Francis H. "Frank" Wells was born c1821 at Livingston County, New York. By 1839 he was living in St. Joseph County, Michigan with what appear to be his father and sister. Unfortunately, little is known of Frank Wells' early life, and no known photograph of him survives. On September 8, 1842 he married Miss. Jane Miller at Centreville, St. Joseph County, Michigan. Jane Miller, born August 26, 1822 in New York State. Jane was the daughter of early St. Joseph County pioneers Minor and Polly Hough Miller- originally of Cherry Valley, Otsego County, New York.
There were four children born to this union: Mary Jane Wells, Francis "Frank" Jr., Emily E. (called "Emma") and Elizabeth Adelaide (called "Addie") Wells. By 1860 the Wells family had moved to Bronson- a small village located in the southwest portion of Michigan in Branch County. At the age of 38, Frank Wells enlisted in Company I of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry on February 20, 1864. At that time he was said to be 5' 11" tall with black hair, dark eyes and a dark complexion.
In May 1864 the 7th Regiment started on an extended campaign, which finally ended with the Siege of Petersburg and the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomatox Court House. Following this, the Seventh fought at Spottsylvania, where it assaulted the Confederate works with great loss. It took part in a series of smaller engagements following Spottsylvania and was in the disastrous charge at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
On June 10th Private Frank Wells was taken prisoner at Cold Harbor and from there, moved to the now infamous Andersonville Prison at Andersonville, Sumpter County, Georgia. He would remain there until his death on September 5, 1864, as a result of severe health problems and dysentery - never having seen his wife or daughters again. That same day, Private John Ransom would make an entry in his now famous "Andersonville Diary" which included the note- "Three hundred said to be dying off each day." Private Wells' remains were buried in grave number 7882 in the Andersonville Prison Cemetery where a stone was later erected to mark the grave. At the end of the war the official rosters of the 7th Michigan Infantry would include 127 men killed in action- 17 of these having "died in Confederate Prisons."
There were four children born to this union: Mary Jane Wells, Francis "Frank" Jr., Emily E. (called "Emma") and Elizabeth Adelaide (called "Addie") Wells. By 1860 the Wells family had moved to Bronson- a small village located in the southwest portion of Michigan in Branch County. At the age of 38, Frank Wells enlisted in Company I of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry on February 20, 1864. At that time he was said to be 5' 11" tall with black hair, dark eyes and a dark complexion.
In May 1864 the 7th Regiment started on an extended campaign, which finally ended with the Siege of Petersburg and the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomatox Court House. Following this, the Seventh fought at Spottsylvania, where it assaulted the Confederate works with great loss. It took part in a series of smaller engagements following Spottsylvania and was in the disastrous charge at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
On June 10th Private Frank Wells was taken prisoner at Cold Harbor and from there, moved to the now infamous Andersonville Prison at Andersonville, Sumpter County, Georgia. He would remain there until his death on September 5, 1864, as a result of severe health problems and dysentery - never having seen his wife or daughters again. That same day, Private John Ransom would make an entry in his now famous "Andersonville Diary" which included the note- "Three hundred said to be dying off each day." Private Wells' remains were buried in grave number 7882 in the Andersonville Prison Cemetery where a stone was later erected to mark the grave. At the end of the war the official rosters of the 7th Michigan Infantry would include 127 men killed in action- 17 of these having "died in Confederate Prisons."
Francis H. "Frank" Wells was born c1821 at Livingston County, New York. By 1839 he was living in St. Joseph County, Michigan with what appear to be his father and sister. Unfortunately, little is known of Frank Wells' early life, and no known photograph of him survives. On September 8, 1842 he married Miss. Jane Miller at Centreville, St. Joseph County, Michigan. Jane Miller, born August 26, 1822 in New York State. Jane was the daughter of early St. Joseph County pioneers Minor and Polly Hough Miller- originally of Cherry Valley, Otsego County, New York.
There were four children born to this union: Mary Jane Wells, Francis "Frank" Jr., Emily E. (called "Emma") and Elizabeth Adelaide (called "Addie") Wells. By 1860 the Wells family had moved to Bronson- a small village located in the southwest portion of Michigan in Branch County. At the age of 38, Frank Wells enlisted in Company I of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry on February 20, 1864. At that time he was said to be 5' 11" tall with black hair, dark eyes and a dark complexion.
In May 1864 the 7th Regiment started on an extended campaign, which finally ended with the Siege of Petersburg and the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomatox Court House. Following this, the Seventh fought at Spottsylvania, where it assaulted the Confederate works with great loss. It took part in a series of smaller engagements following Spottsylvania and was in the disastrous charge at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
On June 10th Private Frank Wells was taken prisoner at Cold Harbor and from there, moved to the now infamous Andersonville Prison at Andersonville, Sumpter County, Georgia. He would remain there until his death on September 5, 1864, as a result of severe health problems and dysentery - never having seen his wife or daughters again. That same day, Private John Ransom would make an entry in his now famous "Andersonville Diary" which included the note- "Three hundred said to be dying off each day." Private Wells' remains were buried in grave number 7882 in the Andersonville Prison Cemetery where a stone was later erected to mark the grave. At the end of the war the official rosters of the 7th Michigan Infantry would include 127 men killed in action- 17 of these having "died in Confederate Prisons."
There were four children born to this union: Mary Jane Wells, Francis "Frank" Jr., Emily E. (called "Emma") and Elizabeth Adelaide (called "Addie") Wells. By 1860 the Wells family had moved to Bronson- a small village located in the southwest portion of Michigan in Branch County. At the age of 38, Frank Wells enlisted in Company I of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry on February 20, 1864. At that time he was said to be 5' 11" tall with black hair, dark eyes and a dark complexion.
In May 1864 the 7th Regiment started on an extended campaign, which finally ended with the Siege of Petersburg and the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomatox Court House. Following this, the Seventh fought at Spottsylvania, where it assaulted the Confederate works with great loss. It took part in a series of smaller engagements following Spottsylvania and was in the disastrous charge at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
On June 10th Private Frank Wells was taken prisoner at Cold Harbor and from there, moved to the now infamous Andersonville Prison at Andersonville, Sumpter County, Georgia. He would remain there until his death on September 5, 1864, as a result of severe health problems and dysentery - never having seen his wife or daughters again. That same day, Private John Ransom would make an entry in his now famous "Andersonville Diary" which included the note- "Three hundred said to be dying off each day." Private Wells' remains were buried in grave number 7882 in the Andersonville Prison Cemetery where a stone was later erected to mark the grave. At the end of the war the official rosters of the 7th Michigan Infantry would include 127 men killed in action- 17 of these having "died in Confederate Prisons."
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