Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameRichard Wells 
Birth25 Jul 1870, Decatur Co, IN
Census14 Aug 1870, Adams Twp, Decatur Co, IN
Memoroll#308, pg 9
Census2 Jun 1880, Adams Twp, Decatur Co, IN
Memoroll#270, pg 293
Census7 Jun 1900, Shelbyville, Shelby Co, IN
Memoroll#402, pg 3
Census26 Apr 1910, Shelbyville, Shelby Co, IN
Memoroll#379, pg 126
Deathbef 1937
OccupationCarpenter, Cabinet Maker
FatherSamuel Wells (1837-1914)
MotherMartha Jane Ritchey (1840-1915)
Misc. Notes
He is listed as age 2 (mos?) in the Aug 1870 census, and age 9 in the Jun 1880 census, but as born in July 1870 in the Jun 1900 census. Also, his birth date is listed as 25 Jul 1872 on his marriage record.
Richard is listed in Shelbyville in 1900 with his wife Susie and an unnamed one month old son. Shown as a farm laborer (b. Jul 1870, IN) married 8 yrs.
In 1910 he is living on Main St of Shelbyville, working as a carpenter (37, IN) with his second wife Bertha (23, IN) married 2 years. With them are 3 children from his first marriage, one from hers, and two more together.
Apparently their marriage got off to a rocky start…
The Shelbyville Republican - Friday, 5 Apr 1912, Pg 1 col 2
ASKING FOR DIVORCE Says Wife Refuses to Cook For Her Step-Children
Richard Wells this afternoon, through his attorney, J. Oscar Hall, brought suit for divorce against his wife, Bertha Wells. They were married on St. Patrick’s Day, 1908, and separated March 29, 1912. To this union two children, Reuben, two, and Harlan, three, were born. The plaintiff alleges the defendant is cruel and inhuman in her treatment; that she has an ungovernable temper; that she is vulgar. The plaintiff has three children by a former wife and he alleges his present wife has refused to cook for her step-children. They are owners of property valued at $1,200, and on which there is a $700 mortgage and he asks for a settlement in the property affairs as well as a divorce decree.
Following that, on April 30th of the same month, there was an article titled “Wells’s Made up and then Kissed”.
On 20 Nov 1919, Bertha pleaded guilty to assault & battery of Richard, and was sentenced to 60 days in the Indiana State Women’s Prison in Indianapolis, where she is listed as an inmate for the 1920 census on 3 Jan 1920.
The prison record states that she and Richard had been separated 3 times by then, but not divorced, and were living together at the time of her arrest. Further that sons Harland (12) and Paul (9) were living with their father, although not yet found in the census, in spite of being listed in the 1920 Shelbyville City Directory at 729 Blanchard showing Richard as a cabinet worker.
The Shelbyville Republican -Saturday April 22, 1922, Page 1 column 3
MADE WARDS OF COURT
Three children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wells, of this city, were made wards of Shelby county, and ordered committed to the Gordon Children's Home, after a hearing held today in Juvenile court. It was shown that the father had left home, and had provided the family with no means of support. The mother [Bertha Wells], who lives at No. 13 South Pike street, stated that she was unable to provide for the children.
Following that, on the 22nd and 28th of April 1922, Raymond, Joseph Paul and Chester were admitted to the Gordon’s children home in Shelbyville.
Raymond was there 2 years, Joseph Paul for about 7 years and Chester was there about 10 years, based on their ages.
RESEARCH NOTE: Not found in the 1920 census, when they were separated and sons Harlan and Paul were iving with him. Nor in the 1930 census; and he apparently died before 1937, based on the obituary of his brother Oliver that year.
Richard is listed in Shelbyville in 1900 with his wife Susie and an unnamed one month old son. Shown as a farm laborer (b. Jul 1870, IN) married 8 yrs.
In 1910 he is living on Main St of Shelbyville, working as a carpenter (37, IN) with his second wife Bertha (23, IN) married 2 years. With them are 3 children from his first marriage, one from hers, and two more together.
