Hiram Elwood Wells (1840 - 1902)

Born 7 Feb 1840 in Paoli Township, Orange, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Died 25 Jul 1902 at age 62 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

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Biography

HIRAM ELWOOD WELLS

HIRAM ELWOOD WELLS was born on February 7, 1840, at Paoli, Orange County, Indiana. He was the son of SARAH JANE DARK and STEPHEN WELLS.

On 27 November 1866, at Paoli Township, Orange County, Indiana, he married MARY JANE HILL born on 21 August 1847, in Indiana. She was the daughter of LYDIA MILLS and JESSE HILL. She died on 4 May 1887, in Orange County, Indiana. She is buried in Ames Chapel Cemetery, Paoli Township, Orange County, Indiana.

Their children were

1. CORA BELLE WELLS CAVE (1868–1929)
2. JAMES A WELLS (1870–1935)
3. HARRY G WELLS (1875–1919)
4. HARRIETT PEARL WELLS HAIGH PIGG (1882–1955)

HIRAM ELWOOD WELLS died on 25 July 1902, at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. He is buried in Ames Chapel Cemetery, Paoli, Paoli Township, Orange County, Indiana.

Image from http://images.indianahistory.org/.../collection/P0391/id/743:

Postcard published by Pluto Press, French Lick, Indiana.

The Wells Hotel was the second largest hotel in French Lick in its day. It was built by Hiram Elwood Wells (1840-1902) who has his roots in Paoli, Indiana.

His parents were Stephen Wells and Sarah Dark, and he married Mary J Hill (1847-1887). His estate was worth $200,000 when he died - his will divided his estate amongst his four children including setting up trusts for them. In 1880, Hiram E Wells, Dr. Ryan, and James M Andrew bought [in a sheriff’s sale] the French Lick Springs hotel [price paid varies in news articles - $16,000, $32,000 and $55,000]. Dr. Ryan sold out to the other two after a short time. Wells acquired Andrew’s interest in 1887 and sold it to investors in Louisville, KY, for $122,000 in cash and $100,000 in the French Lick Springs Company’s stock. Sometime before 1900, Hiram built the Wells Hotel. In the 1900 Census, widowed Hiram E Wells, his daughter and her husband, Cora & William W Cave, along with 19 servants are living in this hotel - a side note on the record says the location is Paoli Jasper & Haysville Road. At the time of his death per obit, he was proprietor of the Wells Hotel, President of the Citizens State Bank, of Bloomington, Ind., and also president of the Stone City Bank, of Bedford, in both of which he was one of the largest stockholders. On September 4, 1902, the Wells Hotel was sold at public auction and his daughter and husband, Cora and William W Cave, purchased the hotel. The sales notice says: "An all year resort. 90 rooms, 125 guests. Steam heat and newly furnished with fresh water, and Sulphur Spring in connection."

The Cave's sold it in August of 1905 to Mr. Taggart. There is an article dated January 22, 1914, naming Mrs. Effie Elrod as the proprietress of the Wells Hotel, then I have found nothing more about the Wells Hotel.

All was not perfect for Hiram Wells, however. His son Harry, at the age of twenty, got into a drunken street brawl over politics at a Republican rally in Paoli, October 31, 1896. William Johnson, described as an old soldier, tried to break up the brawl. Enraged, Harry struck him in the temple which knocked Mr. Johnson unconscious. Mr. Johnson never recovered and died the following day. The case was tried in Orange County and the jury failed to find a verdict, so there was a change of venue to Lawrence County. In Sept 1897, the Lawrence County jury charged Harry Wells guilty of involuntary manslaughter - the sentence was not reported.

____________________________

Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel, July 30, 1902:

Col. HIRAM E WELLS Dead. Paoli, Indiana, July 26.

Col. Hiram E Wells, proprietor of the Wells Hotel, French Lick, this County, died at Chicago yesterday of apoplexy. He was on the way, accompanied by his daughter, to the northern lake resorts for the summer, and upon reaching Chicago was stricken and never rallied. He was 62 years of age and had accumulated a large fortune. He was prominent in state and local republican politics and was at one-time treasurer of this County. He served during the war of the Rebellion. He was for a number of years one of the owners and proprietors of French Lick Springs and hotel. At the time of his death he was president of the Citizens' State bank, of Bloomington, Indiana, and also president of the Stone city bank, of Bedford, Indiana, in both of which he was one of the largest stockholders.

Two sons and two daughters survive him.

HIRAM ELWOOD WELLS

Transcribed by Dorothea Miskimems

I, Hiram E. Wells, of French Lick, Orange County, Indiana, do hereby make and declare the following to be my last will and testament.

First - I direct my executor to pay all my just debts and my funeral expenses as soon after my death as he can reasonably do so without injury to my estate, and I further direct that he pay the same as far as practicable without requiring them to be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court having jurisdiction of the settlement of my estate.

Second - I hereby empower my executor to sell or barter without the order of any court, all property, real, personal and mixed, which may belong to me, or in which I may have any interest, at the date of my death, or which may in the process of the settlement of my estate come into his hands after my death. I hereby authorize and empower my executor to execute all deeds, conveyances, releases, assignments and all other instruments which may be necessary to be executed for the purpose of converting all of my estate into money. I also authorize him to compound, compromise and adjust any and all claims against and liabilities of my estate as fully as I could do myself if living, hereby confirming upon him, full power to manage and settle my estate in such way and manner and within such time as he may believe for the best interest thereof. Such of my estate as it may be necessary to sell, shall be sold at public or private sale with or without advertisement as to what my executor seems proper.

Third - I direct my executor to convert my estate into money as expeditiously as may be, without sacrificing any part thereof.

