Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameClara Belle Wells
Birth30 May 1875, Broullitts Creek, Edgar Co, IL
Census26 Jun 1900, Wood River, Dawson Co, NE
Memoroll#922, pg 11
Census30 Apr 1910, Sterling, Logan Co, CO
Memoroll#122, pg 135
Census7 Feb 1920, Fairview, Frontier Co, NE
Memoroll#983, pg 3
Death8 Feb 1924, Lincoln, Lancaster Co, NE
BurialWyuka Cem, Lincoln, Lancaster Co, NE
MemoSection 3A, Space 807
FatherDaniel Lewis Wells (1843-1925)
MotherAnna Elizabeth Freeman (1848-1883)
Misc. Notes
She lists Daniel Wells as her father. He also gave permission for her first marriage to James R. Westbrook on 2 Aug 1891 in Sumner, Dawson Co, NE at the age of 16. They had 2 daughters. She was listed as Clara B. Westbrook when she was married to Cyrus Timmons on 16 Aug 1896 in Sumner, Dawson Co, NE with whom she had a daughter, Pearl only two months later.
Her husband was then Edward H. Warner during the 1900 census. She is listed with him and their 7 month old daughter Eva, along with her 3 daughters Myrtle, Augie and Pearl (Westbrook) from previous marriages. The census says this was only her second marriage. After Clara and Edward divorced, the children were pretty much left to the care of others. Sylvia was raised by neighbors - hence her adoption of the name Pickering. Eva and Edward also seem to have been taken in by others, and are listed with the Droose family in 1910.
In 1910 Clara is listed in the Colorado census with her 4th husband Charles Hitchcock, and with them are only Olga Westbrook, Pearl Timmons and Riley Warner; although all 8 of her children were still living. They moved back to Nebraska for the 1920 census, where they are listed with Riley, Emma, Lawrence and Clara.
[Obituary] The Lincoln Star Newspaper - Sat 9 Feb, & Sun 10 Feb 1924
"Clara B. Hitchcock, living at 2016 "O" St. died at her home at 10:30 P.M. Friday. She was the wife of Charles Hitchcock. Funeral services will be held Monday at 2 P.M. at Hodgman Chapel. Interment in Wyuka Cemetery."
Clara died at age 47 of cervical cancer. Her death certificate lists her birth as 1876 instead of 1875 and was submitted by her (last) husband Charles R. Hitchcock. It says they had been living in Lincoln for 9 years.
In 1930, her daughters Emma and Clara were living with their uncle Martin Hitchcock - whose wife was Pearl Westbrook, their half sister. Son Lawrence was living with the family of his half-sister Sylvia (Warner) Beans.

After her death, her last (4th) husband Charles Hitchcock later married her widoewed sister, Martha in 1945.
Spouses
Birth1868, Michigan
Death1896, Dawson Co, NE
Misc. Notes
Son of Richard W. Westbrook & Mary Moores
Listed as age 2 in the 1870 census.
His brother William married Clara’s sister, Martha.
Marriage2 Aug 1891, Sumner, Dawson Co, NE
Marr MemoBk 2, pg 392
ChildrenMyrtle May (1893-1954)
 Olga Lorraine (1895-1966)
 Pearl Iona (1896-1989)
Birth1870, Illinois
Death26 Feb 1909, Salem, Marion Co, OR
MemoOregon State Penitentiary
Burial26 Feb 1909, Lee Mission Cem, Salem, Marion Co, OR
Memounmarked grave
Misc. Notes
Son of Richard M. & Sarah E. Timmons
Listed as age 5 in Lyon, KS in 1875 and in Concordia, KS in 1880, age 11 with his widowed/divorced father.
He married and divorced Mary Belle Wells in just a couple years, before marrying Stella Bogart.
[Newspaper] Eugene Daily Guard - Wed, 21 October 1908, pg 1
FORMER LANE COUNTY WOMAN MURDERED BY HUSBAND AT SALEM
Salem, Oct. 21 – Mrs. Stella Timmons, 21 years of age, a sister of Miss Edna B. Bogart of Eugene and a niece of a farmer of the same name of that city, was murdered by her husband, Silas (sh/be Cyrus) Timmons, a plasterer, who slashed her throat with a razor at 12:30 o'clock this morning. Afterward the murderer attempted to kill himself by cutting his throat with the same razor but was unsuccessful, and being under the influence of liquor, fell asleep across the bed, beside which his wife, in her night dress, lay in a pool of blood. He awoke at 7:30 this morning and secured assistance. It is believed the crime was the result of a drunken frenzy and insane jealousy, the couple having agreed before an attorney here yesterday to secure a divorce. Timmons, who is 37 years of age, will probably live. He makes no denial of the murder.
