WELLS, George Ashbel 1831 - 1895

WELLS, ROE, PAYNE, COTTLE, MAJOR, HOLMES, GARRETTSON

Posted By: Richard K. Thompson (email)
Date: 1/2/2011 at 22:14:19

Fairfield Ledger
Fairfield, Iowa
April 3, 1895

DIED AMONG STRANGERS

Hon. GEO. A. WELLS SUCCUMBS TO AN ATTACK OF HEART DISEASE AT MARSHALLTOWN

Ex-Mayor Geo. A. WELLS died in a hotel at Marshalltown Wednesday about midnight, after an hours' illness from a disease of the heart. He had gone to that city two days previous as a delegate to the state meeting of the Iowa Legion of Honor, and was in apparent good health when he left home.

Mr. WELLS had spent several hours immediately preceding his death with James J. ROE, formerly superintendent of the Fairfield Gas and Electric works and now holding a similar position at Marshalltown. They had visited the electric light and water works together, and had spent some time on the street railway and at the rooms of the Commercial club. It was shortly after 9 o'clock when they separated, with an agreement to meet next morning and visit other portions of the city together, and Mr. WELLS was shown to his room perhaps half an hour later. He seemed in excellent health and spirits, and said good night in cheery manner to Mr. ROE and chatted pleasantly with some of his lodge brethren before going to his room.

About 11 o'clock a young man who occupied an apartment adjoining was awakend by a rapping on the wall of Mr. WELLS' room, and when he went to the door Mr. W. told him that he was very ill and wanted a physician immediately. A messenger was at once despatched (sic. dispatched) for Dr. PAYNE, and he arrived not more than ten minutes later. In the meantime Mr. WELLS had partially dressed himself and attempted to rise from his bed, but was compelled to lie down again. The physician saw that his condition was alarming, and before administering any medicine asked a question or two regarding his condition. He received an audible reply to his first interrogatory, but when asked where he suffered greatest pain, the unfortunate man was able to give no other answer than the placing of his hand on his heart. His breathing then became more difficult and stentorious, and in five minutes he was dead. A telegram from Dr. C.C. COTTLE gives the cause of death as angina pectoris, or neuralgia of the heart, and friends here remember that Mr. WELLS had frequently of late complained of a shortness of breath and other symptoms attending his disease, although his condition was not condsidered serious.

Mr. ROE was summoned to the hotel as soon as possible and at once took charge of the body and opened up communication with friends here, for, with the exception of one daughter, all members of Mr. WELLs' family were absent from home. Mrs. WELLS and the eldest daughter having been in Salt Lake City for several months. The body was prepared for burial at Marshalltown, and was escorted to the train by the local lodge of the Legion of Honor and members of the Masonic lodges. It arrived here at 12:40 Friday morning, in charge of J.F. Abernathy of Sigourney, who had been appointed by the grand lodge to represent the order, and C.W. MAJOR of Ottumwa, a soninlaw.

The remains were kept until Sunday to await the arrival of Mrs. WELLS from Salt Lake. Funeral services were held at the family residence at 2:30 p.m. Rev. J.F. Magill, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. A. F. Marsh, pastor of the Congregational church, had charge of the exercises, while President SMITH of Parsons College paid a warm tribute to the excellences and worth of Mr. WELLS. The music was rendered by the Congregational church choir. Members of the city government attended the funeral in a body, and there was a large attendances of old friends and neighbors. A number of handsome floral offerings adorned the casket, among which was an appropriate piece from Jerusalem Commandery Knight Templar of Mt. Pleasant, of which Mr. WELLS had long been a member.

Geo. A. WELLS was born at New Albany, Ind., June 21st, 1831, and was a son of Rev. A.S. and Sophia H. WELLS. His early life was spent in that state and in Michigan, and he received an academical education at Lodi in the latter state. He began the study of pharmacy in 1849 at Lima, Ind. where he remained six years. In 1855 he came to this city, where other members of the family had preceded him and where his parents also came later. He at once engaged in the sale of drugs and books, and in 1862 opened a private bank. This business he conducted alone until 1877, when a partnership was formed with G.A. GARRETTSON of Muscatine, under the style of WELLS & GARRETTSON, and which ceased in 1893 with the dissolution of the firm.

Mr. WELLS was married to Priscilla D. HOLMES in Indiana in 1855, and seven children were born to them, three of whom are now living - Mrs. C. W. MAJOR of Ottumwa and Misses Fannie and Grace H. WELLS in this city.

Mr. WELLS had had a long business career in Fairfield, and few men there are who can form more or warmer friendships. He was a man of few words, reticent in his manner and retiring in his disposition, but he was generous with his friends almost to a fault, and could the history of his fault, and could the history of his career in Fairfield be an open book it would disclose a multitude of kindness to young and struggling business men. He had a strong hold on the business life of Fairfield for more years than many men can ever hope to retain it, and he was justly entitled to all that honest, loyal friendship. Mr. WELLS was a man of public spirit, was early and easily enlisted in any enterprise which had for its purpose the building of town or country and was generous in his gifts toward all good ends. He had held numerous positions of honor and trust in the community in these years, though seldom an aspirant for public office and never a politician. He was a member of the board of trustees of Parsons College from its organization, one of the projectors of the Evergreen Cemetery association and had served the public in various like capacities. Mr. WELLS was also a member of the city council for several terms, and had just completed two years' service as mayor. He was an earnest and active Mason and had always manifested great interest in the work of this order.

The sudden death of Mr. WELLS came as a great shock to the community to which he had given the better years of his life, and he wll be sincerely mourned and his excellences of character deeply cherished by others than those within the family circle.

* Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Iowa. Old.P.051.