WELLS FAMILY

DESCENDANTS OF SAMUEL WELLS AND SARAH MAY

Samuel Wells came to Bradford Co. between 1780 and 1800. He had a claim of 400 acres in the Terrytown area but through some sort of mismanagement lost this claim. It is believed he came from England as some records refer to him as an Englishman. He married Sarah May (last name unknown) who was born in New York in 1788. He was a shoemaker by trade but as with many other people of the day was also a farmer. He had nine children, of which 7 are known. He died sometime before 1832 and is buried in an unmarked grave in Terrytown PA.

Descendants of Samuel and Sarah

1 Samuel Wells Abt 1775 - Aft 1832 b: Abt 1775
. +Sarah May 1788 - 1873 b: March 22, 1788 in New York m: Unknown in 2/9/1811
...... 2 Henry Wells 1804 - 1850 b: 1804 in Bradford Co
.......... +Betsie Baily Unknown - Unknown b: Unknown m: Unknown in Bradford Co
...... 2 Sarah Wells Bef 1810 - Unknown b: Bef 1810
.......... +David May Unknown - Unknown b: Unknown m: Unknown
...... 2 Johnson Wells Abt 1810 - b: Abt 1810
...... 2 Eldridge Wells 1816 - b: 1816
...... 2 Joseph Wells 1818 - Abt 1880 b: 1818 in Bradford Co Fact 1: 203 PVI Co G
.......... +Hannah R 1826 - Unknown b: 1826 m: Unknown in Bradford Co
...... 2 Daniel Frank Wells 1820 - 1878 b: June 27, 1820 in Bradford Co Fact 1: Farmer with over 1000 acres
.......... +Zeruiah Ruey Strong 1825 - 1893 b: April 14, 1825 in Northumberland, Wyoming Co m: February 03, 1841 in New Era PA
...... 2 Joshua Wells Abt 1821 - 1900 b: Abt 1821 in Bradford Co Fact 1: 141st Co A PVI
.......... +Melvina Johnson 1829 - 1892 b: 1829 m: Bef 1847 in Terrytown Pa
...... *2nd Wife of Joshua Wells:
.......... +Ava Vincent Wheeler 1836 - Unknown b: 1836 m: 1896



Joshua was born around 1821 and was a mason by trade. He was married to Melvina Johnson (1829) before 1847. Joshua was in the Civil War in Co. A 141st PVI.

Descendants of Joshua Wells and Melvina Johnson

1 Joshua Wells Abt 1821 - 1900 f: 141st Co A PVI
. +Melvina Johnson 1829 - 1892 m: Bef 1847
.... 2 Phebe A Wells 1847 - 1947
........ +Miles John Hover Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 Cathryn Jane Wells 1849 - Unknown f: Had no children
........ +Benjamin M Brown Unknown - Unknown m: November 07, 1873
.... *2nd Husband of Cathryn Jane Wells:
........ +Charles S Westler Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown f: 6 Reg Co I PVI
.... 2 Mattihas T Wells 1853 - Unknown
........ +Polly A Hoover Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
........... 3 Elmer Wells Unknown -
........... 3 Nettie May Wells Unknown -
.... 2 Daniel Wells 1854 - Unknown f: Died young
.... 2 Permilia Amelai Wells 1855 - Unknown
........ +Horance Hoover Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 Elijah F Wells 1857 - 1928
........ +Senia McCraken Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 Mary Wells 1860 - 1895 f: Died Young
........ +Joel Hoover Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 Cora Mitilda Wells 1862 - 1924
........ +Aaron Frisbie Unknown - 1908 m: February 26, 1880
.... *2nd Husband of Cora Mitilda Wells:
........ +Miles Hoover Unknown - Unknown m: June 02, 1915
.... *3rd Husband of Cora Mitilda Wells:
........ +William Garris Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 James B Wells 1864 - 1933
........ +Emma O'Conner Unknown - Unknown m: Abt 1888
.... 2 Lester Wells 1866 - Unknown
........ +Ella Varganson Unknown - 1891 m: Unknown
*2nd Wife of Joshua Wells:
. +Ava Vincent Wheeler 1836 - Unknown m: 1896