Mrs. Timmons was the daughter of Andrew Bogart and wife, both of whom have been dead for several years. They resided between Eugene and Coburg, where Mrs. Timmons, whose Christian name was Stella, and her sister, Edna, were born. Mrs. Timmons was about 21 years of age. [In fact, she was just 19.] She has four uncles, A.G. Bogart, living about half way between Eugene and Coburg; William Bogart, living close to Coburg; John Bogart, at Spokane; and Charles Bogart, living near Lebanon.
Timmons and his wife were married about two years ago. They were visiting relatives here last week and expected to come back to Eugene next week. Timmons is a plasterer and he intended working at that trade on the many new buildings going up here.
Mrs. Timmons was raised in this county. After the death of her parents, she and her sister, Edna, were left to care for themselves, and Stella had been a ward of the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society at Portland at one time. She was not a wayward girl, but was placed in that institution so she would be properly cared for. ~~END~~

Morning Register - Thurs, 22 Oct 1908, pg 1
IN JEALOUS RAGE C.Y. TIMMONS SLASHES WIFE'S THROAT, THEN DRAW BLADE ACROSS HIS OWN
SALEM HORRIFIED BY HARROWING TRAGEDY AS THE RESULT OF DOMESTIC DISCORD
SALEM, Ore., Oct. 21 - (Special to the Register.) Late tonight the coroner's jury returned a verdict that Mrs. C.Y. Timmons was willfully and deliberately murdered by her husband, at an early hour Wednesday morning. The evidence showed that Timmons and his wife had been quarreling almost constantly since their arrival here some weeks ago. Yesterday afternoon they agreed to secure a divorce and went together to consult Attorney Walter Keyes. The wife told her story, stating that her life had been repeatedly threatened by her husband, who drank at times and had a furious temper. Her husband did not dispute any of the allegations of the wife and the attorney told the coupe to return this morning and papers would be prepared. The couple then returned to their rooms on Cottage (sh/be Court) Street.
Timmons went out and returned late and a quarrel followed. These had become so frequent, however, that other occupants of the house paid but little attention to the racket. No screams for help were heard. This was about 12:30 Wednesday morning. At 7:30 Timmons staggered into the other part of the house where the other family is living and pointed toward the bedroom. The police were summoned and found the woman dead in bed with her throat cut from ear to ear and with the floor and bed covered with blood. Timmons was only partly dressed and his throat was badly slashed. He was covered with blood from head to foot. He is now in the hospital and will live although his windpipe is severed and badly injured. Information will be filed tomorrow morning charging him Timmons with first degree murder.
Mrs. Timmons was a Eugene girl, whose maiden name was Bogart. She has an uncle, aunt and sister living there now. Before marriage she was employed in Eugene stores. She went from Eugene to Oswego, and then to Toledo, Washington, where she married Timmons, who is a plasterer, aged 37. The dead woman is only 19. One child died some time ago. None are living.
The verdict of the coroner's jury leaves but little room for the plea of insanity or drunkenness, as the evidence showed he was not drunk when the crime was committed. Timmons was insanely jealous of his wife, which is thought to have been the motive.
NEWS CONVEYED TO MR. BOGART
Chief of Police Farrington received word of the awful tragedy yesterday morning and at once telephoned A.G. Bogart, uncle of Mrs. Timmons, but found that he was in the city. The news was broken to him and he was heartbroken upon hearing it. Miss Edna Bogart, sister of the murdered woman, also learned of the news with horror. It was determined to have the body brought here and funeral announcements will be made later.
Mr. and Mrs. Timmons were in Eugene a week ago and visited the Bogarts and it was determined to go to Salem and close up their business there and return to Eugene, where Timmons was to work at his trade—plastering. It was learned yesterday that Timmons would frequently get on great sprees and never failed to treat his wife inhumanly when he did so, and friends of the woman were informed by a fellow workman that her life was in danger on such occasions.
