Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameHarry Lloyd Colwell 
Birth21 Apr 1896, Murphysboro, Jackson Co, IL
DeathJan 1981, Florida
BurialGreenwood Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co, TX
MemoBenediction section
FatherWilliam Clarence Colwell (1858-1959)
MotherElizabeth “Betsy” DeHollander (1869-1940)
Misc. Notes
Married Almeda Marie Dockhorn (b. 1 Jan 1899, Lathrop MO) on 20 Apr 1918 at Troy, KS.
Children: Donald Keith, Harry L. Jr
His father was an artist, who traveled throughout the eight central states, from 1896 to 1906. During this period Harry attended 26 different grade schools during a three year period. In 1906 the family settled in Elwood, Kansas. In 1914 Harry graduated from the Elwood High School, attended Teachers Institute, and Emporia Kansas State Teachers College. He taught as principal of a rural grade school two years, then entered business in the Milling and Feed industry at St. Joseph, MO. After 14 years he transferred to the Ralston Purina Co. Hdqr. at St. Louis, MO. After a year of indoctrination at their Kansas City, MO, feed plant he moved to Fort Worth, Texas, as Plant Superintendent, in 1931, at the start of the Depression, lasting more than four years. After 1934, the Company and the Ft. Worth plant grew in service and tonnage of livestock feeds to be the largest producer of all the plants.
In 1944 he was transferred to St. Louis, MO, as Manager of the St. Louis Plants. The Colwell sons had both entered the U.S. Air Force as pilots. The life of Harry and Almeda was saddened by the air accident that took the life of Harry Jr., at the age of 20, in Wilmington, N.C., on December 27, 1944.
During the years after 1919, after his return from almost two years' service in the 89th Division, WWI, he became interested in Civic and Veterans affairs and service. He served as Commander of an American Legion Post in Ft. Worth, also organized and was Chef-de-Gare of the Forty-Eight Society Voiture there; then President of the Lions Club in Forth Worth and later in St. Louis, MO.
Retiring from Purina in 1960, he sold Mutual Funds part-time and he and Almeda traveled quite extensively from 1962 to 1976.
Moving from St. Louis to Ocala, Florida, in 1964, Harry became interested in working with his brother, Omar, and Mr. Allen Edgar, in establishing the Mid-Florida Mining Co. at Lowell, FL, near Ocala, in 1965. After planning and building a milling facility to process Fullers Earth, production began about 1966. Harry retired from activity with the Company a year later but has served as vice-president and later as director for more than ten years. The company is a large producer of Pet Litter and absorbent granules for insecticides and herbicides
He served as Steward of the First Methodist Church in Forth Worth, from 1934 to 1944, at University Methodist in St. Louis, MO, 1944 to 1965, and at First United Methodist in Ocala since 1965. Special interests have been Veterans Affairs, hunting, fishing, photography and travel.
During the Second World Wdr, he heJped organize a Battalion of the Texas Defense Guard at Fort Worth, Texas, 1942. This organization replaced the Texas National Guard, when they were called into active service. For two years the T.D.G. enlisted and trained volunteers, helping to prepare them for active service when they were called into service. He served as 2nd Lt., 1st Lt., and later as Captain of a line company.
Children: Donald Keith, Harry L. Jr
His father was an artist, who traveled throughout the eight central states, from 1896 to 1906. During this period Harry attended 26 different grade schools during a three year period. In 1906 the family settled in Elwood, Kansas. In 1914 Harry graduated from the Elwood High School, attended Teachers Institute, and Emporia Kansas State Teachers College. He taught as principal of a rural grade school two years, then entered business in the Milling and Feed industry at St. Joseph, MO. After 14 years he transferred to the Ralston Purina Co. Hdqr. at St. Louis, MO. After a year of indoctrination at their Kansas City, MO, feed plant he moved to Fort Worth, Texas, as Plant Superintendent, in 1931, at the start of the Depression, lasting more than four years. After 1934, the Company and the Ft. Worth plant grew in service and tonnage of livestock feeds to be the largest producer of all the plants.
In 1944 he was transferred to St. Louis, MO, as Manager of the St. Louis Plants. The Colwell sons had both entered the U.S. Air Force as pilots. The life of Harry and Almeda was saddened by the air accident that took the life of Harry Jr., at the age of 20, in Wilmington, N.C., on December 27, 1944.
During the years after 1919, after his return from almost two years' service in the 89th Division, WWI, he became interested in Civic and Veterans affairs and service. He served as Commander of an American Legion Post in Ft. Worth, also organized and was Chef-de-Gare of the Forty-Eight Society Voiture there; then President of the Lions Club in Forth Worth and later in St. Louis, MO.
Retiring from Purina in 1960, he sold Mutual Funds part-time and he and Almeda traveled quite extensively from 1962 to 1976.
Moving from St. Louis to Ocala, Florida, in 1964, Harry became interested in working with his brother, Omar, and Mr. Allen Edgar, in establishing the Mid-Florida Mining Co. at Lowell, FL, near Ocala, in 1965. After planning and building a milling facility to process Fullers Earth, production began about 1966. Harry retired from activity with the Company a year later but has served as vice-president and later as director for more than ten years. The company is a large producer of Pet Litter and absorbent granules for insecticides and herbicides
He served as Steward of the First Methodist Church in Forth Worth, from 1934 to 1944, at University Methodist in St. Louis, MO, 1944 to 1965, and at First United Methodist in Ocala since 1965. Special interests have been Veterans Affairs, hunting, fishing, photography and travel.
During the Second World Wdr, he heJped organize a Battalion of the Texas Defense Guard at Fort Worth, Texas, 1942. This organization replaced the Texas National Guard, when they were called into active service. For two years the T.D.G. enlisted and trained volunteers, helping to prepare them for active service when they were called into service. He served as 2nd Lt., 1st Lt., and later as Captain of a line company.