Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameElizabeth McPike
Birth1 May 1818, Henry Co, KY
Death25 Apr 1864, Bartholomew Co, IN
BurialParkison-Banister Cem, Bartholomew Co, IN
Misc. Notes
Elizabeth is the daughter of Edward (b. 1775 VA) and Sarah Vancleve McPike (b. 1780 VA), one of twelve children. Little is known of Elizabeth Wells' family except that she had two brothers, Benjamin Hayden McPike, who lived in Missouri, and William McPike, who went to Texas to make his home. A biography on Elizabeth's brother Benjamin, b. 1812 tells that his mother was born in Shelby Co KY and was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Headstone lists her date of death and age as 45 yrs 11 mos 24 days.
Spouses
Birth7 Aug 1809, Henry Co, KY
Death25 Apr 1863, Bartholomew Co, IN
BurialParkison-Banister Cem, Bartholomew Co, IN
FatherRichard Wells (~1770-1840)
MotherNancy Hardesty (1775->1830)
Misc. Notes
From the Wells family document written at a family reunion on September 6, 1925 -
We would like to weave a thread of romance about William Wells, who came from Kentucky, and Elizabeth McPike, who became his bride.
William Wells was a soldier serving through the Mexican war and we, in fancy, can picture him wearing his uniform and making a striking figure. How attractive he must have been. Perhaps Elizabeth, who was a native of, some think Missouri and some Pennsylvania, was visiting a friend and captured him by her smiles and winsome ways. Then came the happy day when they were married. They bought a farm of 160 acres in Rockcreek township, Bartholomew county, Indiana, and spent many happy days. They were members of the Baptist church. In politics, they were democrats. Elizabeth was a good woman, a kind, considerate neighbor. He was kind and generous. Perhaps too much so, for, by going security for a friend, he was compelled to sell his farm to pay the obligation. At his death April, 25, 1863, she was left with a family of ten children. She lived one year from the day of his death and during this time she kept the family together.
Wells had three sisters, Letitia Stewart, Sallie Spurgeon and Peggy Wells. They lived and died in the Burnsville neighborhood. One brother, Isaac Wells, who lived and died in Wayne County, IL, had nine children, eight sons and one daughter.
William and Elizabeth Wells had eleven children - Benjamin F., James W., John N., Sarah A., H. Simpson, Nancy L., David A., Margaret N., Mary E., Malinda J. and Samuel H. Four of these died in childhood. John, Jane (Malinda J.) and Dave died before they were forty. James, Simpson, Nancy, Margaret and Mary lived to be over sixty. The last two are all that are left at the time this history is being written.
He is listed in the 1840 census for Henry Co KY as:
males 1<5, 1=30-40 female 1=20-30
In 1860 he is listed at 54 and having $2500 of land and $468 of personal property in Rockland Twp near Burnsville IN. He is with his wife and children James thru Malinda.
William and Elizabeth McPike Wells were Baptist and are buried in the "Original Little Sand Creek Cemetery”, also known as Parkinson-Banister Cemetery, Clifty Twp, Bartholomew Co, Indiana.
His headstone lists his date of death and age as 53 yrs 8 mos 18 days.
Marriage25 Oct 1837, Henry Co, KY
Marr Memoby Wm D. Ball
ChildrenBenjamin T. (Died as Child) (1840-1858)
 James William (1842-1906)
 John H. (1844-1869)
 Sarah Ann (Died as Child) (1846-)
 Hiram Simpson (1849-1910)
 Nancy Letitia (1851-1913)
 David Allen (1852-1890)
 Margaret Mahalia (1855-1935)
 Mary Elizabeth (1857-1931)
 Malinda Jane (1860-1891)
 Samuel H. (Died as Child) (~1861-<1870)
Last Modified 16 Feb 2013Created 5 Aug 2023 using Reunion on a Mac