Mrs. Timmons was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bogart, who lived between Eugene and Coburg, where their two daughters were born. [Andrew and Martha Bogart also had a son Charles Walker Bogart, who was the eldest of their three children.] They died [both from tuberculosis] while the girls were both young and Stella, who afterwards married Timmons, was placed in the care of the Boys' and Girls Aid Society at Portland, Edna remaining with her uncle A.G. Bogart. William Bogart is another uncle living near Coburg. ~~~END~~

Final Note:
C.Y. Timmons was tried and convicted of murdering Estella (Bogart) Timmons. He was executed in Salem by hanging on February 26, 1909. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Lee Mission Cemetery in Salem.
Marriage16 Aug 1896, Sumner, Dawson Co, NE
Marr MemoBk 3, pg 229
Divorce
Birth7 May 1867, Ohio
Death16 Jan 1930, Dawson Co, NE
BurialGreenwood Cem, Lexington, Dawson Co, NE
MemoBlk 11, lot 1 space 3
Misc. Notes
His marriage to Clara was his second. He is listed with her and 4 daughters in 1900, as a farmer. By 1910, Clara was remarried to her 4th husband, and in Colorado - while Edward is listed as a farm laborer (42, OH) alone and divorced in Lexington, NE.
He is buried with his daughter Leora and the family of his daughter Eva.
Marriage1898, Nebraska
Divorce
ChildrenEvia Elizabeth “Eva” (1899-1982)
 Sylvia Irene (1901-1981)
 Leona (Died as Infant) (~1903-1904)
 Edward Daniel (1904-1976)
 Dorothy Ann (1906-1976)
 Riley David (1908-1965)
Birth18 Nov 1886, Lexington, Dawson Co, NE
Death8 Jan 1964, Lincoln, Lancaster Co, NE
BurialWyuka Cem, Lincoln, Lancaster Co, NE
MemoSection 16, Lot 6, Space 7
FatherWilliam Henry Hitchcock (1852-1924)
MotherEmma May Hensley (1864-1926)
Misc. Notes
Son of William Henry Hitchcock and Emma May Hensley, both born in Illinois.
He is listed as Chas H. Hitchcock (23, NE) in the 1910 Colorado census, as a laborer. It says his marriage to Clara is his first and that they had been married 6 months. He registered for the WWI Draft as Charley R. Hitchcock on 5 Jun 1917 in Lincoln, Lancaster Co, NE. His occupation was listed as a Fireman for the Lincoln Traction Co, and it said he was supporting his wife, children and parents.
Listed with his wife, son and two daughters, plus a step-son, working as a section hand on the railroad in Colorado for the 1920 census.
They apparently moved back to Nebraska before the death of his wife in 1924, and all 3 children were listed in a school at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co, Iowa in Jan 1925, as children of Charls Hitchcock.
In 1930 Charles was listed in Wichita, KS and remarried to a woman (50, IA) who was firtt married at age 17. His daughters were living with their uncle, Martin Hitchcock, and Lawrence was living with the family of his half-sister, Sylvia (Warner) Beans.
By 1940 Charles was again in Lincoln, NE with his second wife Pearl (62, IA) and working as a night watchman.
After Pearl’s death in 1944, he was married a 3rd time to Martha Jane Wells, widowed sister of his first wife Clara in 1945.
He is listed as alone and separated in 1950 (64, NE).
Apparently divorced, as he remarried again in 1954 to Althea (Randall) Remington (9 Jul 1884, MO - 1961 Lincoln NE).
[Obituary] Lincoln Star Newspaper - Thurs. 9 Jan & Fri. 10 Jan 1964
"Charles R. Hitchcock, 77, 2644 S. 52nd St., died Wed.  Lifelong resident of Nebraska.  Survivors, daughter Emma Brandt of Baltimore, MD, Miss Clara of Philadelphia, PA, brothers, Martin H., Lincoln, three grandchildren, six great grandchildren. Services 10 A.M. Saturday, Roper & Sons Chapel, Havelock, Rev. Edward Kezar.  Pallbearers, Oscar Pickering, Henry Neiswanger, George Vorhees, Lloyd Hitchcock.  Burial Wyuka."
Marriage13 Dec 1909, Julesburg, Sedgwick Co, CO
Marr Memoby Harry E. Wolcott, Minister
ChildrenEmma Mae (1912-)
 Lawrence Stephens (1914-1944)
Last Modified 19 Oct 2022Created 5 Aug 2023 using Reunion on a Mac