MISC. WEST VIRGINIA RECORDS - WELLS
16 Feb 2001
MISC. WEST VIRGINIA RECORDS
There are a few mighty familiar names in here...well worth reading!
Source Information:
History of West Virginia and Its People, Volume 2.
Charleston, WV: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1913.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Hutton Line).
Before the war the Odd Fellows' Lodges in Western Virginia belonged to the jurisdiction of
the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and on the return of peace the Grand Lodge of West Virginia
was organized, and Judge Brown joined Ravenswood Lodge, No. 15, in 1865; he passed its
several chairs, and in 1877 represented it in the State Grand Lodge; was successively
elected grand warden, deputy grand master, and grand master; and in October, 1881, was
elected one of its representatives to the Sovereign Grand Lodge for the term of two years;
met with that august body in Baltimore, and in Providence, Rhode Island, at the session of
1883.
He was united in marriage, October 2, 1849, with Anna H., eldest daughter of Ephraim
Wells, Esq., a prominent and wealthy citizen of Jackson county, Virginia, who served the
public as presiding justice of the county court of Jackson county for two terms, and
filled with credit many other positions of honor and trust. Mr. Wells, in 1835, had bought
(at five dollars per acre) from Dr. Peter, (husband of Martha Custis) a devisee of George
Washington, a large tract of land on the Ohio river adjoining the town of Ravenswood, and
moved on it from Brooke county, in March, 1836. It was then all in woods, as was in fact
at that time nearly all the land in Jackson county. This land had been patented to George
Washington by King George III. in 1772. Mr. Wells had in years of great labor and
perseverance cleared out and improved a large part of this land, and in March, 1866, sold
it to Judge Brown for one hundred dollars per acre for the whole tract, which shows the
great rise in the price of land in that section. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of
the following children still living: William J., Ephraim W. and Charles L., of whom the
two former are farmers.
(IV) Hon. Charles L. Brown, youngest son of Judge Robert S. and Anna H. (Wells) Brown, was
born in Elizabeth, Wirt county, Virginia, June 20, 1859. He was graduated from Bethany
College on his nineteenth birthday, June 20, 1878. On November 5, 1879, he represented the
alumni of the Neotrophian Society of that college at the anniversary celebration, having
been elected as the alternate of Hon. John C. New, of Indiana. After reading law for a
year in his father's office, Mr. Brown attended law lectures at the University of
Virginia, and was admitted to the bar, February 26, 1880, and entered upon practice in the
various courts of Jackson and adjoining counties, and the West Virginia supreme court of
appeals. Some years ago he relinquished the active practice of his profession, since which
time his counsel has been largely demanded by important industrial and financial
interests. A Democrat in politics, in August, 1882, he was nominated a candidate for the
West Virginia house of delegates by his party convention of Jackson county, and at the
October election defeated the Republican candidate, running ahead of his ticket, and
receiving more votes than any candidate in the county at that election. In the ensuing
session he served as chairman of the committee on federal relations, and as a member of
the committees on the judiciary, of counties, and of municipal corporations, his being
called to such important duties being eloquent attestation of his ability, such as is
rarely bestowed by legislative assemblies upon one so young (then only twenty-three years
of age), and during his first experience among lawmakers. The house journal with its
record of his bills introduced and enacted into laws, as well as his extensive committee
work, show that this confidence was in no way misplaced. In 1884 he was elected state
senator and served four years with usefulness and distinction. Mr. Brown is a member of
Ravenswood Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Hutton Line).
Mr. Brown married, November 20, 1884, Frances, daughter of Hon. Campbell Tarr, a
distinguished citizen of Brooke county. To them has been born a daughter, Helen M., now
wife of Fred H. Fowler, of Baltimore, Maryland, and of which marriage has been born a
daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Presbyterian church. The family
home is near Ravenswood, Jackson county, West Virginia; it was formerly owned by his
father, and is on part of the General Washington lands. Mr. Brown is a prominent and
successful farmer as well as a capable lawyer.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Menager Line).*[*This Sketch was prepared by the late Ella S. Neale.]
(III) David, son of Adam and Mercy (Pickering) Hickman, was born in 1812 and died in 1863.
He was a member of the militia, and his duty in this office on one occasion took him
across the state to Norfolk. Later, he was county clerk of Tyler county, Virginia. He
married Nancy, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Wells. Child, David (2), of whom further
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Menager Line).*[*This Sketch was prepared by the late Ella S. Neale.]
