Jackson, Jefferson, and Pottawatomie Counties, KS Biographical Dictionary, p513-515
The subject of this sketch was born in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vermont, September 17, 1808. His father Paul Wells, Jr., was born, it is believed, in the state of Vermont, and his paternal grandfather, Paul Wells, Sr., was likewise a native of New England. The latter served as a cadet and recruiting Sergeant in the Revolutionary War, under Arnold, and was present at the battles of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. He spent his last days in Caledonia County, and met his death accidentally, being killed by the falling of a tree. He for a number of years received a pension from the Government.
Paul Wells, Jr. was reared in the Green Mountain state, and at an early age removed to the wilds of Caledonia County, Vermont, and purchase a tract of land four miles from St. Johnsburg. He built a log house in the midst of the timber, and opened up a farm from the wilderness, upon which he spent the remainder of his life. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary Mason, likewise a native of New England, and to them there were born twelve children. Welcome resided with his parents until a youth of seventeen years, then joined an elder brother in Rensselaer County, New York and learned shoemaking which he followed in Troy until 1831. Then removing to Utica, he was similarly engaged until about 1855. He then started for Ohio, going by team to Dunkirk, and thence by steamer to Cleveland, where he boarded a canal boat, and by this means proceeded to Coshocton, where he located, and again commenced work at his trade. He remained a resident of the Buckeye State until 1857, and during that year started once more Westward, this time to the Territory of Kansas. In making this journey he proceeded by rail to Jefferson City, Missouri. Thence he traveled by ox-team to the present site at Manhattan, which, as may be supposed, was marked by only a few houses built in the most primitive style.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Wells served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and spent his last years in Caledonia County, Vermont, in the enjoyment of a pension.
Upon his arrival in Manhattan, Mr. Wells engaged a claim four miles west of the city, the greater part of which was timber. He was accompanied by three of his sons, who also entered claims and the four remained there two years, and cleared a part of the land. Then selling out, Mr. Wells purchased a claim to a tract of prairie land in Pottawatomie County, three miles east of the city, which like Manhattan, was then in its infancy. No railroads were built through this section for several years afterward. For some time after coming here, Mr. Wells carried on a shop in Manhattan, while at the same time he proceeded, with the improvement of his land. He was joined by the balance of his family in 1859, and the following year among other improvements, set out an orchard of 100 trees. All but six of those perished on account of the dry weather. In 1864, Mr. Wells set out 200 more apple trees, and two years later added 800 trees, and has now one of the most valuable orchards in the vicinity comprising 2,000 trees in good bearing condition, and of fifty varieties.
Soon after his arrival in the Territory, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and in 1862 he was chosen to represent Riley and Pottawatomie Counties in the Legislature of the young State. He was returned in 1872-73. For nine years he was a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Pottawatomie County, and for three years he was President of the Board of Trustees of the Asylum for the Blind. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate, and he has numbered among his friends, men high in the councils of the Nation – United States Senators, Congressman and Governors.
It is estimated that not one couple in a half million live together for sixty years, and the "peal wedding" of Mr. and Mrs. Welcome Wells, was appropriately celebrated May 7, 1889, at their pleasant home in Manhattan, Kansas. Letters of congratulations were read from Senator Plumb, the Rev. D. C. Milner, and from Senator Ingalls.
The subject of this sketch was born in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vermont, September 17, 1808. His father Paul Wells, Jr., was born, it is believed, in the state of Vermont, and his paternal grandfather, Paul Wells, Sr., was likewise a native of New England. The latter served as a cadet and recruiting Sergeant in the Revolutionary War, under Arnold, and was present at the battles of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. He spent his last days in Caledonia County, and met his death accidentally, being killed by the falling of a tree. He for a number of years received a pension from the Government.
