Joseph H. Welles

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: WELLES, HOUSE, WEAVER, MAYNARD, BUTLER, JONES, AMES, WHITE, TAYLOR, ELLIS, MCHENRY, PATTEE

 

JOSEPH H. WELLES, a resident of Compromise Tp., for over twenty years, and whose portrait is shown in this connection, in seeking a location for his permanent home, selected a spot many leagues from his birthplace, the latter being Glastonbury, Conn., and the date thereof Oct. 19, 1818. His parents, Joseph and Lucy (House) WELLES, natives of the same State, removed from New England to Ohio in 1835, locating near the spot which is now occupied by a large portion of the city of Columbus. The father engaged in farming, and the parents made their home there during their lifetime, the mother passing to her final rest in 1844, and Joseph WELLES, eight years later, in 1852. The latter was a cousin of Gideon WELLES, late Secretary of the Navy. The parental family included fourteen children, eleven of whom grew to adult years, and five of these still survive, viz., Delia W., Mrs. WEAVER; Lucy W., Mrs. MAYNARD; Clarissa W., Mrs. BUTLER; Samuel, and Joseph H. of our sketch.

The subject of this history, during his boyhood and youth, spent his time after the manner of most farmers' boys, until the spring of 1835, when he was nearly seventeen years of age. Then, proceeding to New York City, he became clerk for his brother Edwin, who was engaged in the grocery trade. After two and one-half years, his parents in the meantime having removed to Ohio, he joined them there, and in 1848 was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. JONES. Mrs. Welles was born in the town of Unity, Waldo Co., Me., march 8, 1830, and is the daughter of Thomas and Nancy A. (AMES) JONES, who removed from Maine to Ohio in 1844. Mr. Welles, having inherited fifty acres of land from his father's estate, located upon this after his marriage, remaining there until 1863. In the fall of that year he came to this State, and lived in Tazewell County two years, whence he removed to Champaign County, locating upon his present homestead. This originally consisted of 320 acres, half of which he afterward sold, and has now 160. The thorough and proper cultivation of this employs most of his time. At the time of purchase, not a foot of his land had been broken, and it may easily be imagined how faithfully and industriously he has labored to perfect it as the property of the modern and progressive farmer.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Welles resulted in the birth of nine children, who are recorded as follows: Lucy is the wife of C. C. WHITE, of Gifford, Ill.; Fannie died when seventeen years old; Samuel resides near Penfield; Hattie, the wife of Mahlon K. TAYLOR, lives in Columbus, Ohio; Lidie is at home with her parents; Mary B. married Charles W. ELLIS, and they live in Gifford; Maria W., with her husband, Joseph McHENRY, is a resident of Brazil, Ind.; Thomas B. and Winthrop are at home.

Mr. Welles poilitically affiliates with the Republican party, of which he has been a member since its organization, in 1856. He has been a man prominent in his community, and one whose opinions are held in respect. He served as Town Clerk for several years, and, with hiw wife, is a believer in the Christian religion, although not identified witn any Church denomination.

The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Welles were Amos and Mary JONES. The former was born in Massachusetts in 1761, and was of Scotch ancestry. Directly after the Revolution he migrated with a family named Coster, with whom he was related, to Unity, Me. His wife, Mary PATTEE, was the oldest daughter of Ebenezer PATTEE, of the State of Maine. Her parents were of Irish descent. Her father built the first mill in the village of Unity. Amos JONES served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and received an honorable wound, on account of which he afterward drew a pension from the Government. He died April 20, 1842; his wife June 8, 1838, aged seventy-two. Mrs. Welles' mother's parents, John and Nancy AMES, also natives of Maine, spent their entire lives near the place of their birth. A brother and sister of Mrs. Welles are living in Kansas. Thomas JONES and his second wife died in Piatt County, this State. The mother of Mrs. Welles died in her native State of Maine.