Julius is my husband’s third great-grandfather.

Birth

Julius was born October 14, 1812, in St. Albans, Vermont, to parents Samuel Wells and Sylvia Allis.

Marriage

Julius married Louisa Cole on October 4, 1835, in Pennsylvania.

Children

Children of Julius and Louisa Cole are as follows:

1. Franklin Parker Wells. Born July 18, 1836, in Wellsburg, Erie, PA; died December 14, 1913, in Pasadena, Los Angeles, CA; married (1) Sarah Marie Page, daughter of Ezekiel H. Page and Sarah G. Bartlett, on December 23, 1861, in Canada. She was born on May 9, 1839, in Garland, Penobscot, Maine; died on June 27, 1900, in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio (Age: 61). He married (2) Emma Seibly on January 12, 1902. She was born about 1850 in Michigan.
2. Submit “Mittie” Wells. Born March 8, 1838, in Erie, PA.
3. Charles M. Wells. Born February 26, 1840, in Erie, PA; died on October 23, 1866, in Erie, PA.
4. Julius C. Wells. Born in 1844 in Erie, PA.
5. Mary Louise Wells. Born April 8, 1847, in Elk Creek Township, Erie, PA; died February 21, 1850, in Erie, PA.
6. Adoniram Judson Wells. Born December 8, 1849, in Elk Creek Township, Erie, PA; died April 23, 1917, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
7. Jerome Rush Wells. Born October 6, 1852, in Elk Creek Township, Erie, PA; died February 16, 1870, in Erie, PA.
8. Adelaide Wells. Born January 31, 1856, in Erie, PA; died February 15, 1856, in Erie, PA.

Biography

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 original is in the possession of Emma Wells Stevens, but I don’t know who she is or if she still has the letter.

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 kept 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.

Here’s the copy of the letter that was shared with me by B.B. Dapice (thank you!):

Residence

1870

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