Cleland Major Wells 1894-1918

WELLS, DUGGER, KITZMAN

Posted By: Mary F (email)
Date: 12/4/2003 at 09:43:03

Cleland Major Wells was born on this farm February 10, 1894, and departed this life Sunday December 8th, 1918, aged 24 years, 10 months and 2 days.

He grew to the fullness of manhood in his father’s home surrounded by a loving family, and he leaves to mourn his untimely going from us his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Wells, a brother, Faye Wells, who is with the Motor Transport Service in France, a married sister, Mrs. Fred Kitzman and her family, and a younger sister, Marie, who is at home. Besides these there remains a host of relatives, aunts, uncles and cousins, also his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Dugger, who reside in Springfield, Mo..

Cleland attended school at Osage and Rhinehart, then went to What Cheer High School where he graduated with the Class of 1911, at the age of 17.

Later he attended Brown’s Business College at Davenport, completing the course there in 1914. He then engaged in clerical work in Davenport, but was obliged to come home after a severe attack of typhoid fever.

While convalescing he became interested in the local school work, which he later followed successfully, teaching at both Burr Oak and Rhinehart.

For some time past he has been employed by the Clay Products Co. in What Cheer, leaving his desk there about two months ago because of the virulence of the epidemic.

While attending high school Cleland was converted to the Christian faith under the preaching of Evangelist Lockhart. Later he transferred his membership to the Indianapolis Christian church, where he was an active and enthusiastic worker at the time of his demise. He had always been interested in the work of the Young Peoples’ Sunday School class and was at one time its president.

On the day after Thanksgiving he became afflicted with the dread plague which has claimed so many of our cherished young men and women, but not until Sunday did he take to his bed.

All that tender hands and loving care could do was done for his comfort, but neither faithful nursing nor physician’s skill could stay the ravages of the fever and at 2 p.m. on Sunday last he went to join the Host Invisible and be At Home for ever more.

Funeral services were held at his father's home Tuesday, December 10th at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. Pettit of Albia, Iowa.

Interment took place at the Indianapolis cemetery.

Come back to us in mourning,

Come back beneath the moon,

Come back in white December,

Come back to us in June.

With the smile upon they face,

With glow shall lighter burn;

Like a coal upon the altar,

Though you never can return.

A precious one of us is gone,

The voice we love is stilled;

A place is vacant in our home

Which never can be filled.