Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameJohn M. Wells 
Birth13 Sep 1825, Washington Twp, Fayette Co, PA
Census1850, Cookstown Borough, Fayette Co, PA
Census17 Jul 1860, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll# 335, pg 808
Census10 Aug 1870, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll# 409, pg 30
Census19 Jun 1880, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll# 354, pg 617
Census1895, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
MemoSpecial Iowa census
Census12 Jun 1900, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll#447, pg 6
Death12 May 1908, Knoxville, Marion Co, IA
BurialPleasant Ridge Cem, Knoxville, Marion Co, IA
OccupationCarpenter
FatherJohn Wells (1779-1853)
MotherDeborah (1792-1872)
Misc. Notes
In company with his brother William and with "California" J. Morris, John went to California as a forty-niner, but was shipwrecked on the voyage, and apparently returned to Pennsylvania.
Listed with brother Griffith in 1850 at Cookstown Borrough, Fayette Co as age 23 and a clerk. He moved to Iowa in 1855 from Uniontown, PA with a John David Hartley, no relation - just a friend, and they are listed together in the 1856 Iowa census. He bought 120 Ac of Lucas Co in Jun 1856. In 1860 he is listed as 32 or 37, a farmer with $320 of land, born in PA with his wife Martha.
He served in Co 3 of the Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War.
He is listed in 1900 with his sons Griffith Wells and Jack Helmer (listed as boarder) which lists his birth in 1824.
Listed with brother Griffith in 1850 at Cookstown Borrough, Fayette Co as age 23 and a clerk. He moved to Iowa in 1855 from Uniontown, PA with a John David Hartley, no relation - just a friend, and they are listed together in the 1856 Iowa census. He bought 120 Ac of Lucas Co in Jun 1856. In 1860 he is listed as 32 or 37, a farmer with $320 of land, born in PA with his wife Martha.
He served in Co 3 of the Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War.
He is listed in 1900 with his sons Griffith Wells and Jack Helmer (listed as boarder) which lists his birth in 1824.
Spouses
Birthabt 1825, Pennsylvania
Death16 Nov 1888, Knoxville, Marion Co, IA
BurialPleasant Ridge Cem, Knoxville, Marion Co, IA
Misc. Notes
Listed as 28, PA in the 1860 census, then as 47 in 1870 and 54 in 1880.
She filed for a widow’s pension on 8 July 1887, based on his service in the Civil War.
Martha's tombstone in 1888 gives a death date but no birth date---just says 63 years old.
She filed for a widow’s pension on 8 July 1887, based on his service in the Civil War.
Martha's tombstone in 1888 gives a death date but no birth date---just says 63 years old.
Marriage1860, Marion Co, IA
ChildrenLida B. (1861-1877)
Griffith “Griff” (1862-~1945)
Birth1856, Pennsylvania
Misc. Notes
She apparently was not married to John Wells, but had a child by him, Jack. Listed as Elizabeth Wimmer (39) divorced and born in PA in the 1895 Iowa Special Census with her son, Jack in the household of John Wells.
ChildrenJack (Illegitimate) (1893-1969)