Sulgrove, B. R. History of Indianapolis and Marion County Indiana. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1884. Pp. 545-546.

Robert Wells² [Aaron¹] was born in Mason Co., KY in 1804. Emigrated with wife and son Aaron to this township [Lawrence] about 1827, and bought the fractional quarter section now owned by James Newton Reddick, where he lived for twenty or twenty-five years. He then sold the farm to Robert Walpole and went to Stringtown, Ind., where he lived for two years, thence moved to the Twelve-mile Prairie, thence to Anderson, and since the War of 1861-65 went to Illinois where he died about 1875. His wife died when he lived on the Twelve-mile Prairie. He was a farmer while he lived here, but subsequently became a shoemaker and a dealer in harness and saddlery. He and his wife were both members of the United Brethren Church, and they died in that faith. For four or five years that denomination held preaching at his house. He took a great interest in improving the public highways, in advancing the cause of education, and, in fact, in all laudable public enterprises. He was regarded by all who knew him as a model gentleman, and by his emigration the township lost one of its best citizens. He had six children when he left here. His son Aaron lives in Illinois.

Ibid. p. 545.

William Callon [spouse of Ruth², Aaron¹] was born in Kentucky May 16, 1799. He went to Clermont County, Ohio, with his parents at the age of four years. There he married Ruth Wells, and in the year 1828 he emigrated with his family ?wife and two children ?to this township [Lawrence]. He entered sixty three acres three-fourths of a mile north of where Lawrence now is; was a farmer, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years. He died Jan. 7, 1867. His wife died June 6, 1880. William and Leonidas were the children who came here with the father and mother. William died at the age of eighteen years; Leonidas went to Iowa in 1868 and now lives there. There were eight other children, all born in this township.

Beckwith, H. W. History of Vermilion County, Illinois. Chicago: H. H. Hill & Co., 1879. Pp. 419-420

James H. Wells³ [Robert², Aaron¹], Danville, was born near Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 28^th of March, 1836, and is the son of Robert and Emily Wells, of Nicholas county, Kentucky. Mr. Wells was raised on the farm until he was about fourteen years of age; he then went to Indianapolis and commenced to learn the trade of a harness-maker, which business he followed principally ever since. From Indianapolis Mr. Wells went to Kokomo, Indiana, and in 1857 he came to Illinois and located in Danville, Vermilion county. From Danville he went to Indianola, Vermilion county, where he remained about ten years. While a resident of Indianola Mr. Wells enlisted in Co. E, 150^th Ill. Vol. Inf., on the 14^th of February, 1865, as first lieutenant. The 150^th was organized at Camp Butler on the 14^th of February, 1865, for one year’s service. A full sketch of the movements of this regiment appears in the War History of this volume. Mr. Wells resigned and came home in July, 1865. In 1875 he returned to Danville and was engaged as traveling salesman for D. K. Woodbury in the harness business for one year. He then went to Marysville, Vermilion county, and remained there until August, 1878, when he came back to Danville and entered Messrs. Good & Cowan’s saddlery and harness establishment. Mr. Wells held the office of township clerk in Carroll township of this county. He was married in Peru, Indiana, to Miss Rebecca E. Kimble. The have had seven children, of whom two are deceased.

Battle, Perrin & Kniffin. Kentucky: A History of the State. Robertson County. 1887.

Riley Wells, M.D.³, [William W.², Aaron¹] of Mt. Olivet, Robertson County, Ky., was born October 5, 1830, and is a son of William W. and Matilda (Collins) Wells, the latter a relative of Collins, the Kentucky historian. William W. Wells was born near Washington, Mason County, and was a son of Aaron Wells, of Irish birth, who came from Pennsylvania and settled near Washington, on what is now known as Wells Creek, and who came down the Ohio river under the fire of ambusorded [sic]¹ Indians; subsequently he took an active part in the war of 1812. Edmund Collins, maternal grandfather of Dr. Wells, was of English descent, and an early settler of Mason County, Ky. William W. was born December 16, 1800, and died June 11, 1872, having been a farmer all his active life. Riley Wells was reared on the home farm, received an academical education and in 1854 began the study of medicine under Dr. Holmes, of Mt. Olivet. He at once began practice, which he has since continued with more than ordinary success. In December, 1860, he married Miss Elizabeth Brown, daughter of John Brown, of Nicholas County, and to this union have been born two children: Joseph E., a graduate of the Ohio Medical College, and Mary M. The Doctor is United States examiner of applicants for pensions, is the owner of six hundred acres adjoining the town; is a Freemason, a Republican, and a member of the Christian Church.

