29 March 2013

Eliaha Wells' Children


Elisha Wells married Lucinda VanPatten in New York, where most of their children were born.  Elisha, a soldier in the Civil War, contracted a disease and died in Mississippi.  His children were subsequently eligible for pension benefits based upon their father's military service.

On March 29, 1866, the names and ages of the minor children, who resided in Attica Twp., were: Helen Wells, age 11; Henry Wells, age 10; Alminy Wells, age 8; Ida Wells, age 5.  These children were named in a Lapeer County, Michigan, Probate Case as the minor children of Elisha Wells.  There was an infant, Wallace Wells, whom Lucinda, Elisha's widow and the mother of the children, was not able to care for; he was not named in the probate hearings. [Lucinda also had two daughters, Lucy Della Johnson and Margaret Halpin, who were not the children of Elisha Wells].  A daughter, Sarah Amanda Wells, died in 1864.

At age 90, Lucinda had two sons, three daughters, 12 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren [Bay City Times article]. Lucinda's 90th birthday celebration was chronicled in the Bay City Times published on July 19, 1919.  She was born in Syracuse, New York, on July 18, 1829.  Lucinda was known by the surnames of VanPatten, Wells, Johnson and Halpin in her lifetime.

Helen Wells:

Helen Wells Daley, the oldest surviving daughter of Elisha Wells, married Hamilton Black in Bay City, Michigan on May 26, 1910.  Helen's first marriage, to James Daley, took place in Lapeer on October 28, 1883.

In December of 1891 Hamilton Black, an alleged counterfeiter, was bound over for trial (his wife at the time was named Sarah (Atkins) Armstrong Black).  Hamilton Black's mother's name was Sarah and he also had a sister named Sarah; they both testified on his behalf.  His mother also mentioned a son, Frederick.  In 1910 Hamilton married Mrs. Julia St. Germain.  When Hamilton Black married Helen Wells, his parents' names were Andrew and Sarah Lucas.


Henry Wells....:
This one?
Michigan, State Census, 1894
name: Henry M Wells
residence: Bay City, Bay, Michigan, United States
estimated birth year: 1860
Household Gender Age Birthplace
husband Henry M Wells M 34
wife Sadie Wells F 21


Almina Wells.....?

Ida Wells:

In 1900 Ida Belle (Wells) Hooper was living in Bay City with her husband, Arthur, and daughter, Bessie A. Hooper, age 14, her mother, Lucinda, two boarders and a servant.

Ida Wells Hooper was living in Bay County in 1920 with her husband, age 63, who was born in England, and her mother, Lucinda Halpin, age 91.  Ida died in 1926.

Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947
name: Ida B. Hoofer [Hooper]
death date:  25 Apr 1926
death place:  Maywood, Cook, Illinois
birth date:  02 Oct 1860
birthplace:  LaPierre, Michigan
father:  Elisha Wells
father's birth place:  New York
mother: L. Vanpatton
mother's birth place:  Syracuse, New York
burial date:  28 Apr 1926
burial place:  Bay City, Mich.


Wallace Wells:

A child named Wallace Wells born May 11, 1862, is mentioned here. He was "given away" to Mrs. Diana Lawrence as an infant.  His marriage record names his parents as Elisha Wells and Lucinda Halpin.

On 27 Oct 1886, Wallace Wells married Mrs. Margaret Porritt in Saginaw, Michigan.

United States Census, 1920
residence: , Genesee, Michigan
estimated birth year: 1865
marital status: Widowed
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self Wallace E Wells M 55y Michigan
dau Adell M Wells F 34y Michigan
Miles Hudson M 27y Michigan
dau Rosa R Hudson F 28y Michigan
James R Mcgregor M 65y Canada

On June 24, 1922, Wallace E. Wells married Mrs. Hattie Willson Perritt.  He had one prior marriage and she was married twice previously.

Margaret Halpin Auger, who was NOT Elisha Wells' daughter died May 10, 1892.  Her obit was published in the Bay City Times on Wednesday, May 11, 1892.  She died at the Hooper residence in Bay City.  Her siblings were identified as Henry Wells and Mrs. A.E. Hooper of this city; Wallace Wells of Lapeer; Mrs. T. J. Taylor of Sarnia, Ont.; and Mrs.James Daley of Syracuse, N.Y.  She leaves a husband and three week old babe.  She would have been 19 years old today (May 11, 1892).

Lucy Della (Johnson) Taylor, also NOT Elisha Wells' child, lived in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.  Her mother stayed with her occasionally.

I am NOT related to this family; stumbled upon the original information while rooting around in the Lapeer County, Michigan, probate files online.

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