- OTIS F. WELLS, one of the prosperous farmers of Jordan township,
Green county, has resided
- in that township since 1850, and is justly classed among
the pioneers whose industry and perseverance have made the locality
what it is today.
- Mr. WELLS is of Irish origin, several generations back, his
ancestors, having lived in the Eastern
- States for many years. His grandfather was lost while serving
his country in the war of 1812. In his family were children as
follows: Philip, Warner, Caleb, Nelson, Eliza and Liful, all
now deceased. Of these, Philip WELLS, father of our subject,
was born in New York State, and in about 1818 married Nancy TANNER,
who was also a native of New York, and of Irish descent. Ten
children blessed this union, viz.: Lorinda, Addison; Melissa,
who married Simon EWING, of California; Maria, who died in California;
Otis F., our subject; George, who married Susan SANBORN, and
now lives in Iowa; Jane married James BLUNT, who lives in Monroe;
Thomas, who married Susan STARR, and lives in Iowa; John, who
married Minerva CLARK, of Jordan, Green county; and William,
who married Cordelia MORTON, of Cadiz township, Green county.
Mr. and Mrs. WELLS migrated to Wisconsin in an early day, and
later lived in Stephenson county, Illinois.
- Otis F. WELLS was born Feb. 19, 1831, in Geauga county, Ohio,
where he passed the first few
- years of his life. In 1837 he moved with the family to Stephenson
county, Ill., and was reared on the frontier, with little or
no opportunities for education, his days being occupied with
hard work from early boyhood. As above stated, he came to Green
county in 1850 and for a number of years he was engaged in freighting,
with oxen and horses, hauling goods from Milwaukee and Chicago
to Stephenson county, and in the lumber districts in the northern
part of the State, often making trips of two or three hundred
miles. Mr. WELLS was without means when he commenced life for
himself, and at the time of his marriage his belongs consisted
of a few schillings and an old rifle, which he traded for three
hogs. However, he has been hard-working and judicious in his
management of affairs, and he now owns a fine farm of 200 acres
in Jordan township, well improved, besides three nice dwellings
in Monroe, all acquired by his own well-directed efforts and
economy. Mr. WELLS attributes his success to his temperate habits.
He is highly respected in his neighborhood, and his fellow citizens
have shown their confidence in his honesty and ability by electing
him to various township offices, such as treasurer, etc. He is
a stanch Republican in political faith..
- On Sept. 16, 1850, Mr. WELLS married Miss Harriet SHARRARD,
of Jefferson township,
- Green county, who was born in 1832 near Camillus, N.Y., and
in 1843 came with her parents, E. H. and Eliza SHARRARD, to Green
county, the family settling in Sylvester township, and later
in the town of Jefferson. Her father was born in Canada, her
mother in Connecticut. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. SHARRARD
only one son and one daughter reached maturity. Mrs. WELLS' brother,
James SHARRARD, is a resident of Atchison, Kans. Four children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. WELLS: Ella, born in 1854, is
the widow of John TRICKEL, of Monroe, Wis. James F., born Jan.
17, 1858, married Julia TAYLOR, of Jordan township; he is engaged
in farming. Lillis, born June 20, 1868, is the wife of Edward
CONERY, of Monroe. Clarence, born April 28, 1873, married Miss
Minnie BUAGHMAN, and resides on his father's farm in Jordan township.
Mr. and Mrs. WELLS have occupied this place for over fifty years.
Our subject has never connected himself with any particular church,
but he is a firm believer in Christianity.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; p. 935.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|