As told to and recounted by his grandson, Milton -
“They lived on a farm and grandfather was in the field cultivating corn. When he came to the end of the row he met a neighbor boy cultivating corn on the adjoining farm. They tied their horses up and left to join the army. The Civil War was in progress at the time. Instead of joining the North they joined the Confederate army. The first battle they were in he was taken prisoner and spent the rest of the war at Fort Donelson. If I'm not mistaken that is in Tennessee.”
Served in Co. B 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers of the Confederate Army during the Civil War from 21 May 1861 until 16 Dec 1864, with a break while an injured prisoner and away from the unit from Feb 1862 to May 1863.
Listed in Roseville, IL as a farmer in 1880.
Living on a farm in Warren Co, IL in 1900 with his wife and 3 youngest children.
In 1910 he is living on Main St and working as a teamster for the city, and only their daughter Ruth is living with them.
In 1920 he is listed as R. L. Wells (74, PA) and renting a home with his wife Melvina (72, PA).