California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 MORGAN JAMES WELLS. In passing through Tulare county in the luxurious palace- cars of today, the traveler sees on either side waving fields of grain and alfalfa, fine orchards and magnificent vineyards, and cannot but be impressed with the thrift, enterprise and progres- sive spirit of its citizens. The trials, privations and hardships of the original settlers, however, are not apparent, and the courage and endurance necessary to change the primitive face of the country to its present bright picture of civilization can not be realized by the younger gen- erations. Among the prominent pioneers of this section of California is Morgan James Wells, who settled on his present homestead, near Visalia, almost fifty years ago, and has since been an important factor in developing the resources of town and country. A native of Tennessee, he was born June 15, 1833, m Dixon county, which was also the birthplace of his father, the late Henry Gilbert Wells. In the fall of 1833, Henry Gilbert Wells removed with his family to Arkansas, locating in Pope county. Buying wild and unbroken land, he improved a ranch, and engaged in general farming and stock-raising for several years. Coming across the plains to California with ox- teams in 1856, he spent his declining years with his son, Morgan James, dying at the age of eighty-one years. He married Nancy Wilson, who was born in Tennessee, and died at the home of her son, Morgan J., in California, when sixty years of age. Her father, Adam Wilson, was born in Ireland, and after his emigration to the United States was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Tennessee. The sixth child and only survivor of a family of seven children, Morgan James Wells has had a varied experience in life. His parents removing to Arkansas when he was but a few months old. he was brought up in true pioneer style, with none of the advantages given to the boys of today. He was educated in a subscription school, which was kept in a rude log house, with a shake roof and slab benches, and was taught to write with a quill pen made by the teacher. Being seized with a severe attack of the gold fever in the spring of 1852, he formed a company and started with ox-teams for the Pacific coast. Following the Cherokee route, he went up the Arkansas valley, through Denver, which was then a very small hamlet, along the Platte to Salt Lake, thence by way of Humboldt and Carson City to Tuolumne county, arriving in Sonora, being six months en route. After mining there for a year, Mr. Wells went to old Millerton, where he resided for three years, being engaged in mining and teaming. Locating in Tulare county in 1856, he continued as a freighter for a few months, hauling lumber from the mountains with ox-teams. In 1857, Mr. Wells, with his bride, settled on his present home ranch, about five miles north- west of Visalia, on Elbow creek. Entering one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, he first built a shake house, which in course of time was replaced by a substantial frame residence. By dint of energetic perseverance he improved a good ranch, and until the close of the Civil war was engaged in general farming and teaming, making a specialty of raising wheat, cattle and hogs. He pays considerable attention to fruit culture, having now a productive family orchard, and about thirty acres of prunes, which grow well in this locality. A man of excellent business tact and ability, Mr. Wells has made wise investments, and in addition to his home farm, which now contains two hundred and forty acres, he owns Bone Canyon ranch, which is situated fourteen miles northeast of his home farm, and contains eleven hundred acres of l and, devoted principally to grain and stock-raising. His land is under good irrigation from the Wutchumna canal, in which he is financially interested. In 1857, in Tulare county, Mr. Wells married Catherine Fudge, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of John C. Fudge, a farmer, who crossed the plains with his family in 1856, coming to California as a pioneer. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wells six children were born, namely: Mary, who married L. H. Douglass, died at the age of twenty-three years in Visalia, leaving one child, David Roy Douglass, now attending the San Francisco College of Pharmacy ; Sallie, of Visalia ; Susan E., wife of David Douglass, died in Visalia, at the age of thirty-two years ; Maggie died when eighteen years old ; John died when twenty years old; and William Reid, well-known farmer and stockman, operating the Bone Canyon ranch. William Reid Wells married Linda Pleas, a native of San Joaquin county, and they have one child, Donald Morgan Wells. In his political views Mr. Wells is a stanch Democrat, and an ex-member of the county committee. In 1879 he was elected sheriff, and took the oath of office in March, 1880, and served most acceptably for two years and ten months, his term being extended owing to the change of Constitution ; at its expiration he was not a candidate for re-election. As sheriff, Mr. Wells was associated with several celebrated cases, among others being that of Ben Harris, a colored man, who killed his wife and her child. Harris fled to the brush, and on being found by Mr. Wells and his deputies defied them, and was shot by one of the deputy sheriffs. Fraternally Mr. Wells belongs to Visalia Lodge No. 148, F. & A. M., to which his son, William R., also belongs ; and to Visalia Chapter, R. A. M. ; and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mrs. Wells has proved herself a true helpmate to her husband throughout his career, and, like him, is held in high respect by all. She is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.