Wells Family of Erie County, PA

MY LINE:

1 Samuel Wells b: 1767 in Hatfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts d: May 01, 1825 in Spring Township, Crawford County, PA
.. +Sylvia Allis b: November 03, 1767 in Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts d: September 15, 1822 in Spring Township, Crawford County, PA
........ 2 Julius E. Wells b: October 14, 1812 in St. Albans, Franklin County, Vermont
............ +Louisa Cole b: 1812 in New York
................... 3 Franklin Parker Wells b: July 18, 1836 in Wellsburg, Erie County, PA d: 12/14/1913 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, CA
....................... +Sarah Marie Page b: May 09, 1839 in Garland, Penobscot County, Maine d: June 27, 1900 in Cleveland, Ohio
............................. 4 Charles Frederick Wells b: 1867 in Pennsylvania
............................. 4 Andrew Page Wells b: 1869 in Pennsylvania d: 1881 in Michigan
............................. 4 Sarah Marie Wells b: February 21, 1871 in Albion, Pennsylvania d: March 02, 1947
................................. +Frank L. Fay b: July 18, 1869 in Cleveland, Ohio d: October 10, 1946 in Clifton Springs Sanitarium & Clinic, Clifton Springs, New York
........................................ 5 Helen Agnes Fay b: June 17, 1897 in Geneva, Ohio d: April 1984
........................................ 5 Frank Wells Fay b: January 05, 1904 in Greenville, Pennsylvania d: January 16, 1965 in Greenville, Pennsylvania
........................................ 5 James Page Fay b: November 21, 1905 in Greenville, Pennsylvania d: May 1979
........................................ 5 Florence Louise Fay b: October 30, 1910 in Greenville, Pennsylvania d: September 1999 in Brooklyn, New York
............................. 4 Julius Ezekiel Wells b: 1872 in Michigan
............................. 4 Frank Parker Wells b: 1874 in Michigan
............................. 4 Adelaide Louise Wells b: Abt. August 04, 1878 in Lansing, Michigan d: November 23, 1955 in Milton, Massachusetts
............................. 4 Clara B. Wells b: 1882 in Michigan d: 1930 in Belmont, Massachusetts
....................... +Emma Seibly
................... 3 S.S. Wells b: 1838 in Erie County, Pennsylvania
................... 3 C.M. Wells b: 1840 in Erie County, Pennsylvania
................... 3 Julius Wells b: 1844 in Erie County, Pennsylvania
................... 3 Judson Wells b: 1849 in Erie County, Pennsylvania
........ 2 Otis Wells b: February 09, 1792 in Conway, Franklin County, Massachusetts
........ 2 Obediah Wells b: Abt. 1793 in Conway, Franklin County, Massachusetts
........ 2 Laura Wells
........ 2 Franklin Wells b: December 11, 1799 in St. Albans, Franklin County, Vermont
........ 2 Samuel Wells b: September 04, 1805 in St. Albans, Franklin County, Vermont
........ 2 Martha E. Wells b: July 14, 1807 in St. Albans, Franklin County, Vermont
........ 2 Mittie Wells b: Abt. 1809 in St. Albans, Franklin County, Vermont
........ 2 Sylvia Wells

Franklin Parker Wells

Born July 18, 1836 in Wellsburg, Erie County, PA, Frank owned a business that made oars and boat hooks. He later invested in mining and oil companies. He died 12/14/1913 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, CA. See photo and business card below.

Essay by Julius Ellis Wells, Wellsburg, Erie County, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1875

Note: I do not have the original of this letter. I have a copy of a typewritten version. The bottom of the letter states that the originial is in the possession of Emma Wells Stevens, but I don't know who she is or if she still has the letter. The picture came from the book Early Days in Wellsburg which is online at Rootsweb.com.

I am the youngest of my father's family, so that I am unprepared to give a very full history of our pioneer life. My grandfather was a landowner in Massachusetts some time in the year of 1700. My father moved into Vermont, Franklin County, St. Albans. He owned a large farm with grist mill and saw mill on the river Deuvil. With his industry and economy he accumulated large property. In time he went bail for a high sherrif. As he was like many others, if a person wanted a favor it was difficult to say no. The sheriff proved himself a rascal and left the state for Canada. That left my father to pay bail bonds. After selling all my father had, they put him in jail as it was the law then to imprison for debt.

With his spirits depressed and a family of nine children, he moved to Erie County, Pennsylvania. With extreme poverty settled in the woods one mile south of a place now called Wellsburg, built a log house, floors made out of logs split and hewn down, chimney out of sticks, one inch square laid up plastered with mud mixed with cut hay or straw, windows with paper pasted on and greased for the light to reflect through. He discovered salt springs near or deer lick as it was tramped up by bears coming into drink the surface water. What salt they got had to be brought to Pittsburg on pack horses. My father whose hopes were always large anticipated a success in making salt. Tooled and drilled some four hundred feet, and pumped the water as they wanted it to boil down for salt. Portion of the time he made barrels. Twenty-four hours was worth $5.00 per barrel.

My father's mother by exposure to hardship which they had to endure died in 1825. His oldest son Otis Wells settled on a farm, which is now called Wellsburg, was very successful in business and kep a dairy of some fifty or sixty cows for some years, which was not very common at that time. In 1830 fenced out some land for public square laid out some twenty others on village lots, got in some mechanics and in 1836 the settlers built a two story building for school purposes expecting to get help from the state. The lower room was deed to school directors and upper room was used for worship.

In 1837 there was a Free Will Baptist Church organized of six members by Elder Stickney and Elder Alford. Elder Rollin was the first pastor, had for several years protracted meeting, which was very successful. By the Blessing of God the church numbering from fifty to seventy for some years. For the last thirty years many have died and many gone west. In 1866 built a house of worship costing $5000.00. Elder Parker is our present pastor. Organized a Sabbath School in 1841 has been continued through the years to the present time. We trust with good success and most of the time the last thirty years present number of church 36.

WELLS IN CENSUS RECORDS