Wells, Simon 1835-1900

WELLS, SHERMAN

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/13/2013 at 10:28:38

From the June 6, 1900 Sioux County Herald:

Simon Wells, who was sent to the Clarinda asylum from Reading township last year, died last week and was buried at Ireton last Thursday. Mr. Wells when in health was much respected.

Poster's note: When we researched Mr. Wells for the Ireton veterans project, we found that he was born on April 2, 1835, the son of Nancy and Caleb Wells. In 1850, the family lived in Green County in southern Wisconsin and moved to Spring Township, Blackhawk County, Iowa before 1860.

Simon enlisted in Co. C of the 31st Iowa Infantry Regiment on September 24, 1862. The regiment saw action at Vicksburg and across the south and through campaigns in Georgia and South Carolina. Simon was mustered out on June 27, 1865.

After the war, Simon farmed in Fox Township, Blackhawk County. He was married but he and his wife Elvina divorced before 1880 and did not appear to have any children. Simon and his brother Henry came to Sioux County about 1881 and on October 11, 1882, Simon married Mattie Orienda Sherman, daughter of Martha and Lorenzo D. Sherman. Mattie was also divorced from her first husband, George Whalen, with whom she had two sons, Herbert Whalen and J. Ray Whalen.

Mattie and Simon farmed north of Ireton. Simon passed away on May 28, 1900. Simon and Mattie were the parents of four children: Clark J. Wells, Frank Wells, Mary (Wells) Nanninga, and Earl Wells.