William Wells (1811 - 1877)

Born 5 May 1811 in Muskingum, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza (Abbott) Wells — married 9 Feb 1832 in Vermilion, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 13 Feb 1877 at age 65 in West Union, Fayette, Iowa, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Wells Name Study.

1811 BIRTH
William Wells was born 5 May 1811 in Muskingum County, Ohio, the son of Sarah Isabella Beard and Mathew Wells.^[1][2][3]

Siblings

1. William Wells (1811–1877) b Muskingum, Ohio
2. Sarah Mariah (Wells) Blunt (1812–1904) b Muskingum, Ohio
3. Peter Garfield Wells (1814–1904) b Muskingum, Ohio
4. Sarah Jane (Wells) Smith (1819-1908) b Ross, Ohio
5. Margaret (Wells) Forbes (1822-1909) b Ross, Ohio
6. Joshua Wells (1825–1905) b Ross, Ohio
7. David Wells, (1829-1876) b Ross, Ohio
8. Thomas L Wells, (1830-1862) b Vermilion, Indiana

1828 Move from Ohio to Indiana
William, with his parents, moved from Muskingum County to Ross County, Ohio, and then, in 1828, to Vermilion County, Indiana.

1832 MARRIAGE
Eliza Abbott and William Wells married 09 February 1832 in Vermilion County, Illinois.^[4][2]

Children

1. Joseph T Wells, b Indiana
2. Mathew L Wells, b Indiana
3. Joatham Wells (deceased twin), b Indiana
4. Moses Peter Wells, b Wisconsin
5. Isaac A. Wells, b Wisconsin
6. Hamilton Carr Wells, b Wisconsin
7. Sarah Ellen (Wells) Eckerson, b Wisconsin
8. Joshua Wells, b Wisconsin
9. Martha A (Wells) Sanborn, b Wisconsin
10. William Wells, b Iowa
11. Samuel Wells, b Iowa
12. David Wells, b Iowa
13. Frank Aaron Wells, b Iowa
14. Elmer Wells, b Iowa

In 1832, the William Wells family lived in Highland Township, Vermilion County, Indiana, close to the Illinois-Indiana border.^[2][2]

Vermillion, Illinois & Vermillion, Indiana

1835 Move from Indiana to Wisconsin Territory
During August and September of 1835, a large number of settlers, including William Baird [aka Beard], Mathew, William, and Peter Wells, moved to Green County, Wisconsin Territory, where they established a settlement in Clarno, a town a few miles south of the future county seat, Monroe. The Wells family all settled together in Richland Timber. ^[5][2]

Green County "...was created in 1837 from the Wisconsin Territory. ^[6][7]

In 1839, William obtained 80 acres of land and another 240 acres with his brother-in-law, John Blunt, in Green County, Wisconsin Territory. ^[8]

1839 - John Blunt & William Wells - Green County, Wisconsin (Doc 1 of 2)

1840 US Census
Green, Wisconsin Territory: William Wells household:^[9]

Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:2 (Moses, Isaac)

Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9:2 (Matthew, Joseph)

Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19:1

Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:1(William)

Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29:1 (Eliza)

Among the settlers in Green County at the time of the 1840 census were: Jacob Lybrand, John Blunt, Jacob Starr, William Blunt, William Green, Joseph Kelly, Adam Starr, Matthews Wells, Joseph Smith, Isaac Wells, Mordecai Kelly, A Kelly, ER Baxter, Daniel Baxter, Andrew Clarno, William Wells, Gabriel Long, Nicholas Butler, Peter Wells, Joseph T Wells, and William Beard.^[9]

Wisconsin became the 30th state on 29 May 1848.^[7]

1848-1849 Move from Wisconsin to Iowa
Iowa became the 29th state on 28 December 1846. ^[10]

In August 1848, William helped build the first log cabin in what was then called Knob Prairie (later West Union, Iowa). ^[11] After an eighteen-inch snowfall in November, William went back to Wisconsin for the winter and on 23 April 1849, he returned to Knob Prairie with his family. He purchased the claim and cabin of David Smith in Section 17 and built a substantial log house.^[1]

William Wells conceived the idea of laying out a town on Knob Prairie and had decided to call it West Union because he liked the name of Union, and added "West" to it because there was a West Union in Ohio, his native State. ^[1]The town was named at the pioneer 4th of July celebration in 1849. ^[1][12]The township was named West Union by order of the Clayton Commissioners 3 October 1849.^[1] The present day name is Union Township; the county seat is in the town of West Union.^[13]

General Land Office records show that William obtained 760 acres between 1851 and 1858 in Sections 17, 20, 21, 24, and 34 of West Union Township. ^[14]

1851-1858 - William Wells - Fayette County Property

This 1868 Plat map shows another 240 acres in section 19.

