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Theodore Wells -
Guernsey County's Last Civil War Veteran |
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| Birth: |
Mar. 1, 1846
Plainfield
Coshocton County
Ohio, USA |
| Death: |
Dec. 29, 1941
Cambridge
Guernsey County
Ohio, USA |
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THE CAMBRIDGE JEFFERSONIAN
DECEMBER 30, 1941
THEODORE WELLS, 95, PAST HEAD OF OHIO GAR, DIES
GUERNSEY CO'S LAST CIVIL WAR VETERAN
Theordore Wells, 95, Guernsey County's last surviving
veteran of the Civil War and one of Cambridge's oldest
residents, passed away Monday evening at 6:30 o'clock at his
home, Clark St. and Edgeworth Ave., following a brief
illness of complications incident to advanced age.
Comrade Wells and his wife participated in the Victory
Parade, which officially opened the sale of Defense Stamps
and Bonds here on Dec. 18th, and he had been bedfast since
two days after the parade.
BORN NEAR PLAINFIELD
The deceased was born near Plainfield, Coshocton County, on
March 1, 1846, a son of Isaac and Mary A Smith Wells. He
lived there until he was 13 years of age when he moved to
Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson County, after his mother married
again following the death of his father in 1856.
ENLISTS IN ARMY
Remaining in Mt. Pleasant until the Civil War he enlisted in
Company F. 96th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, when but two months
short of being 18 years of age. He was sent to Chattanooga
and remained there until 1864, when he joined the forces of
General Wm. T. Sherman in his famous march to the sea.
WOUNDED IN ACTION
A musket ball cut short Comrade Wells' participation in the
famous march for he was shot at Kenesaw Mountain, GA., on
June 27, 1864. He rejoined his regiment early in the winter
of 1865 at Raleigh, N. C., but Lee's surrender to Grant came
shortly after that.
In the spring of 1866, Mr. Wells came to Guernsey County and
entered in business at Senecaville. Not satisfied with
results of the new enterprise, he disposed of his interests
and moved to Flat Ridge community, Jefferson township, where
he boarded at the home of Abner Howell, father of a
six-year-old daughter, Amanda, who many years later became
Wells' second wife.
RETIRES ACTIVE LIFE
Mr. Wells followed the carpentry trade, dairy work and
farming until about nine years ago when he retired. He
farmed in Guernsey county about 25 years. He then returned
to Mt. Pleasant, remained there for about 10 years and then
moved to Cadiz from which he place he moved to Cambridge
about 4-1/2 years ago.
His first wife was Miss Isabelle Ferguson of Indian Camp,
who died in 1931. On April 21, 1939, he was married to Mrs.
Amanda Howell Kennedy, and they moved to the home on Clark
St., where his death occurred. In addition to his widow he
is survived by three children, Mrs. Rupert Kaufman, Cadiz,
Craig Wells, Mt. Pleasant, and Elmer Wells, Freeport.
HONORED BY VETERANS
Following the war, Mr. Wells became active in veterans'
affairs and was several times commander of the J. S.
McCready Post No. 456 Grand Army of the Republic, at Cadiz.
He also served as commander of the department of the Ohio G.
A. R. and was a member of a number of commissions for the
national organization.
The deceased led an exceedingly active life and was held in
high esteem by a legion of firends. He was a member of the
Presbyterian church and was an elder of the Mt. Pleasant
Presbyterian church.
The body was removed to the Stevens & McCracken funeral
home, S. Eighth St.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 10 a.m. at
the home, by Rev. C. K. McGeorge of the First U. P. church,
with additional rites at 2 p.m. at the Cadiz Presbyterian
church with the pastor, Rev. Mr. Lippincott, in charge.
Burial will be made in Cadiz cemetery. The body will be
returned to the home Tuesday evening. |
Burial:
Old Cadiz Cemetery
Cadiz
Harrison County
Ohio, USA |
Grave of Theodore Wells |
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