Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameJoseph Wells
Birth12 Jul 1830, Washington Twp, Fayette Co, PA
Census8 Aug 1850, Monroe Twp, Guernsey Co, OH
Memoroll#684, pg 418
Census24 Jul 1860, Middlebury Twp, Knox Co, OH
Memoroll#995, pg 281
Land Purchase26 Oct 1860, Middlebury Twp, Knox Co, OH
Memo40 Ac from John Johnson for $1,500
Land Sale31 Aug 1861, Middlebury Twp, Knox Co, OH
Memo40 Ac + 1.25 Ac lot to John Johnson for $1,700
Land Purchase2 Nov 1861, Mt Vernon, Knox Co, OH
Memolot #139 from Samual Israel for $500
Land Sale1 Apr 1863, Mt Vernon, Knox Co, OH
Memolot #139 to Patrick Smith for $350
Military2 May 1864, Knox Co, OH
MemoCo. K, 142nd Regmt Ohio Nat'l Guard Volunteers
Census1 Jun 1870, Middlebury Twp, Knox Co, OH
Memoroll#1229, pg 337
Death13 Aug 1872, Fredericktown, Knox Co, OH
Burial14 Aug 1872, Fredericktown, Knox Co, OH
OccupationFarmer, Grocer
FatherJacob Jennings Wells (1805-1876)
MotherAnna “Maria” Motmiller (1805-1841)
Misc. Notes
In 1850 he was living with his parents in Monroe Twp, Guernsey Co, OH. Woodford Gallaway said that he lived near and worked with Joseph from 1852 thru his death in 1872. He worked on the farm of John W. Elliott from 1859 thru the time of his enlistment in 1864 according to an affidavit in his pension records, but it is not clear if this was in addition to his own farm or if he earned his living working for Elliot. In 1860 he was shown married to Elizabeth with a 5 year old son George in Middlebury Twp, Knox Co. where he owned $250 worth of land and $470 worth of property as a farmer. On 26 Oct 1860 he bought 40 Acres from John Johnson for $1,500 and on 31 Aug 1861 sold same 40 Acres + 1 1/4 Ac lot in Middlebury Twp to John Johnson for $1,700. Not sure when he bought the lot? On 2 Nov 1861 he bought lot #139 (Mt. Vernon) from Samual Israel for $500 (to be taken possession 1 April, 1862). In February 1863 he and Joseph Scarborough witnessed the sworn statement of his father Jacob, for the pension benefits of Jacob's grandson, Jacob M. Wells (son of John Wells). 1 April, 1863 sold same lot back to Samual Israel for $350.
He is listed in the Civil War Draft Registration records for 30 Jun 1863 in Mt Vernon as age 31, born in PA, married and a Grocer.
On May 2, 1864 he enlisted in Co K 142nd Regt. of the Ohio Nat'l Guard Volunteers under Captain Charles S. Tyle and Colonel William C. Cooper for 100 days. Organized May 12th, 1864 at Camp Chase OH; they proceeded at once to Martinsburg, WV May 14; thence to Washington, DC May 19. The Regiment was assigned to duty at Fort Lyons till June 3, and then attached to 2nd Brigade, De-Russy's Div, 22nd Army Corps. Embarked at Alexandria, VA for White House June 7. Duty guarding supply trains through the Wilderness near Cold Harbor June 9-14; it reached the trenches in front of Petersburg (Point of Rocks, VA). Here the Regiment performed arduous duty, under fire, until August 19th, when it was ordered back to Ohio and mustered out September 2d, 1864. Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 42 Enlisted men by disease. Joseph apparently contracted a lung disease while serving. Statements in his pension file state that he was not able to do more than 1/2 the work of an able bodied man from that time until his death. Also, that he complained of lung disease and rheumatism, and had a bad cough.
In 1865 he moved to Mt. Vernon and started a small grocery business for about a year. In 1870 he was listed as married to Sophia with 2 sons in Middlebury Twp and $1,500 worth of land and $150 of property. He died of Consumption in Fredericktown on 12 Aug 1872 with his half-sister, Sarah Brentlinger, present according to "History of Knox County, Ohio" and his pension records. He was buried in Fredericktown by G.W. Sargent (Undertaker) on the14th. Frances Wells (Cloyd's wife) said that he was buried in Shauck cemetary, on the right hand side in the back down over the hill, but I could not find his tombstone there in 1992.
In 1880 his wife is listed as widowed with her son, Joseph Miller, in the Middlebury Twp census and both Knox and Fayette Co histories show them there in 1881/82, and thru her remarriage in July '82.
Spouses
Birth16 Aug 1833, Westmoreland Co, PA
FatherNoble
Misc. Notes
Listed as Elizabeth on her marriage record, the 1860 census, and her son George’s death cert; the rest of the records list her as Sophia.
Family Bible says she was born 16 Aug 1833 in Westmoreland Co, PA. History of Knox Co says she was born in 1842 in Westmoreland Co. Joseph’s pension records indicate she was born in 1841. Based on his age, plus the fact that she was married in 1854 and had her first child in 1855, it is most likely that she was born in 1833!
Listed in 1860 census as Elizabeth (26, OH). Listed as Sophia (27, PA) in 1870 census for Middlebury Twp, Knox Co with her husband Joseph, and sons George & Joseph (Miller) with $1,500 worth of land and $150 of property. Joseph died of Consumption in Fredericktown on 12 Aug 1872.
Listed in 1880 census as Sophia E. Wells (39, PA) in Middlebury Twp, Knox Co with her son (Joseph) Miller. On June 5th 1880, Sophia filed for a pension as the widow of Joseph Wells thru an attorney in Cleveland, OH. She and many others who knew him before, during and after his military service and at the time of his death were asked to provide affidavits regarding Joseph’s health and military career.
She was married to Israel Shroder on 5 Feb 1882 by G. J. Ewers in Knox Co recorded Vol 3, pg 582.
On Oct 25, 1886 her pension petition was approved and she was retroactively awarded $8/mo from the date of Joseph’s death (12 Aug 1872) until her remarriage on 5 Feb 1882, plus $2/mo for her minor son from the time of Joseph’s death until Joseph Miller Wells’ sixteenth birthday, 29 July 1875 for a total of $1,054 less filing and attorney fees paid to her in Fredericktown on 8 Nov 1886.
Marriage26 Mar 1854, Knox Co, OH
Marr Memoby A. Harmount (Methodist Episcopal)
ChildrenGeorge Washington (1855-1923)
 Jasper Newton (Died as Child) (1856-)
 Joseph Miller (1859-1929)
Last Modified 17 Oct 2016Created 5 Aug 2023 using Reunion on a Mac