1[editor’s note: this is probably a typographical error of the old word ambuscaded, past participle of a verb meaning to lie in a wood, concealed, for the purpose of attacking an enemy by surprise, in other words, lying in ambush.]

Perrin, William Henry, ed. History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co, 1882. p. 733. [Nicholas County] [Carlisle City and Precinct]

WM. H. BROWN, deputy sheriff, P. O. Carlisle, was born near Mt. Olivet in what was then Nicholas County (now Robertson), April 4, 1844. His father, John Brown, was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Nicholas County about 1830, where he followed farming and carpentering until his death in 1848. The mother, Mary Tatman, was a native of Bracken County, Ky., and a daughter of Vincent and Sarah (Williams) Tatman. Her death occurred in 1860 at about the age of forty-seven years. She had by her first marriage two sons and one daughter, all of whom are now living: James E., farming at Mt. Olivet; Bettie, wife of Dr. Riley Wells, who is practicing his profession at Mt. Olivet; and the subject of this sketch. Her second marriage was to Mathew Throckmorton, also deceased. By this marriage there were three children: George and La Fayette, in Mt. Olivet and Mathew, in Nicholas County.

Johnson, E. Polk. HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS. Harrison County. New York & Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. Vol. III, pp. 1286-87.

JOSEPH⁴ E. WELLS, M.D. [Riley³, William W.², Aaron¹] --Since 1896 has Dr. Joseph E. Wells been an active practitioner in the medical profession at Cynthiana. He has gained wide recognition as a skilled physician and surgeon and stands in the front rank in the medical fraternity in Harrison county, Kentucky. Dr. Wells was born at Mount Olivet, Nicholas county, now Robertson county, Kentucky, on the 25th of October, 1860. He is a son of Dr. Riley and Elizabeth (Brown) Wells, both of whom were likewise born in Nicholas county, the father October 5, 1830, and the mother May 17, 1840. Dr. and Mrs. Riley became the parents of two children--Joseph E., the immediate subject of this review; and Mary, widow of Richard Ridgley, of Mount Olivet, Kentucky. Dr. Riley Wells was summoned to eternal rest on the 17th of April, 1901, and his cherished and devoted wife, who still survives him, now maintains her home at Mt. Olivet. William Wells, paternal grandfather of him whose name initiates this review, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1800, and he died in the Blue Grass state in 1872. He married Miss Matilda Collins and they located on a farm in Nicholas county, where they passed the residue of their lives and where they reared a family. Riley Wells was reared to the invigorating discipline of the home farm and after completing the curriculum of the public schools of Carlisle and Flemingsburg he attended an Academy in Bracken county, Kentucky. Thereafter he became interested in the medical profession and was matriculated in the Eclectic Medical College, in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1858. He initiated the active practice of his profession at Mount Olivet and there gained high repute as a skilled physician and surgeon. In his political convictions he endorsed the cause of the Republican party, in the local councils of which he was an active factor, being a member of the Republican County Committee. He was pension examiner at one time and during the war was offered a position as surgeon of a regiment; this he refused, preferring to remain at home. His sympathies were with the north. He began life with practically nothing in the way of worldly goods but at the time of his death he left an estate of some eight hundred acres of most arable Blue Grass land. He was president of the Mount Olivet National Bank from the time of its establishment until his death. He was a fine financier, an able doctor and a public-spirited citizen and no one in Robertson county was accorded a higher degree of popular confidence and esteem than he. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Joseph E. Wells, of this review, was John Brown, a native of Tennessee, who came to Nicholas county, Kentucky, as a young man: he was long a prominent farmer and stock-raiser in that county. Dr. Joseph E. Wells was reared and educated at Mount Olivet, to whose schools he is indebted for his preliminary educational training, later supplementing the same with more advanced study in the University of Kentucky, at Lexington. In 1878, however, he decided to follow the vocation of his father and accordingly was matriculated in the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, in which well ordered institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1881, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after his graduation he returned to Mount Olivet, where he became associated with his father in the practice of his profession. In May 1896, however, he severed his connections in that place and removed to Cynthiana, where he enjoys a large and lucrative patronage and where he stands at the head of his profession in this section of the state. For eight years after coming to Cynthiana he was a member of the firm of Givens & Wells and for the ensuing eight years he was a member of the firm of Givens, Wells & Moore. In November, 1909, however, the partnership alliance was dissolved and all three doctors began individual practice. In connection with his life work Dr. Wells is a member of the Harrison County Medical Society; the Kentucky State Medical Society, of which he is president in 1911; the American Medical Association; the Mississippi Valley Medical Society; the Southern Surgical Society; and the Kentucky Midland Society. On the 15th of May, 1883, was recorded the marriage of Dr. Wells to Miss Bessie R. Peckover, who was born at Nicholasville, Jessamine county, this state, in 1864. She is a daughter of Dr. E. J. and Jane (Ridgly) Peckover, the former of whom was a well known dentist in Cynthiana, Kentucky, for a number of years. Dr. and Mrs. Wells have one child--Bird Martin, who is now the wife of Dr. C. R. Rice, of Augusta, Kentucky. Dr. Wells is the owner of considerable farming land in Robertson county, Kentucky. In politics he is a stalwart in the ranks of the Republican party, in which he has been an influential factor in this section of the state. He has never aspired to public office or any order, preferring to give his undivided attention to the exacting demands of his profession. In the grand old Masonic order he has passed through the circle of York Rite masonry, holding membership in the lodge, chapter, council and commandery, in the latter of which he is past eminent commander of Cynthiana Commandery. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor commander of Quinby Lodge, No. 58; and he is a charter member of Lodge No. 438, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife are zealous members of the Christian church, in which he has long been a deacon. Dr. Wells is a man of broad information and great kindliness of spirit, a man whose life has ever been characterized by good deeds and noble thoughts. As a citizen he is sincere and straightforward and is well deserving of the high regard in which he is held in Harrison county.

