - 1907)

Born Jan 1820 in Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Browning — married [date unknown] in Leslie County, Kentucky

Husband of Cassandra (Joseph) Wells — married 1842 in Lee, Virginia, United States

Husband of Jane Wells — married 1882 in Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Mar 1907 at age 87 in Smilax, Leslie County, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Janis Denison [send private message], Anne Baker [send private message], and Ronda Duff [send private message]

Biography

Ira Wells was born in January 1820 in Virginia, according to the 1900 Census.^[1]

He passed away in 1907.

Land Record 15 Dec 1874 Clay county M Fk Ky R Water course 200 acres

1882 Leslie Co KY, 3 May, 60 acres at Polls Creek US Civil War Draft Record July 1863 Ira Wells age 40 consolidated list of all persons of Class II subject to do military duty in the 8th Congressional District Letcher Perry County, Kentucky

Civil War Service Ira Wells, Enlisted 1 November 1861 Distinguished Service Union State Served: Kentucky Unit numbers: 772 815 Accidentally wounded at Clinton, LA Hospitalized at Post Hospital, Baton Rouge, LA. Enlisted as a Sergeant 1st Class on 01 November 1861 Enlisted in Company D, 19th Infantry Regiment Kentucky on 02 January 1862. Reenlisted in Company D, 19th Infantry Regiment Kentucky on 16 March 1864 Transferred Company D, 19th Infantry Regiment Kentucky on 24 December 1864 Transferred in Company B, 7th Infantry Regiment Kentucky on 24 December 1864. Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works. Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 - Historical Data Systems Inc. P.O. Box 196 Kingston, MA 02364

Marriages

Ira married twice.

• He married, as his first, to Cassandra (Cassie) Joseph (b 1818 VA, d 1886), the daughter of Clemmy and Elizabeth Joseph.^[2]

• He married after 1886, as his 2nd, to Jane (Browning) Thomas, the widow of Aaron Thomas.^[3] Jane was born in April 1834.^[2][1]

Children

Children of Ira Wells:^[2]

1. Elihu (Squib) Wells, b 1845 VA, d 14 Dec 1941 Leslie, KY; m Polly Hendrix
2. Elizabeth (Betty) Wells, b 1848 VA,; m 1874 William Murrell Baker
3. Andrew Wells, b 1849 VA; m Sally Templeton
4. Clem Wells, b 1 Oct 1851 VA, d 4 May 1927; bur Cornetts Chapel Cem. Moores Creek Jackson Co. KY. (from grave stone)
5. William Wells, b 31 Mar 1852 KY, d 27 Mar 1934; m Sarah Elizabeth Baker.
6. James Wells, b 7 Jun 1855, d 1943; m Virginia Baker.
7. Phillip. W. Wells, b 7 Dec 1858, d 28 Feb 1838; m 1) Virginia Sparkman, 2) Polly Day.
8. Rebecca Wells, b Mar 1860, d 1905; m John M. Baker
9. Cassie Wells, b 1861, d 11 Feb 1930; m 1) Jack Williams, 2) James Williams.
10. Ira Wells, Jr. b 6 Jan 1863, d age 85 12 -3-1948; m Susan E. Lunsford (but wife's name on death cert. is "Aurelia").
11. George Wells, b Mar 1870, d 1964; m Hulda Buckhart York.

Death and Legacy

Ira died in 1907 and was buried on the Odell Wells farm, Smilax, [Leslie County], Kentucky.^[2][4]

Census Records

The 1850 Census: Ira was living at Lee County, Virginia.^[5] All born in Virginia, except Cassey who was born in Kentucky.

• Ira Wells, age 26
• Cassey Wells, age 32
• Elihn[sic] Wells, age 4
• Elizabeth Wells , age 3
• Andrew Wells, age 1

The 1900 Census: Ira was living at Cutshin, White Oak Precincts, Leslie, Kentucky.^[1]

• Ira Wells (b Jan 1820), age 80
• wife, Jane Wells (b Apr 1834), age 66
• grandson, Henry Thomas, age 14

Research Notes

Uncertain 2nd Wife's Maiden Name: Jane's last name at birth is unproven. Some assume she was Jane Browning, the daughter of Jacob and Sally Browning.^[3] Jane's family was recorded in the 1850 Cenus living at Harlan, Kentucky when Jane was 16 years old.^[6] Jenny (Browning) and her husband, Aron Thomas, were recorded as the parents on the birth certificate of their son, George Thomas, born in Harlan, Kentucky on 20 Jan 1855.^[7]

The 1900 Census found the household of Ira Wells (b Jan 1820) living at Cutshin, White Oak Precincts, Leslie, Kentucky, age 80, with his wife, Jane Wells (b Apr 1834), age 66, and grandson, Henry Thomas, age 14.^[1] Ira was born in Virginia; Jane and Henry were born in Kentucky. Living next door was Philip Wells (b Dec 1857) and his wife, Jennie. This may have been Ira's son, Philip.

This Census records the marriage of Ira and Jane as 47 years long, and states that Jane had 9 children, 8 still living. If the number of years married is correct, they were married c. 1853. This would be inconsistent with our record of "Jenny" Browning and her husband, Aron Thomas, who were married as of 1855. Some researchers resolve this by assuming that Ira had only one wife, named Cassey Jane Joseph.^[8] However, the record of grandson, Henry Thomas, is interesting. Evidence of Henry's parents may help to resolve the question.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} United States Census, 1900. FamilySearch, Jane Wells in household of Ira Wells, Magisterial District 3, Cutshin, White Oak Precincts, Leslie, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 72, sheet 14A, family 217, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,538.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Wells, Gayl Ramey. (2016) Ira Wells Wells Family Genealogy Pages. Retrieved 14 Oct 2017.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Per, Susan Thomas, the grandmother of Anne Baker.
4. ↑ Downs, John. (Aug 14, 2015) Ira Wells, Sr. Find A Grave Memorial# 150722336 (Note: no source, no grave stone photo).
5. ↑ United States Census, 1850. FamilySearch, Ira Wells, Lee county, Lee, Virginia, United States; citing family 402, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ United States Census, 1850. FamilySearch, Jane Browning in household of Jacob Browning, Harlan county, Harlan, Kentucky, United States; citing family 285, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960. FamilySearch, Jenny Browning in entry for George, 20 Jan 1855; citing reference 2:T78ZC2; FHL microfilm 216,826.
8. ↑ Unknown author. VI.... WILLIAM THOMAS WELLS B 1797 LISTED AS REV.,ELDER. The Wells Family. Retrieved 14 Oct 2017.

See also:

• Ancestry Family Trees Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File # MMQ5-RN5," database, FamilySearch, entry for IRA WELLS (no source cited).