Apparently their marriage got off to a rocky start…
The Shelbyville Republican - Friday, 5 Apr 1912, Pg 1 col 2
ASKING FOR DIVORCE Says Wife Refuses to Cook For Her Step-Children
Richard Wells this afternoon, through his attorney, J. Oscar Hall, brought suit for divorce against his wife, Bertha Wells. They were married on St. Patrick’s Day, 1908, and separated March 29, 1912. To this union two children, Reuben, two, and Harlan, three, were born. The plaintiff alleges the defendant is cruel and inhuman in her treatment; that she has an ungovernable temper; that she is vulgar. The plaintiff has three children by a former wife and he alleges his present wife has refused to cook for her step-children. They are owners of property valued at $1,200, and on which there is a $700 mortgage and he asks for a settlement in the property affairs as well as a divorce decree.
Following that, on April 30th of the same month, there was an article titled “Wells’s Made up and then Kissed”.
On 20 Nov 1919, Bertha pleaded guilty to assault & battery of Richard, and was sentenced to 60 days in the Indiana State Women’s Prison in Indianapolis, where she is listed as an inmate for the 1920 census on 3 Jan 1920.
The prison record states that she and Richard had been separated 3 times by then, but not divorced, and were living together at the time of her arrest. Further that sons Harland (12) and Paul (9) were living with their father, although not yet found in the census, in spite of being listed in the 1920 Shelbyville City Directory at 729 Blanchard showing Richard as a cabinet worker.
The Shelbyville Republican -Saturday April 22, 1922, Page 1 column 3
MADE WARDS OF COURT
Three children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wells, of this city, were made wards of Shelby county, and ordered committed to the Gordon Children's Home, after a hearing held today in Juvenile court. It was shown that the father had left home, and had provided the family with no means of support. The mother [Bertha Wells], who lives at No. 13 South Pike street, stated that she was unable to provide for the children.
Following that, on the 22nd and 28th of April 1922, Raymond, Joseph Paul and Chester were admitted to the Gordon’s children home in Shelbyville.
Raymond was there 2 years, Joseph Paul for about 7 years and Chester was there about 10 years, based on their ages.
RESEARCH NOTE: Not found in the 1920 census, when they were separated and sons Harlan and Paul were iving with him. Nor in the 1930 census; and he apparently died before 1937, based on the obituary of his brother Oliver that year.
Spouses
Birth28 Nov 1875, Indiana
Death3 Jun 1907, Walkerville, Shelby Co, IN
MemoBk CH-6, pg 18
Burial15 Jun 1907, Forest Hill Cem, Shelbyville, Shelby Co, IN
MemoSect 6, Lot 104
Misc. Notes
[Obituary] Shelbyville Democrat - Mon, 3 June 1907
Mrs. Susan Wells Dead
Mrs. Susan Wells, wife of Richard Wells of Walkerville, died at twelve thirty today during childbirth. Further particulars will be given by Stewart & Fix, who are in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Cemetery lists her age as 31 yrs, 6 mos, 6 days - the daughter of Edward Havens and Sarah Longhorn, both b. Indiana.
Mrs. Susan Wells Dead
Mrs. Susan Wells, wife of Richard Wells of Walkerville, died at twelve thirty today during childbirth. Further particulars will be given by Stewart & Fix, who are in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Cemetery lists her age as 31 yrs, 6 mos, 6 days - the daughter of Edward Havens and Sarah Longhorn, both b. Indiana.
Marriage11 Aug 1892, Shelby Co, IN
Marr MemoBk 14, pg 256
Birth4 Sep 1885, Bartholomew Co, IN
Death24 Dec 1972, Greensburg, Decatur Co, IN
BurialSouth Park Cem, Greensburg, Decatur Co, IN
Occupationcigar factory - stemming
ReligionPentacostal
FatherJohn Calvin Herron (1857-1936)
MotherMartha Anna Young (1865-1944)
Misc. Notes
In 1900, she is listed as the oldest daughter of her parents John Calvin Herron (May 1857, IN) and Martha Anna Young (May 1867, IN) who had been married 16 years and had 4 children. Her siblings were Ida L. (1888-1906), George Otis (1892-1970), Suzanna B. (1897-1987), Mattie Ethel (1901-1982), and Hazel M. (1906-1983).