Biographical Record of Kane County, Illinois Illustrated. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1898. p. 656.

Rev. George H. Wells³ [Aaron², Aaron¹], pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hampshire, Illinois, was born at Fulton, Missouri, May 18, 1839. His father, Aaron Wells, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, at Lower Blue Licks, in 1805, and died in 1871, at the age of sixty-six years. Like most Kentuckians, he was tall and muscular. The old farm at Lower Blue Licks comprises eight hundred acres, and is owned by a cousin of our subject who is six feet, six inches in height. The family are long lived, the mother of Aaron Wells living to be one hundred and four years old. By trade Aaron Wells was a blacksmith in early life and for some years was a commission merchant at Mexico, Missouri and Sterling, Illinois. He married Elizabeth Young, a daughter of Jacob Young. She was born in Kentucky in 1799, and died at the age of seventy-one years. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are now living. Three of their sons served in the Civil War; one was killed by Quantrell’s men.

The subject of this sketch attended school at Fulton, Missouri, and colleges at Fulton, St. Charles and Fayette, all in Missouri. Later he attended the University at Evanston, Illinois. He began teaching in Missouri and spent some years in the schoolroom as a teacher. He taught in Missouri country schools during the war. For one year he was principal at Praneville, Illinois, at Augusta, two years, El Paso, one year and one year at Plymouth, and two years at Dixon seminary. He began theological studies when he began teaching and pursued a four years?course after he entered Rock River conference. He was licensed as a local preacher in 1861, and in the fall of 1873 united with the Rock River conference, his first charge was at LaSalle, followed by Savanna, Council Hill, Dakota, Scales Mound, New Milford, Richmond, Nunda, Marengo, Rock Falls, Malta, and Hampshire, being appointed to the latter place in 1895.

Mr. Wells was married at Morrison, Illinois, March 30, 1868, to Miss Lou Seamon, who was born in River Phillips, Nova Scotia, and was a daughter of James S. and Cynthia O. (Johnson) Seamon, the former a native of Kings county, Nova Scotia, and the latter of Cumberland county, Nova Scotia. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have two sons -- Rev. George A., a Methodist Episcopal minister, at Stewart, Illinois, who married Maude Adell Smith, by whom he has one child, Verna Madge; and Harry S., who is now attending the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois.

In politics Mr. Wells is a Prohibitionist, but was formerly a Republican, but voted for William McKinley and Hopkins. It is as a minister of the Gospel that he take delight. His heart is in the work and his desire in life is to do good to his fellow men.

