Joseph Garrison Wells (1842-1921)

WELLS, DUNLAP

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/27/2005 at 07:58:11

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, February 10, 1921, page 1, column 3. "J. G. WELLS. - Joseph Garrison Wells was born in New Jersey on August 13, 1842. A few years later with his parents, he moved to Ohio and some years later moved to Illinois and from there to Iowa, where the father was one of the pioneers. During the Civil war Mr. Wells returned to Illinois and enlisted in Company 1 of the 91st Illinois Cavalry. He served until the end of the war, being discharged at Selma, Alabama, on October 21, 1865. He was married to Drusilla Dunlap, of Peoria, Iowa, May 7, 1866. To this union were born four sons and two daughters, the daughters, one son and the wife, having preceded him in death. Mr. Wells was an active member of the Methodist church for a number of years in Peoria. He became a Mason at Maxwell, Iowa, in 1885 and later became Master of the Grand Lodge of Iowa. He was a charter member and active organizer of Hydro Lodge, No. 230, A. F. & A. M. He always took great pride in the growth of the order. Mr. Wells and family moved to Ridgeway, Missouri, in 1896, where they resided until 1902, when they came to Oklahoma. Here they shared and enjoyed the pioneering of this now prosperous and progressive country. Mr. Wells located on the farm now owned by his son, J. D. Wells, located five miles northwest of Hydro. Mr. and Mrs. Wells returned to Iowa for a few years and then returned to Oklahoma City, where they established a home in which they were permitted to live but a short time, as Mrs. Wells died May 28, 1918. Since the death of Mrs. Wells he has divided his time between his children, except last summer and fall, which he spent in California, where he was stricken with disease in October. J. D. Wells brought him to his home in Hydro, where he has since remained until Friday, January 21st, when he was called to join his wife and children in the home beyond this life. He leaves to mourn his departure three sons, Curtis and family, of Maxwell, Iowa; Charles and family, of Perry, Iowa, and J. D. Wells and wife, of Hydro. Mr. Wells was the last of a family of nine children to pass away, two sisters having died within the past year. He was at the time of his death seventy-eight years, six months and eight days old. Mr. Wells will be remembered by the early settlers of Hydro and vicinity as one of its most progressive citizens, always taking a leading part in the promotion of any public proposition. He was a neighbor in the true sense of the word. When sorrow entered the homes of those about him he could be depended on to do what he could to lighten their burden. He was a friend indeed and will be most sorely missed by all whom he called friend. He served his country faithfully and was a student of its affairs. During the late war he was highly considerate and devoted to the boys represented by those who bore him to his last resting place. - Hydro (Okla.) Paper."