She was married to Mr. Cohorn about 1903, prior to her marriage to Richard Wells. Her son Edward Cohorn (2, IN) is living with her new family in 1910, along with Richard’s 3 children from his first marriage, and two of theirs together.
They were listed as living in Waldron (where her parents lived) when her son died in 1918.
On 20 Nov 1919, Bertha pleaded guilty to assault & battery of her husband, and was sentenced to 60 days in the Indiana State Women’s Prison in Indianapolis, starting the next day, with a $5 fine and $10 court costs. So she was in prison for the 1920 census on 3 Jan 1920, where she is listed as an inmate (34, IN) with an occupation of gardener.
The prison record lists her birth as 8 Aug 1885, and states that she and Richard had been separated 3 times, but not divorced, and were living together at the time of her arrest. Further that sons Harland (12) and Paul (9) were living with their father, and sons Raymond (6) and Chester (5) were living with her mother, Martha Herron in Waldron, IN while Bertha was in prison. However, Raymond is actually shown living with his uncle Morgan Wells in the census record.
Bertha then had one more son (Elmer) with Richard when she returned home, before their final separation.
The Shelbyville Republican -Saturday April 22, 1922, Page 1 column 3
MADE WARDS OF COURT
Three children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wells, of this city, were made wards of Shelby county, and ordered committed to the Gordon Children's Home, after a hearing held today in Juvenile court. It was shown that the father had left home, and had provided the family with no means of support. The mother [Bertha Wells], who lives at No. 13 South Pike street, stated that she was unable to provide for the children.
After her presumed divorce from Richard, she was married a 3rd time to Charles Land in 1923, and in 1930 Bertha & Charles Perry Land are living in Greensburg, Decatur Co with children Elmer (24 Oct 1920-Oct 1977), Virgil Leroy (18 Dec 1923-7 Feb 1981), Marietta (May 1925) and Edith Rose (14 Feb 1928-14 Feb 2005). It says she was first married at age 18.
She is listed in Indianapolis city directories in mid 1930’s thru the mid 1950’s and the 1940 census, when she is Bertha M. Land (54, IN) with Perry (59, IN) and their 3 children, Virgil (17), Marietta (14), and Edith (12) - all born in Indiana.
She was married a final time to Ott Robbins (1892-1985), who is buried in the South Park cemetery, in Greensburg with his first wife. Charles Perry Land, her 3rd husband, and Bertha are also both buried in South Park cemetery.
[Obituary] Greensburg Daily News
Rites Set For Mrs. Robbins - Resident, 87, ill for several years
Mrs. Bertha Mae Robbins, 87, wife of Ott Robbins and a resident of this city the past several years, died at 3 p.m. Sunday in her home here at 331 West Fourth Street. She had been in poor health over two years and seriously ill the past six months.
A native of Shelby County, she was born Sept. 4, 1885 and was educated in the Shelby County public schools.
A resident of Kokomo several years, she was made a minister in the Church of Jesus there on Oct. 17, 1942.
She was married to Ott Robbins here Aug. 4, 1957 and he survives with several children by previous marriages, including Mrs. James (Irene) Rose, Mrs. Fred (Mary) Thomas, Virgil Land and Charles Heron, all of Indianapolis, Chester Wells of California and two other Wells brothers who are patients in the Veterans Hospital at Marion.
Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. William (Anna) Lumpkin, Jeffersonville, Mrs. Ethel Carlson of (Miami) Florida and Mrs. Hazel Ruthlage, Frankfort; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by several children and one brother.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in J. H. Porter and Sons Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert L. Browning, pastor of the First Church of God, officiating. Burial will be in South Park Cemetery.