Aaron and Cora Matilda Wells Frisbie lived most of their lives in Bradford County. They married 26 February 1880 at Standing Stone, PA, at the home of Aaron’s parents, William and Elizabeth Frisbie. Aaron was the third child of William and Elizabeth VanScoten Frisbie. He was born about 1852 at Standing Stone, PA. He worked as a laborer and caught a ride with bones and wagon from a neighbor or walked to work. By 1901 he and his wife had ten children. Aaron went to work one morning. A few hours later someone told his wife they had found him dead in the road near Stevensville, PA. She never found out what caused his death. He died 17 October 1908 and was buried at Camptown Cemetery. From that time on Cora had to raiae the family. The older children worked out for room and board and a small amount of money. Cora took in washings and ironings. She raised her food to feed them. She delivered many babies around the neighborhood. She remarried on 2 June 1915 to Miles Hoover. She died 29 February 1924 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bert Woodruff of Silvera, PA. Late in life she married William Garris.



Daniel was born June 27, 1820 and married Ruey Strong Feb 3, 1841. Ruey had been born on April 14, 1825 in Wyoming Co. Maj. John Horton adopted Daniel, it is believed because Samuel died before he was 12, with whom he lived until he married. Although he started with nothing he left behind a large estate at his death. He made some of his money taking fair advantage of lumber prices during the Civil War. He also held the office of Justice of the Peace for nine years.

Sometime between 1860 and 1870 his mother, Sarah, moved in to live out her last years with the family. Prior to this she was living on the property next to Daniel with a woman by the name of Betsy Stevens. The only thing know about Betsy is that she was born in England and was 2 yr. younger that Sarah. This has lead to speculation that Betsy may have been Samuel's sister.

Descendants of Daniel Frank Wells and Ruey Strong

1 Daniel Frank Wells 1820 - 1878 f: Farmer with over 1000 acres
. +Zeruiah Ruey Strong 1825 - 1893 m: February 03, 1841
.... 2 George V Wells 1841 - 1904 f: 141 Reg Co A
........ +Lucy Lewis Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
........... 3 Blanche Wells 1862 - Unknown
.... 2 John M Wells 1843 - 1925 f: 141st Co A PVI
........ +Mary Furman 1847 - 1908 m: August 11, 1875
........... 3 Annie Adelia Wells 1877 - Unknown
............... +Burr Kinney Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
........... 3 Burton George Wells 1878 - 1950
............... +Ada May Decker 1880 - 1968 m: September 17, 1901
........... 3 Daniel F Wells 1880 - 1954
............... +Sara Brown 1880 - 1951 m: Unknown
........... 3 Jessy Wells 1884 - 1965
............... +Thomas Edwin Messersmith 1882 - 1947 m: Unknown
.... *2nd Wife of John M Wells:
........ +Adelia A Furman 1847 - 1874 m: Unknown
........... 3 John Herbert Wells 1873 - Unknown
............... +Dollie Mills 1872 - 1898 m: Unknown
........... *2nd Wife of John Herbert Wells:
............... +Elizabeth Hoover Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... *3rd Wife of John M Wells:
........ +Laura Furman Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 MaryAnn Wells 1845 - Unknown
........ +D.E. Jones Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 Lucy Wells 1846 - 1929
........ +George Richards Unknown - Unknown m: April 15, 1863
........... 3 George Richards Jr 1864 - Unknown
............... +Anna Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
........... 3 Emma Richards 1866 - 1951
............... +William Elliott Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
........... 3 Ruey Richards 1869 - 1882
........... 3 Estella Richards 1871 - 1942
........... 3 Ency Louie Richards 1877 - 1897
.... 2 Joseph H Wells 1849 - 1930
........ +Florence Capwell 1852 - 1926 m: 1872
........... 3 Myrtle Wells 1873 - 1957
............... +George Race Unknown - Unknown m: July 07, 1893
........... 3 Laura B Wells 1875 - Unknown
............... +William Wallister Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
........... 3 Fredrick D Wells 1877 - Unknown
............... +Barbara Lent Unknown - Unknown m: November 26, 1889
........... *2nd Wife of Fredrick D Wells:
............... +Cathrine Grippen Unknown - Unknown m: July 03, 1897
........... 3 Martin J Wells 1882 - Unknown
............... +Pearl L Lewis 1887 - Unknown m: November 21, 1905
........... 3 Elwood L Wells 1884 - 1968
............... +Myrtle ? Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 Sarah H Wells 1851 - 1881
........ +Darwin Jones 1847 - 1915 m: Unknown
........... 3 Ella Jones Unknown - Unknown
.... 2 Emily J Wells 1853 - 1883 f: Never married. Lived at home until death.
.... 2 Frank Miner Wells 1855 - 1925
........ +Lynda Turner 1857 - 1888 m: Unknown
........... 3 Frank Wells Unknown - Unknown
........... 3 Bertie Louise Wells 1877 - Unknown
........... 3 Grace Wells 1885 - Unknown
........... 3 Celie Anne Wells 1891 - Unknown
........... 3 Boyd Wells 1893 - Unknown
........... 3 Mildred Wells 1896 - Unknown
........... 3 Lydia Wells 1898 - Unknown
........... 3 George V Wells 1902 - Unknown
........... 3 Leland Wells 1904 - Unknown
........... 3 Dorothy Wells 1906 - Unknown
........... 3 Clair Wells 1909 - Unknown
.... 2 Samuel Mercer Wells 1857 - 1944
........ +Sarah Furman 1860 - 1898 m: 1879
........... 3 Clinton Wells 1880 - 1918
............... +Harriet V 1881 - 1958 m: Unknown
........... 3 Jennie Wells 1882 - Unknown
........... 3 Ida Wells 1884 - 1929
............... +Donald Cameron Unknown - Unknown m: February 16, 1903
........... 3 Grover Wells 1885 - Unknown
............... +Ada S Hatch Unknown - Unknown m: February 07, 1911
........... 3 Rodney Wells 1888 - 1983
........... 3 Lena Wells 1889 - Unknown
........... 3 Pearl Wells 1892 - Unknown
.... *2nd Wife of Samuel Mercer Wells:
........ +Effie Hoyt Unknown - Unknown m: October 26, 1899
........... 3 Sibyl Wells 1900 - Unknown
.... 2 Martha J Wells 1860 - Unknown
........ +Jacob Huffman Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
.... 2 Henry R Wells 1862 - 1947
........ +Marie Huffman 1863 - 1949 m: 1884
........... 3 Mily Wells 1891 - Unknown
.... 2 Elma Wells 1865 - 1932
........ +William Kinney Unknown - Unknown m: 1880
........... 3 Jessie Kinney Unknown -
........... 3 George Kinney 1885 - Unknown
........... 3 Lucy Kinney 1890 - Unknown
........... 3 Norman Henry Kinney 1891 - 1965
.... 2 Elmer Wells 1865 - 1910
........ +Viola White 1865 - 1952 m: October 1885
........... 3 Nancy Wells 1886 - 1963
........... 3 Mylert Wells 1888 - 1956
............... +Nora Burrell Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
........... *2nd Wife of Mylert Wells:
............... +Helen Hoag Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown
........... 3 Mable Wells 1898 - 1949
............... +Wallace King Unknown - Unknown m: Unknown