Paul Wells, Jr. was reared in the Green Mountain state, and at an early age removed to the wilds of Caledonia County, Vermont, and purchase a tract of land four miles from St. Johnsburg. He built a log house in the midst of the timber, and opened up a farm from the wilderness, upon which he spent the remainder of his life. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary Mason, likewise a native of New England, and to them there were born twelve children. Welcome resided with his parents until a youth of seventeen years, then joined an elder brother in Rensselaer County, New York and learned shoemaking which he followed in Troy until 1831. Then removing to Utica, he was similarly engaged until about 1855. He then started for Ohio, going by team to Dunkirk, and thence by steamer to Cleveland, where he boarded a canal boat, and by this means proceeded to Coshocton, where he located, and again commenced work at his trade. He remained a resident of the Buckeye State until 1857, and during that year started once more Westward, this time to the Territory of Kansas. In making this journey he proceeded by rail to Jefferson City, Missouri. Thence he traveled by ox-team to the present site at Manhattan, which, as may be supposed, was marked by only a few houses built in the most primitive style.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Wells served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and spent his last years in Caledonia County, Vermont, in the enjoyment of a pension.
Upon his arrival in Manhattan, Mr. Wells engaged a claim four miles west of the city, the greater part of which was timber. He was accompanied by three of his sons, who also entered claims and the four remained there two years, and cleared a part of the land. Then selling out, Mr. Wells purchased a claim to a tract of prairie land in Pottawatomie County, three miles east of the city, which like Manhattan, was then in its infancy. No railroads were built through this section for several years afterward. For some time after coming here, Mr. Wells carried on a shop in Manhattan, while at the same time he proceeded, with the improvement of his land. He was joined by the balance of his family in 1859, and the following year among other improvements, set out an orchard of 100 trees. All but six of those perished on account of the dry weather. In 1864, Mr. Wells set out 200 more apple trees, and two years later added 800 trees, and has now one of the most valuable orchards in the vicinity comprising 2,000 trees in good bearing condition, and of fifty varieties.
Soon after his arrival in the Territory, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and in 1862 he was chosen to represent Riley and Pottawatomie Counties in the Legislature of the young State. He was returned in 1872-73. For nine years he was a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Pottawatomie County, and for three years he was President of the Board of Trustees of the Asylum for the Blind. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate, and he has numbered among his friends, men high in the councils of the Nation – United States Senators, Congressman and Governors.
It is estimated that not one couple in a half million live together for sixty years, and the "peal wedding" of Mr. and Mrs. Welcome Wells, was appropriately celebrated May 7, 1889, at their pleasant home in Manhattan, Kansas. Letters of congratulations were read from Senator Plumb, the Rev. D. C. Milner, and from Senator Ingalls.
Jackson, Jefferson, and Pottawatomie Counties, KS Biographical Dictionary, p513-515
The subject of this sketch was born in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vermont, September 17, 1808. His father Paul Wells, Jr., was born, it is believed, in the state of Vermont, and his paternal grandfather, Paul Wells, Sr., was likewise a native of New England. The latter served as a cadet and recruiting Sergeant in the Revolutionary War, under Arnold, and was present at the battles of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. He spent his last days in Caledonia County, and met his death accidentally, being killed by the falling of a tree. He for a number of years received a pension from the Government.
Paul Wells, Jr. was reared in the Green Mountain state, and at an early age removed to the wilds of Caledonia County, Vermont, and purchase a tract of land four miles from St. Johnsburg. He built a log house in the midst of the timber, and opened up a farm from the wilderness, upon which he spent the remainder of his life. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary Mason, likewise a native of New England, and to them there were born twelve children. Welcome resided with his parents until a youth of seventeen years, then joined an elder brother in Rensselaer County, New York and learned shoemaking which he followed in Troy until 1831. Then removing to Utica, he was similarly engaged until about 1855. He then started for Ohio, going by team to Dunkirk, and thence by steamer to Cleveland, where he boarded a canal boat, and by this means proceeded to Coshocton, where he located, and again commenced work at his trade. He remained a resident of the Buckeye State until 1857, and during that year started once more Westward, this time to the Territory of Kansas. In making this journey he proceeded by rail to Jefferson City, Missouri. Thence he traveled by ox-team to the present site at Manhattan, which, as may be supposed, was marked by only a few houses built in the most primitive style.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Wells served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and spent his last years in Caledonia County, Vermont, in the enjoyment of a pension.
Upon his arrival in Manhattan, Mr. Wells engaged a claim four miles west of the city, the greater part of which was timber. He was accompanied by three of his sons, who also entered claims and the four remained there two years, and cleared a part of the land. Then selling out, Mr. Wells purchased a claim to a tract of prairie land in Pottawatomie County, three miles east of the city, which like Manhattan, was then in its infancy. No railroads were built through this section for several years afterward. For some time after coming here, Mr. Wells carried on a shop in Manhattan, while at the same time he proceeded, with the improvement of his land. He was joined by the balance of his family in 1859, and the following year among other improvements, set out an orchard of 100 trees. All but six of those perished on account of the dry weather. In 1864, Mr. Wells set out 200 more apple trees, and two years later added 800 trees, and has now one of the most valuable orchards in the vicinity comprising 2,000 trees in good bearing condition, and of fifty varieties.