(IV) David (2), son of David (1) and Nancy (Wells) Hickman, was born at Middlebourne,
Tyler county, Virginia, October 8, 1844. His education was received in the common schools
of Middlebourne, Sistersville, and West Union. He served as deputy county clerk under his
father, until the latter's death. In 1864 he was appointed clerk of the board of
supervisors and held this office until 1868. In that year he was elected recorder of Tyler
county and this office was retained by him until the new constitution went into effect, in
1873. From 1873 to 1902 he was county clerk. Further, he has served several terms as
councilman of Middlebourne. He was a director of the First National Bank at Middlebourne
and the Bank of Middlebourne. He married, September 19, 1866, Sarah E. Boreman, daughter
of W. I. and Martha E. (Stealey) Boreman. Children: Martha B., born July 25, 1867, married
Lloyd E. Smith; Francis R., born January 11, 1871, of whom further; Catharine B., born
January 20, 1877, married John A. George.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Menager Line).*[*This Sketch was prepared by the late Ella S. Neale.]
(III) David M., son of Isaac and --- (Birkhead) Smith, was born near Centerville, Tyler
county, Virginia. He was a merchant at Centerville, till he retired from business
activity. In his young manhood, he was on two occasions elected assessor of the county. He
married Margaret, daughter of Dr. Samuel and Amanda (Wells) Morey, who died in 1879.
Child: Harry W., of whom further.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Menager Line).*[*This Sketch was prepared by the late Ella S. Neale.]
(I) George Long, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information,
was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania. With his wife he came into Tyler county,
Virginia, and here he was a prosperous farmer. He married Lydia Johnson. Children: Ely B.,
Rachel M., married Jefferson Davis; Elizabeth, married Elias Wells; Ruth, married Benjamin
Clovi; Caroline, married W. A. Flesher; George W., Sarah E., and Johnson G., of whom
further.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Johnston Line).
(I) Eli Conaway, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information,
was born in Tyler county, Virginia. In this county his life was passed, and he was a
farmer. He married Perthena A. (Ruffner) Wells. Child, Charles I., of whom further.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Johnston Line).
(II) Charles I., son of Eli and Perthena A. (Ruffner-Wells) Conaway, was born in Tyler
county, Virginia, in 1844, and died February 16, 1894. He was one of the representative
business men of his community, and was both a merchant and a farmer. He was a member of
the Free and Accepted Masons. He married Elizabeth Virginia, daughter of William and
Adaline Stealey. Children: 1. Orrin Bryte, of whom further; William R., Thomas C., Felix
G., Max, Archie R., Kate, Maud B., married Creed L. Morris, she died in 1903; Eli, died in
infancy; May, died in infancy.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Johnston Line).
(II) Charles I., son of Eli and Perthena A. (Ruffner-Wells) Conaway, was born in Tyler
county, Virginia, in 1844, and died February 16, 1894. He was one of the representative
business men of his community, and was both a merchant and a farmer. He was a member of
the Free and Accepted Masons. He married Elizabeth Virginia, daughter of William and
Adaline Stealey. Children: 1. Orrin Bryte, of whom further; William R., Thomas C., Felix
G., Max, Archie R., Kate, Maud B., married Creed L. Morris, she died in 1903; Eli, died in
infancy; May, died in infancy.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Johnston Line).
Few men can look back upon a more varied and enterprising business career than can Eli
Wells Russell, of Sistersville. He has not only a mercantile but also a military and naval
record, having been identified during the civil war with both branches of the Confederate
service.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Johnston Line).
William Russell, father of Eli Wells Russell, came as a young man from Ireland, and was
among the early settlers of Sistersville. He was accompanied by his brother, Joshua
Russell, who also settled in that village. The brothers married sisters, daughters of
Charles Wells, a native of Ireland, who was the proprietor of a hotel and the owner of
several neighboring farms. He bestowed on his two daughters, who married the Russell
brothers, the principal part of the land on which Sistersville has since been built.
William Russell and his wife became the parents of a son, Eli Wells, mentioned below. Mrs.
Russell was the youngest of twenty-two children.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Johnston Line).