JOHN M WELLS AND MARY FURMAN WELLS

John M. married Adelia Furman on Feb 22, 1872 in Wysox. With her he had one son J. Herbert (1873). Adelia died on Jan 24, 1874 and on Aug 11, 1875 he married Mary Furman a cousin of Adelia's. From this marriage were four children, Anna, Burton, Daniel, and Jessie. John owned 225 acres in the New Era area on which he ran a dairy farm. He is burried with Adelia and Mary in the New Era Cemetary as are his parents and many of his brothers and sisters.

BURTON was a farmer in the Wyalusing area. He raised and sold Jerseys until the early 1920's. At that time he went to work for the Atlantic Refining Co. He began driving mules, than horses and finally trucks before his retirement in 1946. The following Editorial appeared in Oct 1950 in the Wyalusing Rocket.

TRIBUTE TO A GOOD CITIZEN

Wyalusing this week lost a good citizen, a public offical and an ardent worker for the progress of the community, when death suddenly took our Mayor Burt G. Wells.
No single individual in town took more pride in his community than did Mr. Wells. Few have ever worked as hard and long as did he in continuing to make the town a better place in which to live.
His friendly disposition, his love for the outdoors and his kindness to both young and old will be long remembered.
Wyalusing will look a long way to find a citizen to take the place of Burt Wells. The example he set in his selfless devotion to his task as homemaker and citizen is one which could benefit everyone. ( from Wyalusing Rocket 1950)

JOSEPH WELLS AND HIS SON'S MARTIN AND ELWOOD (L-R)

Joseph married Florance Capwell in 1872 in Terry Twp. Joe and Flo had 5 children including his two sons shown with him above. Joe and Florance are burried in the New Era Cemetary next to his brother John.

Wells Family Contacts

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