Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameJohn M. Wells 
Birth13 Sep 1825, Washington Twp, Fayette Co, PA
Census1850, Cookstown Borough, Fayette Co, PA
Census17 Jul 1860, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll# 335, pg 134
Census10 Aug 1870, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll# 409, pg 30
Census19 Jun 1880, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll# 354, pg 617
Census1895, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
MemoSpecial Iowa census
Census12 Jun 1900, Dallas Twp, Marion Co, IA
Memoroll#447, pg 6
Death12 May 1908, Knoxville, Marion Co, IA
BurialPleasant Ridge Cem, Knoxville, Marion Co, IA
OccupationCarpenter
FatherJohn Wells (1779-1853)
MotherDeborah (1792-1872)
Misc. Notes
In company with his brother William and with "California" J. Morris, John went to California as a forty-niner, but was shipwrecked on the voyage, and apparently returned to Pennsylvania.
Listed with brother Griffith in 1850 at Cookstown Borrough, Fayette Co as age 23 and a clerk. He moved to Iowa in 1855 from Uniontown, PA with a John David Hartley, no relation - just a friend, and they are listed together in the 1856 Iowa census. On 3 Jun 1856 he bought 40 acres in Chariton IA.
In 1860 he is listed as a farmer (30, PA) with $320 of land, born in PA with his wife Martha A. (28, PA) and David Hartley (19, PA).
He served in Co 3 of the Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War.
He is listed in 1900 with his sons Griffith Wells and Jack Helmer (listed as boarder) which lists his birth in 1824.
Listed with brother Griffith in 1850 at Cookstown Borrough, Fayette Co as age 23 and a clerk. He moved to Iowa in 1855 from Uniontown, PA with a John David Hartley, no relation - just a friend, and they are listed together in the 1856 Iowa census. On 3 Jun 1856 he bought 40 acres in Chariton IA.
In 1860 he is listed as a farmer (30, PA) with $320 of land, born in PA with his wife Martha A. (28, PA) and David Hartley (19, PA).
He served in Co 3 of the Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War.
He is listed in 1900 with his sons Griffith Wells and Jack Helmer (listed as boarder) which lists his birth in 1824.
Spouses
Birthabt 1825, Pennsylvania
Death16 Nov 1888, Knoxville, Marion Co, IA
BurialPleasant Ridge Cem, Knoxville, Marion Co, IA
Misc. Notes
Listed as Martha A. (28, PA) in the 1860 census, then as 47 in 1870 and 54 in 1880.
She filed for a widow’s pension on 8 July 1887, based on his service in the Civil War.
Martha's tombstone in 1888 gives a death date but no birth date---just says 63 years old.
She filed for a widow’s pension on 8 July 1887, based on his service in the Civil War.
Martha's tombstone in 1888 gives a death date but no birth date---just says 63 years old.
Marriage1860, Marion Co, IA
ChildrenLida B. (1861-1877)
Griffith “Griff” (1862-1944)
Birth1856, Pennsylvania
Death5 Nov 1926, Chariton, Lucas Co, IA
Burial7 Nov 1926, Saint Josephs Cem, Bauer, Marion Co, IA
Misc. Notes
Dau of Joseph Helmel (1817 GER - 1891 IA) and Mary Ann Hirleman (1817 - 1895 PA)
She married Ambrose Wimmer (1851-1926) on 12 Apr 1877 in Marion Co, IA; who she later divorced.
She apparently was not married to John Wells, but had a child by him, Jack. Listed as Elizabeth Wimmer (39, PA) divorced from Ambrose Wimmer, in the 1895 Iowa Special Census with her son, Jack in the household of John Wells. She apparently was then married to John A. Welch (1864-1928).
Listed in 1920 as wife of Frank Kesler with son Ralph Welsh.
Her death certificate lists her as Elizabeth Kesler (70, PA), wife of Frank Kesler (1865-1928).
[Obituary] Chariton Herald Patriot - 11 November 1926
Mrs. Lizzle Kesler
Many friends will learn with sorrow of the death of Mrs. Lizzie Kesler, wife of Frank Kesler, which occured at the family home on East Armory avenue on Frlday morning, November 5, 1926, at the age of 73 years.
She had been in falling health since the first of last May, when she suffered a stroke of paralysis.
Funeral services, conducted by Rev. Father Chas. O'Connor, were held at the Sacred Heart church In Chariton on Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, after which the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Bauer.
Deceased was born in Pennsylvania about seventy-three years ago, later coming to Iowa. She was married
to John Welch, who died many years ago. To them eight children were born. One son died in infancy; seven are living. They are Raiph and Chas. Welch, of Chariton; George, of Strawberry Point; Clyde, of near Des Moines; Jack, of Melcher; Mrs. Sophia Askern, of Woodburn; Mrs. Josephine Wimmer, of Bauer. All except Mrs. Wimmer were present at the funeral sevices last Sunday.
On March 27, 1910, Mrs. Welch was united in marriage at Lucas, Iowa, to Mr. Frank Kesler, who also survives her.
She was a devoted wife and mother, a kind neighbor, and her life, was filled with good deeds. She had been an earnest member of the Catholic church from childhood. She won warm friends of all with whom she came in contact, and will be greatly missed in the home and neighborhood. The sympathy of the community will be extended to the bereaved husband and children and other relatives.
She married Ambrose Wimmer (1851-1926) on 12 Apr 1877 in Marion Co, IA; who she later divorced.
She apparently was not married to John Wells, but had a child by him, Jack. Listed as Elizabeth Wimmer (39, PA) divorced from Ambrose Wimmer, in the 1895 Iowa Special Census with her son, Jack in the household of John Wells. She apparently was then married to John A. Welch (1864-1928).
Listed in 1920 as wife of Frank Kesler with son Ralph Welsh.
Her death certificate lists her as Elizabeth Kesler (70, PA), wife of Frank Kesler (1865-1928).
[Obituary] Chariton Herald Patriot - 11 November 1926
Mrs. Lizzle Kesler
Many friends will learn with sorrow of the death of Mrs. Lizzie Kesler, wife of Frank Kesler, which occured at the family home on East Armory avenue on Frlday morning, November 5, 1926, at the age of 73 years.
She had been in falling health since the first of last May, when she suffered a stroke of paralysis.
Funeral services, conducted by Rev. Father Chas. O'Connor, were held at the Sacred Heart church In Chariton on Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, after which the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Bauer.
Deceased was born in Pennsylvania about seventy-three years ago, later coming to Iowa. She was married
to John Welch, who died many years ago. To them eight children were born. One son died in infancy; seven are living. They are Raiph and Chas. Welch, of Chariton; George, of Strawberry Point; Clyde, of near Des Moines; Jack, of Melcher; Mrs. Sophia Askern, of Woodburn; Mrs. Josephine Wimmer, of Bauer. All except Mrs. Wimmer were present at the funeral sevices last Sunday.
On March 27, 1910, Mrs. Welch was united in marriage at Lucas, Iowa, to Mr. Frank Kesler, who also survives her.
She was a devoted wife and mother, a kind neighbor, and her life, was filled with good deeds. She had been an earnest member of the Catholic church from childhood. She won warm friends of all with whom she came in contact, and will be greatly missed in the home and neighborhood. The sympathy of the community will be extended to the bereaved husband and children and other relatives.
ChildrenJack (Illegitimate) (1893-1969)