Soon after his arrival in the Territory, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and in 1862 he was chosen to represent Riley and Pottawatomie Counties in the Legislature of the young State. He was returned in 1872-73. For nine years he was a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Pottawatomie County, and for three years he was President of the Board of Trustees of the Asylum for the Blind. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate, and he has numbered among his friends, men high in the councils of the Nation – United States Senators, Congressman and Governors.
It is estimated that not one couple in a half million live together for sixty years, and the "peal wedding" of Mr. and Mrs. Welcome Wells, was appropriately celebrated May 7, 1889, at their pleasant home in Manhattan, Kansas. Letters of congratulations were read from Senator Plumb, the Rev. D. C. Milner, and from Senator Ingalls.
The subject of this sketch was born in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vermont, September 17, 1808. His father Paul Wells, Jr., was born, it is believed, in the state of Vermont, and his paternal grandfather, Paul Wells, Sr., was likewise a native of New England. The latter served as a cadet and recruiting Sergeant in the Revolutionary War, under Arnold, and was present at the battles of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. He spent his last days in Caledonia County, and met his death accidentally, being killed by the falling of a tree. He for a number of years received a pension from the Government.
Paul Wells, Jr. was reared in the Green Mountain state, and at an early age removed to the wilds of Caledonia County, Vermont, and purchase a tract of land four miles from St. Johnsburg. He built a log house in the midst of the timber, and opened up a farm from the wilderness, upon which he spent the remainder of his life. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary Mason, likewise a native of New England, and to them there were born twelve children. Welcome resided with his parents until a youth of seventeen years, then joined an elder brother in Rensselaer County, New York and learned shoemaking which he followed in Troy until 1831. Then removing to Utica, he was similarly engaged until about 1855. He then started for Ohio, going by team to Dunkirk, and thence by steamer to Cleveland, where he boarded a canal boat, and by this means proceeded to Coshocton, where he located, and again commenced work at his trade. He remained a resident of the Buckeye State until 1857, and during that year started once more Westward, this time to the Territory of Kansas. In making this journey he proceeded by rail to Jefferson City, Missouri. Thence he traveled by ox-team to the present site at Manhattan, which, as may be supposed, was marked by only a few houses built in the most primitive style.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Wells served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and spent his last years in Caledonia County, Vermont, in the enjoyment of a pension.
Upon his arrival in Manhattan, Mr. Wells engaged a claim four miles west of the city, the greater part of which was timber. He was accompanied by three of his sons, who also entered claims and the four remained there two years, and cleared a part of the land. Then selling out, Mr. Wells purchased a claim to a tract of prairie land in Pottawatomie County, three miles east of the city, which like Manhattan, was then in its infancy. No railroads were built through this section for several years afterward. For some time after coming here, Mr. Wells carried on a shop in Manhattan, while at the same time he proceeded, with the improvement of his land. He was joined by the balance of his family in 1859, and the following year among other improvements, set out an orchard of 100 trees. All but six of those perished on account of the dry weather. In 1864, Mr. Wells set out 200 more apple trees, and two years later added 800 trees, and has now one of the most valuable orchards in the vicinity comprising 2,000 trees in good bearing condition, and of fifty varieties.
Soon after his arrival in the Territory, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and in 1862 he was chosen to represent Riley and Pottawatomie Counties in the Legislature of the young State. He was returned in 1872-73. For nine years he was a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Pottawatomie County, and for three years he was President of the Board of Trustees of the Asylum for the Blind. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate, and he has numbered among his friends, men high in the councils of the Nation – United States Senators, Congressman and Governors.
It is estimated that not one couple in a half million live together for sixty years, and the "peal wedding" of Mr. and Mrs. Welcome Wells, was appropriately celebrated May 7, 1889, at their pleasant home in Manhattan, Kansas. Letters of congratulations were read from Senator Plumb, the Rev. D. C. Milner, and from Senator Ingalls.
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