Fourth - If before my estate is ready for final settlement, there shall accumulate in the hands of my executor a considerable sum of money, not necessary in his opinion, for the payment of my debts and the liabilities of my estate, I hereby direct him to invest the same in United States securities, at the lowest price obtainable, to be by him held until the final settlement of my estate, at which time they shall be turned over to the trustee hereinafter named for the uses and purposes hereinafter set forth.

Fifth - Upon the final settlement of my estate, I direct that the same shall be equally divided between my four children to-wit: Cora B. Wells, James A. Wells, Harry Wells and Hattie P. Wells, and paid to them and to the trustee herein after named for their use and benefit in following manner to-wit: My executor shall pay to each of my children Cora B. Wells, James A. Wells, and Hattie P. Wells respectively the one-fifth part of their respective shares and to my son Harry Wells, the one-fifteenth part of his share, after the payment of said sums to my said children, I direct that the remainder of my estate shall be placed in the hands of the Union Trust Company of the City of Indianapolis, in the State of Indiana, which the said Union Trust Company is hereby appointed a trustee for the purpose of executing the provisions of my last will and testament. It is my will that said trustee shall invest all the money which shall come into its hands from my estate in United States securities, and semi annually pay to each of said children, the net income arising from their respective shares of my estate. And that it shall annually, beginning in one year from the assumption of said trust, pay to Cora B. Wells, James A. Wells and Hattie P. Wells respectively, the one-fourth part of the principal of their respective shares of my estate, and to my son Harry Wells the one-fourteenth part of the principal of his share of my estate. It is my will that said trust shall terminate as to my children Cora B. Wells, James A. Wells, and Hattie P. Wells, in four years after the final settlement of my estate, and as to Harry Wells, that it shall terminate in fourteen (14) years after the final settlement of my estate.

Sixth - If my daughter Hattie P. Wells has not arrived at the age of twenty-one years, at the final settlement of my estate, it is my will that her entire interest therein, shall be paid to said Union Trust Company to be managed by it in such manner as will carry out the provisions of item five of this will as nearly as practicable, said trustee is required however to provide liberally for her support and education during her minority. Her marriage before arriving at the age of twenty-one years shall not entitle her to receive any quarter sum from my estate before she arrives at the age of twenty-one years than is in this item of my will provided.

Seventh - If I shall survive any one or more of my above named children, and such child or children shall not have left his or her surviving living issue at the time of my death, it is my will that his or her share in my estate be paid to my surviving children in manner and form as herein provided.

Eighth - If after my death and before receiving all or any part of my estate, any one or more of my children shall die without leaving issue, it is my will that so such of his or her share of my estate as shall remain in the hands of my executor or of said Union Trust Company shall revert to my other children equally and be paid to them in manner and form as herein provided.

Ninth - If any of my children shall die before receiving his or her full share of my estate, leaving him or her surviving living issue, it is my will that so much of his or her share of my estate, as may remain in the hands of my executor, or of said Union Trust Company shall go to the child or children of my deceased child, free from any claim of the surviving husband or wife of my deceased child, and I hereby appoint said Union Trust Company to manage and control the funds of the child or children of said deceased child until such child or children shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years, and I hereby require said Union Trust Company, if it is necessary to do so, to provide for the support and education of said infant child or children. If any child or children of any one of my deceased children shall die before receiving all or any part of my estate without living issue, or brothers or sisters of my blood, it is my will that what remains of his or her share of my estate shall revert to my surviving children and to the children of such as may be dead.

Tenth - If said Union Trust Company shall fail and refuse to accept the trust, hereby imposed upon it, the Judge of the Court having jurisdiction of the settlement of my estate, is authorized to appoint a trustee to act in its place. I request said Judge however, before making said appointment to advise with my executor and to give his advise due consideration.

Eleventh - I appoint James A. Wells and Azon O. Smith executors of this my last will and testament, but if I shall survive said James A. Wells and Azon C. Smith, or if he shall refuse to accept said appointment, I appoint--------executor of said last will and testament.

In testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal to this my last will and testament written on these sheets of paper and consisting of eight pages, each page of which is identified by my signature and the signature of the attesting witnesses hereto written upon the margin thereof, on this 11th day of January 1896, H.E. WELLS, (seal),

Witnesses, Miles Roland, R.V. Claxton and H.F. Davidson.

Vol 3, page 164.

Probated the 30th day of July 1902.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJ1-9Q7 : 19 December 2020), Hiram E Wells in the household of Stephen Wells, Paoli, Orange, Indiana, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4NM-FJR : 18 February 2021), Hiram E Wells in the household of Stephen Wells, 1860.
• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F95C-M5S : 25 August 2021), Hiram Wells, 1861-1865.
• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FS4S-949 : 25 August 2021), Hiram Wells, 1861-1865.
• "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZCH-RD8 : 3 August 2022), Hiram E Wells and Mary Jane Hill, 27 Nov 1866; citing Orange, Indiana, United States, Marriage License, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 005014449.
• "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-3Z6M : 20 February 2021), Hiram Wells, 1868.
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX6H-4P5 : 28 May 2021), Elwood Wells, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHS9-PMJ : 13 January 2022), Hiram E. Wells, Paoli Township, Orange, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district, sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
• "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9MK-C6X : 10 March 2022), Hiram E Wells, 1900.
• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVK2-Q82M : 30 May 2020), Hiram Elwood Wells, 1902; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
• "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7KT-Y5S : 8 March 2018), Hiram E. Wells, 25 Jul 1902; citing , Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference cn 16333, record number 97, Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,239,685.
• "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MQ-HWL7 : 8 March 2018), Hiram E Wells, 25 Jul 1902; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference 16333, record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,239,685.