Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameGriffith “Griff” Wells 
BirthOct 1862, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Census12 Jun 1900, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll# 447, pg 19
Census10 Apr 1910, San Diego, San Diego Co, CA
Memoroll#95, pg 4
Census19 Jan 1920, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll#501, pg 14
Census22 Apr 1930, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll#668, pg 10
Census12 Apr 1940, Melcher, Marion Co, IA
Deathabt 1945
FatherJohn M. Wells (1825-1908)
MotherMartha M. (~1825-1888)
Never married
Misc. Notes
The 1900 census lists him as Griffin with his father, and his birth in 1861. Also listed as Griffin in Jack’s obit.
He is recorded in the records of Mendocino State (mental) Hospital as Griff, admitted 23 Jan 1909, suffering from syphilis, hearing voices, taking to himself and violent. He was 47 yrs of age and from Iowa, and was discharged as normal and recovered on 1 Jul 1909.
He is listed as Griffin Wells in San Diego in 1910 as a boarder and laborer (47). And is in the city directories there thru 1913.
In 1920, he is back in Iowa, listed as Griff (47) and living as a boarder with his half-brother Jack.
In 1930 he is listed as Griff (66) and brother of Jack, who is the head of household. He is listed as Griff in most of his adult records.
In 1940 he is living in Melcher, as Griff Wells (76, IA), a roomer with Mayme Tilley (65, MO), and neither of them working. It says he completed the 7th grade in school and was living in the same location in 1935. His father’s farm was near Melcher, so perhaps that is where he was living. He had a contract to receive land from his father in exchange for a home and care, but the contract was later voided. His father left him out of the will and left it to Jack, an illegitimate son.
He is listed as single in all of the census records, so it is likely that he never married.
He is recorded in the records of Mendocino State (mental) Hospital as Griff, admitted 23 Jan 1909, suffering from syphilis, hearing voices, taking to himself and violent. He was 47 yrs of age and from Iowa, and was discharged as normal and recovered on 1 Jul 1909.
He is listed as Griffin Wells in San Diego in 1910 as a boarder and laborer (47). And is in the city directories there thru 1913.
In 1920, he is back in Iowa, listed as Griff (47) and living as a boarder with his half-brother Jack.
In 1930 he is listed as Griff (66) and brother of Jack, who is the head of household. He is listed as Griff in most of his adult records.
In 1940 he is living in Melcher, as Griff Wells (76, IA), a roomer with Mayme Tilley (65, MO), and neither of them working. It says he completed the 7th grade in school and was living in the same location in 1935. His father’s farm was near Melcher, so perhaps that is where he was living. He had a contract to receive land from his father in exchange for a home and care, but the contract was later voided. His father left him out of the will and left it to Jack, an illegitimate son.
He is listed as single in all of the census records, so it is likely that he never married.