My Genealogy Hound

John Wells was born in Washington County, Mo., January 4, 1821, but has been a resident of Randolph County, Ark., since 1821. His parents, Thomas H. and Barbara (Maybary) Wells, were born in South Carolina and Virginia in 1796 and 1798, and died in Randolph County, Ark., in 1869 and 1866, respectively. They were both taken to Davidson County, Tenn., by their parents when young, and there they grew to maturity and married, shortly after the latter event moving to Randolph County, Ark., where they resided until 1820, at that time taking up their abode in Washington County, Mo. After a short residence here they became dissatisfied and returned to Arkansas, where they spent the rest of their days. He served in the War of 1812, under Jackson and Coffee, and was at the battle of Coosa. His youth was spent in learning the tanner’s and blacksmith’s trades, but he afterward gave up these occupations to engage in farming, and in this he was very successful. Politically he was a lifelong Democrat. He and wife became the parents of fourteen sons and one daughter. Seven sons were in the Confederate army, serving all through the war, and returned home alive and well. John Wells spent his youth in learning the tanner’s trade and attending school, and in connection with farming he was engaged in tanning up to the breaking out of the war. He was in the commissary department in 1863, but afterward joined Capt. Mitchell’s regiment, and was in the battles of Ironton and Lexington, and in numerous skirmishes. By his readiness to adopt new inventions, and by industry, he has been remarkably successful, and now owns 1,100 acres of fertile land, with about 300 acres under cultivation. July 13, 1848, he married Harriet Alcorn, who was born on the farm where Mr. Wells now lives, February 5, 1828, a daughter of Isham Alcorn. To them were born nine children: Margaret E., wife of Shelton White, a farmer of the county; Susan, wife of James McLain, of Floyd County, Tex.; Thomas H., a farmer of this county; Lola M., wife of Robert Stubblefield, of this county; Mollie J., wife of Rufus C. Dalton, of Oregon County. Mo.; Maud G., wife of Frank Rickman, residing on her father’s farm, and James P. Those deceased are Maria J. and William M. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a Mason and a Democrat.