Eli Wells, son of William and Betsey (Wells) Russell, was born March 12, 1836, in
Sistersville, Virginia, now West Virginia, and received his education at the Wheeling
(West Virginia) high school, graduating in 1855. His first employment was as a reporter
for the Wheeling Argus, and he maintained his connection with the paper until 1858, when
it went out of existence. In 1859 he went to Ashland, Kentucky, and for one year held a
position in a general store owned by his cousin, John Russell. At the end of that time he
returned to Sistersville and obtained employment on a flatboat carrying produce from that
place to New Orleans. In April, 1861, when the whole country was startled by the news that
Fort Sumter had been fired upon, the boat on which Mr. Russell was employed was in New
Orleans, and those in charge at once sold both cargo and boat and returned to
Sistersville. In the autumn of the same year Mr. Russell enlisted in the 27th Virginia
Regiment, commanded by Colonel Grigsby, and forming part of "Stonewall"
Jackson's brigade, remaining in the service until the death of General Jackson. He then
entered the Confederate navy and served under Admiral Semmes until the close of the war.
During his career as a soldier and sailor he participated in all the important battles and
was several times wounded.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Johnston Line).
Mr. Russell married, in April, 1876, Rachal Cotton, and they are the parents of a son and
two daughters: 1. Charles, born in 1877, resides in Ohio, directly across the river from
Sistersville, on the old homestead of one hundred and eighty acres which has been in the
family for more than one hundred years; the farm has four producing oil wells which are
the source of a considerable monthly revenue. 2. Alfaretta, now wife of B. William Miller,
of Oklahoma. 3. Virginia, married William McCluskey, also of Oklahoma.
History of West Virginia and the People
(The Robinson Line).
Sampson Thistle married Dorinda Wells, and they were the parents of a son and a daughter:
1. Charles, was for several years engaged in mercantile business. He married Adeline
Graham by whom he became the father of three children, and his death occurred June 26,
1903. 2. Maud, who became the wife of William J. Neuenschwander.
History of West Virginia and the People
The Hamblin Line.
(I) The earliest actually known progenitor of the family in this country was William
Ireland, supposed to be a descendant of the above-named lad; he was a native of Maryland,
and with his son Alexander, also a native of Maryland, migrated to Harrison county, West
Virginia, dying near Clarksburg. (II) Alexander, son of William Ireland, grew to manhood
in the vicinity of Clarksburg, having a half-sister who became Mrs. Sheets. He married
Elizabeth Ragan, the daughter of a revolutionary soldier of German lineage. She was born
at West Milford in 1771, died in Tyler county, September 7, 1855, at the age of
eighty-four years. About the year 1818 Alexander Ireland, with his family, removed from
the vicinity of Clarksburg and made his home just above the mouth of Otterslide, on the
farm that was formerly designated as the Joshua Davis place, now a part of the Flannagan
homestead. Here he remained until some time in the early thirties, when he removed to
Tyler county, where he died July 18, 1843, aged seventy-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Ireland
were the parents of the following named children, whose descendants are now scattered
throughout the Union: 1. John, married (first) Agnes Maxwell, (second) Amy Joseph. 2.
Jacob, married Martha Wells; he was the only one of the brothers and sisters who died
childless. 3. Thomas, of whom further. 4. Jonathan, married Jane Rose. 5. Jesse, married
Sarah Wells. 6. Alexander, married Sarah Bond. 7. William, married ---. 8. Mary, married
Robert Doak. 9. Eliza, married Alexander Doak. 10. Sarah, married Alexander Lowther, of
Oxford, living and dying in Ritchie county. 11. Margaret, married Thomas Bond. 12.
Priscilla, married William Wells.
History of West Virginia and the People
The Hamblin Line.
Hugh N. Craddock, son of John and Mary (Gardener) Craddock, of Albermarle county,
Virginia, was born in that state and county, November 17, 1824. He came into what is now
within the state of West Virginia and located in the Little Kanawha Valley, near what is
now Burning Springs, Wirt county, several years before the civil war. At the outbreak of
the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in the fedéral army at Parkersburg, November 7,
1861, and served until he was honorably discharged at Richmond, August 19, 1865. He
received one flesh wound, was never made prisoner, but was permanently disabled in health
by mumps aggravated by exposure during his service. He was in the following engagements:
Cloyd Mountain, Bungos Mills, Staunton, Lexington, Buckhannon, the Lynchburg raid,
Opequon, Fishers Hill, the skirmishes from there to Harrisburg and return, Cedar Creek,
Petersburg, Richmond, High Bridge, and was present at the surrender. At the close of the
war he located at Glenville, West Virginia, where he engaged in the hotel business until
the time of his death, and he was also interested and engaged in the timber business and
in the boating of goods on the Little Kanawha river between Parkersburg and Glenville. He
was married in Glenville, Gilmer county, West Virginia, March 5, 1863, to Sarah Pauline
Brannon. Children: Joseph N., of whom further; Lillie V., born July 31, 1867; Charles H.,
September 29, 1872; Harvey L., July 26, 1875; Clara B., May 26, 1877, married N. L. Wells;
Frankie B., married Fred M. Whiting.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Lee Line).
