Living with his parents in 1850 in Monroe Twp, Guernsey Co, OH. Was married at the home of Jacob Nicodemus in Morrow Co by James Wheeler on 30 Nov 1854.
Was a farmer living in Wayne Tp, Knox Co in 1860 with Evaline (20, MD) and son Jacob (3, OH) with $500 of personal property (no land).
Enlisted at Berlin Twp in Co. G of the 121st Regiment of Ohio Volunteers during the Civil War on 22 Aug, 1862 and was mustered as a Corporal for a period of 3 years. The 121st Ohio was organized at Camp Delaware, OH and was composed of recruits from Knox, Delaware, Logan, Marion, and Morrow Counties, the majority of whom were farmers and without a knowledge of even the first principles of military tactics. On the 10th of September the regiment, nine hundred and eighty-five strong, left Fort Delaware for Cincinnati, where it was supplied with worthless Prussian muskets, and placed on guard-duty about the city. It left Cincinnati on the 15th of September, crossed over the river to Covington, Kentucky, and went into camp. Remaining here only five days, the regiment, under orders, proceeded to Louisville, and was there assigned to Colonel Webster's brigade, of Jackson's Division, and McCook's Corps. Up to this date the men had not been drilled an hour, and, of course, were totally unfit for service in the field. In this unprepared state the regiment was joined to, and marched with, General Buell's forces, in pursuit of Bragg's Rebel army of veteran soldiers. The only stirring event of this march was the battle of Perryville, in which the regiment participated at great disadvantage, and, of course, did not win much reputation for military efficiency. Captain B. F. Odor of Company K was killed in this battle. The regiment was detailed to remain on the battlefield to look after the wounded and bury the dead. It remained in Kentucky, doing guard-duty, and looking after John Morgan's guerrillas until January 1863. John Wells died of the measles in Columbia, Kentucky on January 8th, about the time the regiment was taken in transports to Nashville.