Theodore WELLS

Theodore Wells, 95, Past Head of Ohio GAR, Dies

GUERNSEY CO's LAST CIVIL WAR VETERAN

Theodore Wells, 95, Guernsey County's last surviving veteran of the Civil War and one of Cambridge's oldest residents, passed away Monday evening at 6:30 o'clock at his home, Clark St. and Edgeworth Ave. following a brief illness of complications incident to advanced age.

Comrade Wells and his wife participated in the Victory Parade, which officially opened the sale of Defense Stamps and Bonds here on Dec. 18th, and he had been bedfast since two days after the parade.

BORN NEAR PLAINFIELD

The deceased was born near Plainfield, Coshocton County, on March 1, 1846, a son of Isaac and Mary A. Smith Wells. He lived there until he was 13 years of agewhen he moved to Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson County, after his mother married again following the death of his father in 1856.

ENLISTS IN ARMY

Remaining in Mt. Pleasant until the Civil War he enlisted in Company F 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry when but two months shorrt of being 18 years of age. He was sent to Chattanooga and remained there until April, 1864, when he joined the forces of General Wm. T. Sherman in his famous march to the sea.

WOUNDED IN ACTION

A musket ball cut short Comrade Wells' participation in the famous march for he was shot at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., on June 27, 1864. He rejoined his regiment early in the winter of 1865 at Raleigh, N. C. but Lee's surrender to Grant came shortly after that.

In the spring of 1866, Mr. Wells came to Guernsey County and entered in business at Senecaville. Not satisfied with results of the new enterprise, he disposed of his interests and moved to Flat Ridge community, Jefferson township, where he boarded at the home of Abner Howell, father of a six year old daughter Amanda, who many years later became Wells' second wife.

RETIRES ACTIVE LIFE

Mr. Wells followed the carpentry trade, dairy work and farming until nine years ago when he retired. He farmed in Guernsey County about 25 years. He then returned to Mt. Pleasant, remained there for about 10 years and then moved to Cadiz from which place he moved to Cambridge about 4 1/2 years ago.

His first wife was Isabelle Ferguson of Indian Camp, who died in 1931. On April 21, 1939, he was married to Mrs. Amanda Howell Kennedy, and they moved to the home on Clark St., where his death occurred. In addition to his widow he is survived by three children, Mrs. Rupert Kaufman, Cadiz, Craig Wells, Mt. Pleasant, and Elmer Wells, Freeport.

HONORED BY VETERANS

Following the war, Mr. Wells became active in veterans' affairs and was several times commander of the J. S. McCready Post No. 456, Grand Army of the Republic, at Cadiz. He also served as commander of the department of the Ohio G. A. R. and was a member of the national organization.

The deceased led an exceedingly active life and was held in high esteem by a legion of friends. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was an elder of the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church.

The body was removed to the Stevens & Mc Cracken funeral home, S. Eighth Street.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 10 a. m. at the home by Rev. C. K. McGeorge, of the First U. P. church, with additional rites at 2 p.m. at the Cadiz Presbyterian Church with the pastor, Rev. Mr. Lippincott in charge. Burial will be made in Cadiz cemetery. The body will be returned to the home Tuesday evening.

History:

2001 October 21: First published here.