Dr. Emerson Elbridge White married, at Hudson, Ohio, July 26, 1853, Mary Ann, daughter of
Henry Wells and Clarissa (Church) Sabin, who was born at Strongsville, Cuyahoga county,
Ohio, October 15, 1827, died July 19, 1901. The Sabin family is of Huguenot origin; the
line is as follows: (I) William, died in 1687; went from France to England, settled at
Rehoboth, Massachusetts, in 1643. (II) Benjamin, died in 1725; moved to Pomfret,
Connecticut. (III) Benjamin, died in 1750. (IV) Elisha, born in 1705, died in 1760; moved
to Dudley, Massachusetts. (V) Elisha, born in 1733, died in 1798; revolutionary soldier;
settled at Rockingham, Vermont. (VI) Levi, born in 1764, died in 1808; physician. (VII)
Henry Wells, born April 12, 1795, died March 3, 1871; settled at Strongsville, Ohio, died
at Hudson, Ohio. Children of Dr. Emerson Elbridge and Mary Ann (Sabin) White were five in
number, of whom two now survive, Albert Blakeslee and William Emerson.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Lee Line).
He married, 1892, Lucile Linderman, born in Trenton, Kentucky, 1871. They have three
children: 1. Lawrence Wells, born in Trenton, Kentucky, March 20, 1894; now a student in
the Baltimore Medical College. 2. Julia N., born in Logan, June 25, 1896; now a student in
Randolph Macon Institute, Virginia. 3. Lucile, born in Logan, June 20, 1909.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Lee Line).
The Wells family, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has been identified with the business
interests of that section of the country for several generations, and is now ably
represented by John Howard Wells, county clerk and probate judge at Wheeling.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Lee Line).
(I) John Wells, grandfather of John Howard Wells, was born near Buffalo, New York, and was
a young lad when his parents removed to Baltimore, Maryland. Subsequently he migrated to
Wheeling, West Virginia, established himself in merchant tailoring business there, and was
occupied with this for many years.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Lee Line).
(II) Robert R., son of John Wells, was born in Wheeling, Virginia now West Virginia, April
20, 1844, died July 6, 1894. His education was the usual one of the time, and in 1861 he
enlisted in Company B, First West Virginia Infantry; later he re-enlisted in an Ohio
company. Upon the close of the war he returned to Wheeling and engaged in his work in the
nail mill. He married in 1866, Sarah L., daughter of Dr. James Rush Holmes, of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. They had children: John Howard, see forward; George N., born 1870; Robert
R., 1874; Harry M., 1877; Eugene S., 1879; Louis D., 1886; Maggie S., 1887, died in the
same year.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Lee Line).
(III) John Howard, son of Robert R. and Sarah L. (Holmes) Wells, was born in Wheeling,
West Virginia, April 22, 1868. He acquired a sound practical education in the public
schools of his native city, and then found a position in a nail mill, where he was
employed until 1886. At this time he entered the employ of the Natural Gas Company, where
his diligence, faithful performance of duty and executive ability enabled him to advance
step by step until he was appointed superintendent of the company. He held this position
until his election in November, 1908, to the position of county clerk and probate judge,
which offices he is now holding to the great benefit of the community. Mr. Wells may truly
be styled a self-made man, and he is proud of this fact. He has been honored by election
to membership in the board of trade, and has also served as a member of the city council.
His fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the
Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights Templar, and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles
of the Mystic Shrine.
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History of West Virginia and the People
(The Lee Line).
Mr. Wells married, November 20, 1907, Birdie, daughter of the Hon. Jacob and Emma
(Horkheimer) Wolf, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they have one child, Charles Howard, born
November 12, 1908.
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