She was married to Mr. Cohorn about 1903, prior to her marriage to Richard Wells. Her son Edward Cohorn (2, IN) is living with her new family in 1910, along with Richard’s 3 children from his first marriage, and two of theirs together.
They were listed as living in Waldron (where her parents lived) when her son died in 1918.
On 20 Nov 1919, Bertha pleaded guilty to assault & battery of her husband, and was sentenced to 60 days in the Indiana State Women’s Prison in Indianapolis, starting the next day, with a $5 fine and $10 court costs. So she was in prison for the 1920 census on 3 Jan 1920, where she is listed as an inmate (34, IN) with an occupation of gardener.
The prison record lists her birth as 8 Aug 1885, and states that she and Richard had been separated 3 times, but not divorced, and were living together at the time of her arrest. Further that sons Harland (12) and Paul (9) were living with their father, and sons Raymond (6) and Chester (5) were living with her mother, Martha Herron in Waldron, IN while Bertha was in prison. However, Raymond is actually shown living with his uncle Morgan Wells in the census record.
Bertha then had one more son (Elmer) with Richard when she returned home, before their final separation.
The Shelbyville Republican -Saturday April 22, 1922, Page 1 column 3
MADE WARDS OF COURT
Three children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wells, of this city, were made wards of Shelby county, and ordered committed to the Gordon Children's Home, after a hearing held today in Juvenile court. It was shown that the father had left home, and had provided the family with no means of support. The mother [Bertha Wells], who lives at No. 13 South Pike street, stated that she was unable to provide for the children.
After her presumed divorce from Richard, she was married a 3rd time to Charles Land in 1923, and in 1930 Bertha & Charles Perry Land are living in Greensburg, Decatur Co with children Elmer (24 Oct 1920-Oct 1977), Virgil Leroy (18 Dec 1923-7 Feb 1981), Marietta (May 1925) and Edith Rose (14 Feb 1928-14 Feb 2005). It says she was first married at age 18.
She is listed in Indianapolis city directories in mid 1930’s thru the mid 1950’s and the 1940 census, when she is Bertha M. Land (54, IN) with Perry (59, IN) and their 3 children, Virgil (17), Marietta (14), and Edith (12) - all born in Indiana.
She was married a final time to Ott Robbins (1892-1985), who is buried in the South Park cemetery, in Greensburg with his first wife. Charles Perry Land, her 3rd husband, and Bertha are also both buried in South Park cemetery.
[Obituary] Greensburg Daily News
Rites Set For Mrs. Robbins - Resident, 87, ill for several years
Mrs. Bertha Mae Robbins, 87, wife of Ott Robbins and a resident of this city the past several years, died at 3 p.m. Sunday in her home here at 331 West Fourth Street. She had been in poor health over two years and seriously ill the past six months.
A native of Shelby County, she was born Sept. 4, 1885 and was educated in the Shelby County public schools.
A resident of Kokomo several years, she was made a minister in the Church of Jesus there on Oct. 17, 1942.
She was married to Ott Robbins here Aug. 4, 1957 and he survives with several children by previous marriages, including Mrs. James (Irene) Rose, Mrs. Fred (Mary) Thomas, Virgil Land and Charles Heron, all of Indianapolis, Chester Wells of California and two other Wells brothers who are patients in the Veterans Hospital at Marion.
Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. William (Anna) Lumpkin, Jeffersonville, Mrs. Ethel Carlson of (Miami) Florida and Mrs. Hazel Ruthlage, Frankfort; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by several children and one brother.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in J. H. Porter and Sons Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert L. Browning, pastor of the First Church of God, officiating. Burial will be in South Park Cemetery.
Marriage17 Mar 1908, Shelby Co, IN
Marr MemoBk 19, pg 224
Divorce
ChildrenHarlan William “Jerry” (1909-1975)
Reuben (Died as Child) (1910-1913)
Paul Joseph (1911-1990)
Raymond Earl (1914-1964)
Chester Berle (1915-2002)
Cloris (Died as Infant) (1917-1918)
Harold "James" (Died as Infant) (1919-1919)
Elmer Colvin (1920-1977)