[At the time of the 1900 Federal Census, he and his wife were living at Hinckley, Squaw Grove Township, DeKalb Co., IL]

For Archival Inquires, write to:

Archivist Missouri United Methodist Archives Smiley Library Central Methodist College Fayette, MO 65248 EMail: MUMA@CMC2.CMC.Edu

Perrin, William Henry, ed. History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky. Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 1882. p. 774. [Nicholas County] [Lower Blue Licks Precinct]

JOHN M. WELLS³ [Daniel², Aaron¹], physician, P. O. Blue Licks; the youngest son of a family of four sons and three daughters, is extensively engaged in tobacco raising upon his well kept farm of 140 acres, and in connection with his agricultural pursuits has a large and lucrative practice in his profession; he attended the common schools of his neighborhood and the high school at Carlisle, he subsequently attended the medical department of the University of Louisville, and received his diploma upon March 1, 1876. He was born in Nicholas County, Jan. 4, 1854, and married Sarah Fowle in the county of Nicholas, Oct. 31, 1878; she born in the above county, Sept. 9, 1854, to William and Susan (Robinson) Fowle (see history). The result of this union is two sons, Herman L. and Leslie T. His father who is still living and a prominent agriculturist, was born in Nicholas County, Nov. 27, 1811. His mother, Lucinda Collins, was born in the same county, in the year 1816, and died in 1862. Dr. Wells is a Republican of prominence in his county, and with his family is connected with the Christian Church.

Ibid. p. 772.

WM. A. FOWLE, farmer, P. O. Lower Blue Licks; a native of Bourbon County and the youngest of a family of 13 children; was born July 20, 1832. His father Isaac Fowle, a native of Vermont, where he was born March 24, 1791, was a hatter by trade, and came to Bourbon County in 1816, having served in the war of 1812; he died Dec. 30, 1879. He wife, Caroline Green, was born in Virginia, March 25, 1793, and died Sept. 20, 1879. The subject of this sketch began life as a farmer, and was married in Nicholas County, July 25, 1852, to Susan Robertson, who was born in Bourbon, March 8, 1834, and died March 14, 1869; she was a daughter of William Robertson. By this marriage there were the following children: Rufus, June 5, 1853; died July 10, 1854; Sarah Eliza, born Sept. 9, 1854, now the wife of Dr. Wells (see hist.); Wm. Isaac, June 26, 1856; graduated at Bible College, Lexington, and upon that occasion delivered the valedictory; he is now preaching at Chaplin, Nelson County, Ky.; Nathaniel W., born Sept. 12, 1858, Mary E., Sept. 28, 1860. In June 1867, Mr. Fowle was again married to Cassandra (Maston) Kenton, widow of Wm. Kenton, and daughter of Caleb and Hannah (Ellis) Maston. They are members of the Christian Church at Blue Licks. He is, in political faith, a Democrat. In agriculture he raises the usual crops and is considered one of the substantial men of the precinct.

History of Clermont County, Ohio. Tate Township. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1880. pp. 316-317.

In 1789, James Callon left his native State, Pennsylvania, to become a citizen of Kentucky. In 1808 he came to Franklin township, and two years later to his final settlement in the southern part of Tate, where he departed this life in 1857, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was with Mad Anthony in his campaign, serving as a spy, and was one of the hundred men sent out to divert the attention of the Indians, who followed this small detachment five miles, killing but eight men. Callon was an associate of Kenton, and often accompanied him in his forays against the Indians, always being brave and intrepid. Of his family of five sons and five daughters, William [spouse of Ruth², Aaron¹] and Robert removed to Indiana; James and John died in Tate; and Samuel, the youngest, yet lives in the township; Rachel married Robert Carr; Keziah, Christ. Zimmerman; and Jemima, Morgan Ford.

Robert Wells came from Kentucky in 1807, and settled in the southern part of Tate, dying on the farm now owned by William Wells more than forty years ago, at the age of eighty-four years. He had served in the war for American independence. He reared a large family, all the members having deceased. The sons were Aaron, Solomon, Isaac, Nathan, and Jesse, who removed to Indiana; John [spouse of Rachel², Aaron¹] died in Williamsburgh, and Robert and Eli on the homestead. One of the daughters, Anna, became the wife of James Callon.