COL. E. A. WELLS, an enterprising and progressive citizen of
Murphysboro, and Treasurer of the Egyptian Real Estate and Collecting
Agency, has the honor of being a native of Illinois. He was born August 13,
1858, near Du Quoin, which locality was the birthplace of his father,
Ferdinand Wells. His grandfather, Lewis Wells, was born in North Carolina,
and in 1815, with his father, Lewis Wells, Sr., settled in Perry County. He
became one of its honored pioneers and a prominent and successful farmer. He
served in the War of 1812, and died in Perry County. His wife was a relative
of Zachary Taylor.
The father of our subject was reared in his
native county, and in 1862 entered the country's service as Sergeant of
Company K, Eighty-first Infantry. He participated in eighteen battles,
including the siege of Vicksburg, the Red River expedition and the Mobile
campaign. When the war was over, he resumed farming in Perry County, and in
1872 went to Grand Tower, where he engaged in the hotel business in
connection with agricultural pursuits until 1885. He then embarked in
merchandising in Ava, and in 1887 came to Murphysboro. Here his wife died in
that year, and in 1889 he married a lady from Kankakee. In 1891 he was
appointed a guard of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary, where he remained
until March, 1893. He is now living in Kankakee. He is a highly respected
man and takes a prominent part in the work of the Grand Army of the
Republic.
Ferdinand Wells first wedded Mary C. Rees, a native of
Perry County, and a daughter of Judge E. T. Rees, one of the pioneers of
that county, who removed thither from Kentucky. He served in the Black Hawk
War, and became an extensive and successful farmer. For many years he was
Justice of the Peace; and was also Associate Judge of Perry County. His
death occurred there in 1877. His son Lyeurgus, of Du Quoin, was a Captain
in the late war, and his brother R. G., now of Idaho, was a Lieutenant;
another brother, John, was a Colonel and was killed while leading his men at
the siege of Vicksburg. He was also in the Mexican War. The
great-grandfather of our subject, Hampton Rees, was one of the early
settlers of Perry County, and for him Rees Creek was named. The family was
of Welsh descent, and the Wells family was of Scotch lineage.
Colonel Wells has one brother, W. D., now City Marshal of Ava. Our subject
was reared m Perry County and Grand Tower, and after attending the common
schools was a student in the De Soto Teachers' Institute. He received a
teacher's certificate in 1876, but did not begin teaching until two years
later. In January, 1879, he won the highest standing for cadetship in a
class of seventeen competitors and immediately entered West Point, where he
continued for a year. He then returned home, and for three terms taught
school near Du Quoin. In December, 1882, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff by
M. A. Ross, and after a four years' term was elected on the Republican
ticket as Sheriff by the largest majority that had been given for years. He
did faithful service in the office and had some arduous duties to perform.
In 1886 Mr. Wells wedded Miss Sudie Childs, daughter of James
Childs, of Kansas City, Mo. They have four children, Joseph V., Edward A.,
Lulu and Emma. In December, 1890, Mr. Wells became connected with the
Egyptian Real Estate, Collection and Investment Company, of which he has
since been Treasurer. He is also interested in farming lands in Carbondale
and Pomona Townships, and owns considerable city property in Murphysboro.
Colonel Wells takes great interest in civic societies. In 1883 he
joined the Odd Fellows' lodge at Mt. Carbon, and has filled all its offices.
He was one of the organizers of Jackson Camp No. 113, S. V., served as its
Captain during the first two terms, and in August, 1890, attended the state
encampment, where he was appointed Major to fill a vacancy. He was then
elected a member of the Division Council of Illinois, and at the encampment
in Jacksonville, in 1890, was elected a delegate to the national encampment
by a very flattering majority. At the encampment in Decatur, in 1891, he was
elected without opposition as delegate-at-large to the national encampment
at Minneapolis, was Chairman of the delegation, and had the honor of
seconding the nomination of Marvin E. Hall for commander-in-chief. In 1892,
at the state encampment in Bushnell, he was elected Division Commander of
Illinois, and attended the national encampment at Helena, Mont., where he
took a prominent stand to uphold the Sons of Veterans' Guards. He is a
member of the Knights of Pythias and the Uniformed Rank, and at the
organization of the Sixth Regiment of the Illinois Brigade in East St.
Louis, in 1889, was elected its Colonel, and has served as such continuously
since. He attended the Supreme Lodge in Milwaukee in 1890, and the brigade
encampment in Springfield, Ill., in 1891. In 1890 he became Senior Colonel
of the Illinois Brigade, and in 1892 he attended the Supreme Lodge at Kansas
City, Mo., at the head of his regiment. He has risen in rank through zeal
and efficiency and has become prominent throughout the country in connection
with his work in the various civic organizations. For years he has been a
member of the County Republican Committee, has been Chairman of the
executive committee, and has three times served as a delegate to the state
conventions.
Extracted 01 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1894 Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry, and Monroe Counties, Illinois, pages 687-688.