Dale County AlArchives Biographies.....Wells, John C. February 24 1832 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 19, 2004, 11:44 am Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) JUDGE JOHN C. WELLS.-One of the repersentaitve business men of Daleville, Dale county, Ala., is John C. Wells, who was born in Jefferson county, Ga., February 24, 1832. He was reared on the home farm, received a good academic education, and on reaching man's estate taught school for three years. In 1855, he began to read law, was admitted to the bar in the latter part of the same year, and a year later located for practice at Fort Gaines, Ga., where he met with much success, but was interrupted by the outbreak of the war between the states. He at once took up arms for the Confederate cause, and was appointed quartermaster of the Sixth Georgia regiment, under ex-Governor Joseph E. Brown; he remained in this position until his term of enlistment expired, When he returned home and taught school for five months, and then enlisted in the Cobb Guards, as a private heavy artilleryman. He was detailed on signal corps and then by Gen. Cobb as a recruiting officer-raising enough men for a new company, of which he declined the captaincy, and was elected first lieutenant. He was stationed at Savannah until the evacuation of that city, was thence transferred to Charleston, where he remained until that city was evacuated; on February 11, 1865, he was twice wounded by gun-shot in an engagement with a United States gunboat, and five regiments of infantry were captured, and for six weeks was confined in Beaufort hospital, whence he was removed to Hilton Head and detained until the close of the war, when he received his parole, May 15, 1865. Returning to Fort Gaines, he resumed the practice of law, which he continued until 1890, when he came to Alabama, and in partnership with his brother succeeded T. B. Wells & Co. in mercantile business at Daleville, now doing a lucrative trade. The marriage of Mr. Wells took place January 24, 1860, to Miss Carrie C. Johnson, eldest daughter of Dr. William J. Johnson of Fort Gaines, Ga., whose practice extended over portions of Alabama, Florida and western Georgia. Mrs. Wells was born in Fort Gaines, was highly educated, and was married in her seventeenth year, and became the mother of nine children, viz.: William E., John C., Mamie E., John B., Janette, Carrie C., Lelia A., Thomas C. and George B., all of whom have passed to the better land, with the exception of the last three. Of these, Thomas C. occupies the position of clerk in his father's store. The saddest blow to the parents was the loss, in 1887, of their daughter, Carrie E., who was a young lady of remarkably sweet disposition, was accomplished in music and had won the hearts of a host of friends in Georgia, Florida and Alabama; and equally as sad was the loss of their eldest son, Willie E., July 31st, 1890, who was their comfort and mainstay, although twenty-nine years old, and held everything in common with them. Mrs. Wells early became a member of the Missionary Baptist church and has ever led a consistent christian life, her husband joining the same church in 1866. Everett Wells, father of judge Wells, was born in 1801 in Jefferson county, Ga., where he married Miss Delilah Cottle, who bore him seven sons and one daughter. Mrs. Wells was a native of Jefferson county, Ga., born in 1817, and was married in her eighteenth year. Her father, John J. Cottle, was also a native of Jefferson county, and was a planter of extensive means. Of her seven sons she gave five to the Confederate cause-one dying while in the service. The death of Everett Wells took place in 1847, and that of his widow in 1886, both being members of the Missionary Baptist church. John C. Wells has always taken an active part in advancing the interests of the democratic party, and in 1865 was appointed judge of the court of ordinary, Clay county, Ga., under the provisional governor, James H. Johnson, to fill out the unexpired term of the late Judge J. H. Jones. Being a lawyer, he was satisfied said appointment was illegal; he therefore announced himself a candidate and was elected over the brother of the deceased by a handsome majority, and at the expiration of this term Mr. Wells was re-elected to the same office for the term of four years. He has always been successful from a business standpoint, and soon after the termination of the recent war began the accumulation of landed property. He is now owner of several valuable tracts, to which he adds as funds are acquired, and among which are tracts of 1,800 acres in south Florida. His total holdings in Alabama, Georgia and Florida amount to at least 3,000 acres. He is public spirited and progressive, and stands high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens and neighbors. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 843-844 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb