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Tyler
County
West Virginia Genealogy
Trails
A part of the
Genealogy Trails History Group
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Tyler County Biographies
"W"
Surnames
ELI WELLS - Many people of
the name of Wells went from France to England at the time of
the Norman conquest, one of the most prominent being Richard de
Quille (as the name "Wells" was originally spelled). He took part in
the Battle of Hastings and in recognition of his services was
granted a manor in Dorsetshire, where he established a
branch of the family. Several others of the name came to England
from Normandy at the same time or a little later. In the seventeenth
century many of the family emigrated to America where the name is
now borne by men in all the avocations of life and some of whom have
contributed largely to the development of the country. In the state
of New Jersey the name is a prominent and honored one. Branches of
this family settled in Virginia in the eighteenth century and at a
later period some of them made their way across the Allegheny
mountains into what is now West Virginia, and has numerous
representatives.
(I) Eli Wells, the first member of this family
of whom we have any definite information, was born in Virginia about
1799. He was one of the pioneer farmers near Middlebourne, Tyler
county, Virginia, and later removed and settled on what is known as
the Clark Smith place, in the same county. He died at the home of
his daughter, Catharine Gorrell, in Pleasants county, Virginia, at
the age of eighty-four. He was a Republican in politics, and a
Methodist in religion. He married Hannah Gorrell. Children: Ducket,
Ralph; John, referred to below; Priscilla, Catherine, Abram, David,
Sarah, Ellas.
(II) John, son of Eli and Hannah (Gorrell)
Wells, was born near Middlebourne, Tyler county. Virginia. December
18, 1822. He removed to Sugar Valley, in what is now Pleasants
county, West Virginia, where he died, January 24, 1896. He was a
farmer. He was a member of the Home Guard of West Virginia, and was
appointcd a captain in the state militia by Governor Francis H.
Pierpont. He was also at one time a justice of the peace. He married
(first) Catherine Gorrell. He married (second) Rosa C. daughter of
Anthony and Elizal»eth (Franks) Smith, who was horn in Beaver
county, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1835, and is still living. Children
(two by first marriage): Martin, now dead: Eliza, now dead: Ross,
referred to below; Carrie, born February 28, 1874;
Anthony I)., born September 19, 1875; Mary M.. born March 30, 1877,
now dead, last four children of the second marriage.
(Ill) Ross, son of John and Rosa
C. (Smith) Wells, was born on his father's farm in Pleasants county,
West Virginia, June 4, 1872. He received his early education in the
public schools of his native county and at the West Virginia
Seminary in Buckhannon, West Virginia, and during the vacations
worked on a farm. In the summer of 1802 he was a part owner in a
store at Wasp, West Virginia, and during three other vacations he
was employed in a saw-mill. After finishing a part of his course in
the school at Buckhannon he took up school work, and in 1897 was the
assistant principal of the high school in St. Mary's, West Virginia,
and in 1897-98 was a member of the school board of examiners of
Pleasants county. He then decided to become a lawyer, and entered
the law school of the University of West Virginia, completing his
course in 1903, and, returning to St. Mary's, West Virginia, he
opened an office on April 19, 1903, and began the practice of his
profession, in which he is still actively engaged. In October, 1905,
he formed a partnership with Senator Craig which still
continues.
He married, May 29, 1897, Cora
Bell, daughter of Thomas and Charlotte (Howard) Hill of McKim, Tyler
county, West Virginia. Her father was a soldier in the civil war,
and married (first) _____ Pierpont, and (second) Charlotte
Howard. Children (one by first marriage): Abigail Hill; Ernest H.:
Cora Bell, married Ross Wells, referred to above; Sellie M.: Foy T.,
Margaret, Everett, Guy V., Children of Ross and Cora Bell (Hill)
Wells: Iris, born June 22, 1898; Bernice. October 21, 1901;
Marian, March 27, 1905.
Source: West
Virginia & Its People, by Thomas Condit Miller & Hu Maxwell,
1913, Transcribed by C. Anthony
WELLS, J.
C.- Born in Tyler county, West Virginia, November 15,
1819. At the age of twelve years moved with his parents to Monroe
county, Ohio, where he received his education. He resided here until
1855, and in April of the above year moved to Linn county, Iowa, and
followed farming until 1864, when he emigrated to California,
crossing the plains with a horse team, and landed in Vacaville
August 15th of the same year, and settled on the plains southwest of
Elmira, where he resided for two years. He then purchased a farm
near Dixon, where he resided for one year; he then located on his
present farm, one mile west of Elmira, comprising 160 acres. April
26, 1873, Mr. Wells and son Bazzleel took a trip to Ohio, and
returned in about six weeks, since which time he has resided upon
his ranch. Married March 4, 1852, Miss Accia Wells. She was born
October 1, 1833, in Tyler county, West Virginia. Eliza J., Charles
T. (deceased), Temperance V., Bazzleel, and Florence B. are the
names of their children.
Wait not till my hands are at
rest
Ere you fill them full of flowers;
Wait not for the
crowing tube rose
To make sweet the last sad hours.
Wait
not till my eyes are closed
For the loving look and
phrase,
But while you gently chide my faults
The good deeds
kindly praise.
The words you would speak beside my
bier
Fall sweeter far on the living ear;
O fill my life with
sweetness
Ere I should die to-night!
[History of Solano
County, Wood, Alley & Co., 1879 - Transcribed by C.
Anthony]
Henry C. Williamson
WILLIAMSON, HENRY
C. (Republican).
Address: Friendly, West Virginia, Bom in Tyler
county October 15. 1863: educated in the first free
schools of the county and in summer subscription schools: followed
the profession of teaching tor twelve years: has engaged
m merchandising and specialized in wool buying tor fifteen years: in
addition thereto has followed farming: as a justice of the
Peace and on the Board of Education: was County Superintendent of
Free Schools of Tyler county 1892-3: is
a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, of the A. F. and A. M.
and the 1. O. O. F.: attended the Republican National Convention in
Philadelphia in 1900; has always taken an active part in everything
he considered for the good of his community: elected to the
Legislature by the Republicans of Tyler
county in 1920: committee
assignments, session of 1921: Agriculture. Education. Executive
Offices and Library.
[Source: West Virginia Official Register,
Compiled and Edited by John T. Harris, Clerk of The Senate 1922
- Transcribed by C. Anthony]
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