Biography - Irving Wells
Irving WELLS, farmer, P. O. Litchfield, was born in Rowan, now Davie County, N. C., November 13, 1825, and with his parents came to Illinois by team, in the fall of 1830, the journey lasting eight weeks. They stopped in Madison County until the spring of 1831, when they went to Greene County, where his parents resided until their death. [Page 185]His father, John WELLS, Sr., was born on April 27, 1795, in North Carolina, and died April 17, 1873. He was the father of seven children, and when he came to Greene County his means were limited to 31-1/4 cents. He was a member of the United Baptist Church. Our subject began teaching in 1847, in Greene County, and continued until 1858, in the meantime working on a farm. He came to Walshville Township, Montgomery County, in 1858, having purchased a land warrant, eight years previous, for eighty acres. On coming here he engaged in farming, and taught school five winters, living upon his original purchase until 1867, when he removed to his present place of 160 acres, where he since has engaged in raising grain and stock. February 6, 1860, he married Miss Lucetta, daughter of Edwin BROWN, a Methodist preacher of Walshville. Twelve children were born to them, but seven of whom are living - Julia, deceased; Oscar A. deceased; Washington I., deceased; John F.; David E.; Matta, deceased; Clara J., Albert S., Cora O., Ollie M., Myrtle, and Effa, deceased. Mr. WELLS started in life without capital, and worked at first for $8 a month. Politically, he is a Democrat. His mother's maiden name was Matilda IRWIN; she was from North Carolina. Although the father of our subject met many discouragements, he persevered in earnest, faithful labor, and made for himself an estate worth about $12,000. He was twice married, and was the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, and ten of whom still live, nine being of his last marriage.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 184-185.
