LUCIUS M. WELLS Lucius M. Wells is one of the venerable and honorable citizens of Henry county, having now attained the age of eighty-two years. He was for a long period actively interested in farming and did much for the improvement of this part of the county. Now he is largely enjoying a well earned rest, but still gives personal supervision to his farming interests. His birth occurred in St. Clairville, Belmont county, Ohio, on the 26th of September, 1824. His father, Abner Wells, was born in the eastern part of Virginia on what was called Apple Pie ridge, his parents being Abner and Deborah (Haines) Wells, the former a native of Wales and the latter of England. Abner Wells, Jr., was reared in Virginia and in Ohio and was married in the latter state to Miss Martha Murphy, whose birth occurred near Uniontown. Pennsylvania, and who was a daughter of Benjamin Murphy, also a native of the Keystone state. Mr. and Mrs. Wells had been resident of Ohio from 1802 and were thus numbered among the early settlers who had made their Avay across the mountains into the Buckeye state and assisted in reclaiming it from the domain of savages for the use of the white men. They spent more than a half century in Ohio and in 1854 came to Henry county, Iowa, where Mr. Wells purchased two hundred acres of wild prairie land in Canaan township. Of this he gave one hundred acres to his son Lucius and the remaining one hundred acres to his son Richard, while he made his home in Mount Pleasant, where he continued to reside up to the time of his demise, which occurred December 23, 1876. His wife passed away in August, 1881. Mr. Wells and his son Lucius conducted a tavern on the pike for seventeen years, but neither father nor son ever took a drink of liquor. In the old-time subscription schools of Ohio Lucius M. Wells acquired his education, although his privileges in that 'direction were somewhat limited. He was reared amid pioneer surroundings, sharing in the hardships and trials as well as the pleasures and privileges of pioneer life. He also aided in the arduous task of developing new land and he continued a resident of Ohio until 1854, when he came with his parents to Iowa and received from his father one hundred acres of land, situated in the southwestern part of Canaan township, on section 5. Here he first broke forty acres of prairie land, remaining upon the new farm until the 21 St of January, 1855, when a great snow fell — memorable in the history of the county. Feeling that they wished the comforts and shelter of the town, he and his wife started to Mount Pleasant with a two-horse wagon and were all day in making the trip, covering a distance of ten miles. When the weather made further labor possible Mr. Wells returned to the farm and continued the work of improving his place until 1865, when he traded that property for one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 8, Canaan township. The land which his father purchased cost but four dollars per acre, owing to the unimproved condition and the fact that the country was so thinly settled. The place which he got in trade for his original farm had a shanty upon it and also a prairie stable, while forty acres of the land had been broken and had been fenced with a two-rail fence. Mr. Wel1s broke the remainder of the land, following the breaking plow as the sod was turned, afterward going over it with a harrow and later planting his fields, which in due course of time brought forth good harvests. He also enclosed his farm with a board fence and as opportunity permitted he added all modern equipments and accessories to his place. He built a house of seven rooms, likewise a good barn. A thorough system of draining makes his land very arable. He continued to successfully carry on general farming until 1901, when he retired from active business life and took up his abode in Mount Pleasant, but after a year he returned to the home farm, where he is now living. On the 8th of August, 1850, in Ohio, Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Louise Attlesey, who was born in England and is a daughter of William Attlesey. They became the parents of eight children: William E., who is living in Kansas; Anna E., the wife of William Spittle, a resident of Canaan township; Leslie, who is living in Des Moines county; Justin, of Washington county, Kansas; Harry, who resides in Canaan township; James and Pearl, both of whom died in infancy, and Eulalia, who became the wife of George Tallman and died in 1889, at the age of thirty-five years. The first wife of Mr. Wells died in July, 1 87 1, and was buried upon the old home farm. He afterward wedded Mary Newkirk, the widow of Elias Hillyard. She had one child by her former marriage, Estella, who is now the wife of Edward Norbc[?]m, of Canaan township. Mrs. Wells was born in Wisconsin and is a daughter of John and Sarah (Harris) Newkirk, who were natives of Oneida county. New York. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wells have been born five children: Laura B., who is now the wife of William S. Bird, who resides upon the old home farm; Blondeen, the wife of Frank Short, of Canaan township; Eva Aiyrtle, now the wife of John Krieger, who was born in Flint River township, Des Moines county, Iowa, on November 13, 1882, and son of Frederick and Rickie (Scaele) Krieger. The father is a prominent farmer of Flint River township, Des Moines county, Iowa; Richard Earl and Flossie Marion are at home. Mr. Wells has now advanced far on the journey of life and can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear, for he has ever lived honorably and peaceably with his fellow men. He votes with the Republican party and has served as school director and township supervisor. Since 1865 he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Canaan township and his life has been in harmony with his professions. All who know him entertain for him warm regard and he is today one of the venerable and honorable residents of the county and one who for years has been identified with its interests, his aid and influence being a potent element for good. ©2009 Genealogy Trails