Harry Clarkson Wells (1897 - 1992)

Born 20 Feb 1897 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, USA

Ancestors

Son of Henry Alexander Wells and Emily James (Clarkson) Wells

Husband of Bertha Elizabeth (Kropelin) Wells — married 20 Nov 1920 in 207 W.Utica St. Buffalo N.Y.

Descendants

Died 23 Apr 1992 at age 95 in Deerfield Beach, Broward, Florida, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mike Wells [send private message]

Biography

Warrant Officer, Field Clerk Harry Wells served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 23 Apr 1917
Unit(s): 16th Infantry Regiment
Service ended: 11 Jul 1919

Harry Clarkson Wells, the son of Henry Alexander Wells and Emily Clarkson, was born on February 20, 1897, in the home of his maternal grandparents, the Clarksons, in Pottsville, PA. His father, Henry Alexander Wells, served as the manager of United Press[1] in Philadelphia, PA, from 1865 to 1897 before being transferred to manage the Associated Press[2] in Buffalo, NY, in 1897. Tragically, Harry's mother, Emily Clarkson, passed away in 1913 when he was only 16 years old and still in high school. At that time, Harry lived at 190 West Utica St. in Buffalo, while Bertha Kropelin, who would later become his wife, lived at 207 West Utica St.

In 1914, Harry and his father moved to Oaklyn, NJ, where they lived with Minny Clarkson, his late mother's sister, until his father's death in January 1916. At the age of 19, Harry worked as a clerk and insurance salesman for Aetna Insurance Company[3].

Harry enlisted in the US Army in Philadelphia, PA, on April 23, 1917, before the first draft. He was discharged on August 17, 1917, at Fort Jay, NY[4], to accept a commission as an Army Field Clerk (Warrant Officer)[5]. Appointed Army Field Clerk on August 18, 1917, at HQ Governor's Island, NY[6], he joined the 16th Infantry Regiment[7]. Harry left for France on October 3, 1917, and served as an aide to General "Black Jack" Pershing in the American Expeditionary Forces[8] with the General Staff at Chaumont, France[9]. As an Army Field Clerk, he encoded and decoded messages to and from the American, French, and English front lines. Harry took dictation directly from General Pershing and worked as a telegrapher, transcribing Morse code (CW)[10] to a typewriter. Additionally, he served as a motorcycle dispatch rider[11] between headquarters, carrying classified messages and maps. Harry returned to the US on July 6, 1919, and was discharged at Hoboken, NJ[12].

On November 20, 1920, Harry married Bertha Elizabeth Kropelin at her parents' home at 207 West Utica St. in Buffalo, NY. In 1920, the couple moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Harry worked for Beaver Board, earning $52 per week. They returned to Buffalo in 1922, where Harry continued working for Beaver Board & M.A. Reeb Builders Supply. In 1922, he was hired by Wheeling Steel[13] as a salesman and remained with the company until he retired in 1943 as the Assistant Manager of Wheeling Steel's Buffalo Office.

In 1944, Harry founded his own construction company, building at least 20 homes in Snyder, NY[14]. He relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1948 and passed away on April 23, 1992, in Deerfield Beach, Broward County, FL.

DNA

• Paternal relationship is confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between his son Wells-15091 and a 2nd cousin 1x removed. Their most-recent common ancestor is Rebecca Jane Alexander. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 4th–6th Cousin, based on sharing 51 cM across 3 segments.

• Maternal relationship is confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between his son Wells-15091 and a 3rd cousin 1x removed. Their most-recent common ancestors are George R James and Rebecca Grundy. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 4th–6th Cousin, based on sharing 42 cM across 3 segments.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSXJ-R5B : accessed 17 May 2020), Harry Wells in household of Henry Wells, Election District 4 Buffalo city Ward 24, Erie, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 205, sheet 20B, family 418, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,032.
• "New York State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV1T-N46 : 8 March 2021), Harry Wells in household of H A Wells, Buffalo, Ward 24, E.D. 04, Erie, New York; citing p. , line 13, various county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 825,701.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M54L-4H6 : accessed 17 May 2020), Harris C Wells in household of Henry A Wells, Buffalo Ward 21, Erie, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 208, sheet 16A, family 359, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 947; FHL microfilm 1,374,960.
• "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WWGC-9KMM : 26 October 2019), Harry C Wells, Jul 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
• The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 112. Name: Harry Clarkson Wells Departure Date: 1 Jul 1919 Departure Place: Brest, France Arrival Date: 6 Jul 1919 Arrival Place: Hoboken, New Jersey Address: 1137 Broadway Residence Place: Camden New Jersey Next of Kin: Mrs Minnie W. Wilson Relationship: Aunt Ship: GREAT NORTHERN Military Unit: A G D Rank: A F C Notes: NORTHERN NO 5
• "United States, Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZHH-989Q : 28 May 2021), Harry C Wells, 1919.
• "New York State Census, 1925," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSWS-PHJ : 8 November 2014), Harry C Wells, Buffalo Ward 25, A.D. 01, E.D. 04, Erie, New York, United States; records extracted by Ancestry and images digitized by FamilySearch; citing p. 13, line 32, New York State Archives, Albany.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X789-FDG : accessed 17 May 2020), Harry C Wells, Spencerport, Monroe, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 231, sheet 3B, line 69, family 86, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1447; FHL microfilm 2,341,182.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ14-JYY : 28 July 2019), Harry C Wells, Amherst Town, Erie, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 15-13, sheet 62B, line 49, family 144, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2526.
• Ancestry.com. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Name: Harry Clarkson Wells Race: White Age: 44 Birth Date: 20 Feb 1897 Birth Place: Pottsville, Penna. Residence Place: Eggertsville, Erie, New York Registration Date: 14 Feb 1942 Registration Place: Williamsville, Erie, New York, USA Employer: Wheeling Collegating Co. Weight: 190 Complexion: Light Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Gray Height: 5 11" Next of Kin: Bertha E. Wells
• "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H4R-PGQ : 15 March 2018), Harry C Wells, 1954; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVHJ-4KG : 25 December 2014), Harry Clarkson Wells, 23 Apr 1992; from "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," index, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 2004); citing vol. , certificate number 46150, Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, Jacksonville.
• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKKQ-45S : 20 May 2014), Harry C Wells, 23 Apr 1992; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144271606/harry-clarkson-wells : accessed 24 January 2022), memorial page for Harry Clarkson Wells (20 Feb 1897–23 Apr 1992), Find a Grave Memorial ID 144271606, citing Boca Raton Municipal Cemetery and Mausoleum, Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA ; Maintained by recordagrave.org (contributor 46960600) .