Lake County IN Archives Biographies.....Wells, Rodman H. 1838 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 25, 2006, 11:46 pm

Author: T. H. Ball (1904)

RODMAN H. WELLS.

    Rodman H. Wells, a prominent resident of Crown Point, is senior member of
the well known firm of R. H. Wells and Son, proprietors of the large livery,
sale and boarding stables at 240 Truman avenue in Hammond. He is one of the
oldest native sons of Crown Point, and has made that his home throughout the
sixty-five and more years of his life. He has thus known the county from its
earliest times, has at various periods held important county and other local
offices, and for a quarter of a century had the leading livery establishment of
Crown Point. He is a fine type of business man and citizen, energetic,
progressive and public-spirited, and has lived in the enjoyment of esteem from
his fellow men during all his career in Lake county.

    Mr. Wells was born in Crown Point, June 6, 1838, a son of Henry and Adaline
(Witherell) Wells, natives of Massachusetts. Both his grandfathers were natives
of that state, and both served in the war of 1812. Henry Wells followed farming
in early life. In 1836 he moved from Michigan to Indiana, taking up land at
Crown Point and following farming in that vicinity for the remainder of his
life. He was one of the first sheriffs of Lake county, and afterward filled the
office of county treasurer. He always retained and resided on his farm just
south of Crown Point, where he died. His wife died about 1861. They both
attended the Presbyterian church. There were five children in their family:
Susan, widow of Alexander Clark, of Crown Point; Rodman H.; Eliza, deceased wife
of Samuel R. Pratt; Homer W., of Crown Point; and Adaline, deceased, who was the
wife of John E. Luther.

    Mr. Rodman H. Wells was reared on the homestead farm at Crown Point and
attended the public schools of the town. Farming was his vocation until some
years after the war. In August, 1862, he raised Company A, of the Ninety-ninth
Indiana Infantry, and enlisted in the company as a private, although he was
offered the second lieutenancy. He served nearly three years, and was compelled
to come home on account of ill health. He participated throughout the Vicksburg
campaign. After the war he worked his fathers place for several years, and at
the same time did considerable stock-buying, in one season purchasing eight
hundred head of milch cows for the Western Reserve. On leaving the farm he
entered the livery business at Crown Point and carried it on most successfully
for twenty-five years. In 1899 he sold out his establishment at the county seat
and in partnership with his son, Rodman B., opened the large stables at Hammond.
Their outfits have a uniformly excellent reputation throughout the city and
county, and their patronage has been built up to large and profitable proportions.

    Mr. Wells is an influential Republican, and has always taken an active part
in public affairs. Before the war he was deputy sheriff, and after the Rebellion
was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Marble for four years. In 1882 he was elected
sheriff and served in that office for two terms, or four years. He has also
served as chairman of the county central committee and a number of times as
precinct committeeman, and has been sent as delegate to a number of state
conventions. Mrs. Wells is a member of the Baptist church.

    In 1860 Mr. Wells married Miss Nancy J. Van Houten, a daughter of James and
Sallie Ann Van Houten. Mrs. Wells died in 1871. leaving no children. In 1872 Mr.
Wells married Miss Emily Wr. Van Houten. a sister of his first wife. They have
two children, Jennie M. and Rodman B., the latter being unmarried and in
partnership with his father. Jennie M. married Herman J. Lehman, and they live
at Crown Point and have two children, Hermina and Rodman J.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF
Genealogy and Biography
OF
LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA,
WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 
1834—1904

A Record of the Achievements of Its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and
the Founding of a Nation.

REV. T. H. BALL
OF CROWN POINT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO   NEW YORK
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1904


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