1868 - West Union Township, Fayette, Iowa

1850 US Census
West Union, Fayette, Iowa ^[15]

Living in the household of merchant Jacob Liebrand were

William and Eliza Wells and their nine children.

1856 Iowa Census
West Union, Fayette, Iowa ^[16]

William Wells, 45, b Ohio, farmer

Eliza Wells, 43, b Ohio

Moses Wells, 19, b Wisconsin, laborer

Isaac Wells, 17, b Wisconsin, laborer

Hamilton Wells, 15, b Wisconsin, laborer

S E Wells, 13, b Wisconsin

M A Wells , 9, b Wisconsin

Wm Wells, 6, b Iowa

Samuel Wells, 4, b Iowa

David Wells, 2, b Iowa

1860 US Census
West Union, Fayette, Iowa ^[17]

Wm Wells, 49, b Ohio

Eliza Wells, 47, b Kentucky

Isaac Wells, 21, b Wisconsin

Hamilton Wells, 20, b Wisconsin

Sarah E Wells, 17, b Wisconsin

Martha A Wells, 13, b Wisconsin

Wm Wells, 11, b Iowa

Samuel Wells, 9, b Iowa

David Wells, 7, b Iowa

Aaron Wells, 5, b Iowa

1868 - The Fayette County Historical and Pioneer Association
The first meeting of the pioneer settlers of Fayette County was held 1 January 1868 "at the hotel of H. S. Brunson, in the village of Fayette. ...That we will perpetuate the memory of our pioneer brethren and sisters who have preceded us... A partial list: (p 464)^[1]

• Chauncy Brooks, born in New York : age, 50 ; settled in Smithfield Township May 13, 1847  ; farmer.
• Absolom Butler, Ohio: age, 42; Dover Township, April, 1849 ; removed to West Union  ; farmer.
• William Wells, Ohio ; age, 57  ; West Union Township, April 23, 1849 ; farmer. Eliza (Abbott) Wells, Ohio ; age, 55  ; West Union, 1849.

1870 US Census
West Union, Fayette, Iowa ^[18]

William Wells, 59, b Ohio, farmer

Eliza Wells, 57, b Kentucky, keeping house

William Wells, 20, b Iowa, farm labor

Samuel Wells, 17, b Iowa, farm labor

F A Wells, 13, b Iowa, farm labor

Isabell Miles, 19, servant

1877 DEATH AND BURIAL
William Wells died 13 February 1877 at his residence, West Union, Fayette County, Iowa; burial in West Union Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, Iowa ^[19]

Gravestone Inscription^[19]

WILLIAM WELLS

DIED FEB 13, 1877

AGED

(illegible)

1877 WILL AND PROBATE
Will dated 3 January 1877; probate place Fayette County, Iowa.^[20]

William Wells Obituary

Mr. William Wells died of diabetes at his residence in West Union, Fayette county, Iowa, at about 3 o’clock a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1877, after a lingering and painful illness of two years or more. He had been confined to his bed since November last. His suffering at times was intense but he endured it with patience and fortitude. Mr. Wells was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, May 5, 1811, moved to Indiana in 1828, where, in 1832, he married Miss Eliza Abbott, who survives him.

From Indiana he moved to near Monroe, Greene county, Wisconsin, in 1834. In 1849 he settled on or near the identical spot where he died, arriving here April 17, built and occupied a log house and entered by pre-emption the land upon which the town of West Union was laid out. His house was the first built in the immediate vicinity of West Union, and he was the largest proprietor in the original town of West Union, owning a half interest, and, we think gave the name to the town. Mr. Wells during his residence here was the owner of a large body of valuable land, a liberal portion of which he divided among his children during his life, and gave free to the county of Fayette thirty or forty lots in West Union.

For many years he was among the wealthiest men in the township, and not a dollar of his possession was tainted, we are sure, by fraud or oppression in its acquisition. He was not only honorable in his dealings but generous also. The writer of this, knowing him intimately for nearly thirty years, has never known or heard of an act done by deceased of which any man need be ashamed, but does know that in times of scarcity and high price of grain and provisions, he has frequently sold to poor neighbors such articles at a largely reduced price from the market value, out of pure kindness of heart, as his modest and retiring nature never heralded or sought to make public his generous acts. He was also a free giver to the needy and deserving. He, we believe, held the office of county commissioner, in the early settlement of the county, but public life was not to his taste. His habits and feelings were domestic, and his integrity of too fine a grain to participate in political intrigue or to enjoy association with intriguers, and his kindly and peaceable nature shrunk from the bitterness of political or personal strife.

