Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameSusan Frances Havens 
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.
Spouses
Birth25 Jul 1870, Decatur Co, IN
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.
Marriage11 Aug 1892, Shelby Co, IN
Marr MemoBk 14, pg 256