His love for his children was strong and abiding, as evidenced by the help he gave them and the frequent expressions of interest in their prosperity. His last intelligible words were, “Oh, my children.”

The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Wells covered a period of forty-five years - years of more than ordinary close and uninterrupted communion and association in the married relation, home to both having the strongest attachments, and their absence there from being few and short. Few men will be more missed in the home they leave than the deceased.

The general feeling in the community is one of deep sorrow for his loss, as he was universally respected. Flags were displayed in town upon occurrence of his death as token of public esteem in which he was held.

Mr. Wells’ family was large: Joseph T. (deceased - died in the army in camp at Carrollton, La.); Joatham, (deceased) and Matthew L., twins; Moses P.; Isaac (deceased); Sarah Ellen, (Mrs. Eckerson); Joshua, (deceased); Hamilton C.; William; Martha, (Mrs. Sanborn); Samuel; Frank; David, (deceased, killed by the accidental discharge of a gun while hunting squirrels in the Turkey woods, about twelve years ago); and Elmer, (deceased). All of the living children were present at the funeral, except William, who is in Colorado. The number of his descendants living is twenty-five.

A good man has left us. The loss of such a man is great to any community - and to his family irreparable.^[2]

Research Notes

Re: Marriage place
He was married in Vermillion, Illinois, not Indiana as it says in his obituary.

Re: Wells land in Vermillion
There are several accounts of the Wells family migration to Green County Wisconsin in 1834-1835. There are BLM-GLO records for Vermillion, Indiana that show a Matthew, Isaac, and William Wells purchased land there on 18 March 1837. ^[8]

The 1837 date is after they left for Wisconsin. This could use further investigation.

1837 - Wells Land in Vermillion County, Indiana

1837 - Matthew Wells - Vermillion County, Illinois

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "The history of Fayette County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa..." Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1878, page 338-358, 464, 488. [1]
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} West Union Gazette, West Union, Iowa, 16 Feb 1877, William Well obituary; Transcription Posted By: Joy Schwarz (email) Date: 9/5/2011 [2]
3. ↑ Wells, Richard B, "30 Generations of Wells', An American Family's Story", updated 30 Nov 2018,[3]
4. ↑ "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HS4V-8G3Z : 14 February 2020), William Wills, 1832.
5. ↑ 1884 History of Green County, Chapter XXXI, Town of Clarno [4] [During August and September, 1835, a large number of settlers arrived and found homes in this town among them were: O. J. White, William Bowen, William Baird, Mathew, William and Peter Wells, Joseph and James Kelley and Judge Jacob Andrick.]
6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Green County, Wisconsin," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed August 30, 2022).
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Wikipedia contributors, "Wisconsin Territory," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed August 17, 2022).
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} US Department of the Interior , Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Land Patents (Green County, Wisconsin, John Blunt, William Wells) [5]
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYG-PFD : 10 June 2022), William Wells, Green, Wisconsin, United States; citing p. 141, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm
10. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Iowa," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed August 23, 2020).
11. ↑ History of Fayette County, Iowa, A history of the County, its Cities, Towns Etc. West Union Town and Township, p 487 [6]
12. ↑ HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE William Wells 1811-1877 - Founder of West Union, Photographer: Cosmos Mariner, Taken: August 23, 2016, Caption: William Wells Marker, Submitted: December 9, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.[7]
13. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Union Township, Fayette County, Iowa," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed September 24, 2022).
14. ↑ Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Search: Fayette County, Iowa, William Wells [8]
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ46-M2H : 4 April 2020), William Wells in household of Jacob Leibrand, Fayette county, Fayette, Iowa, United States; citing family 68, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
16. ↑ Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007[9]
17. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8LS-GB4 : 19 March 2020), Wm Wells, 1860.
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDVS-L4J : 19 March 2020), William Wells, 1870.
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} Gravestone photo: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38681088/william-wells: accessed 02 September 2022), memorial page for William Wells (5 May 1811–13 Feb 1877), Find a Grave Memorial ID 38681088, citing West Union Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by kris (contributor 47124579)
20. ↑ Probate Records; Author: Iowa. District Court (Fayette County); Probate Place: Fayette, Iowa Ancestry.com. Iowa, Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA [10]

• CITE THIS PAGE
  WikiTree contributors, "William Wells" WikiTree,
  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wells-18462 (date accessed ____).