Wells, John L.

JOHN L. WELLS, Erie County Treasurer, was born in Harbor Creek Township, this county, in 1841; son of Jarvis and Polly (Chambers) Wells, also natives of Erie Co. Jarvis Wells was twice married, on the first occasion to Polly Chambers, who bore him four children— James Madison and Thomas Jefferson (twins), John L. and R. Eliza. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Wells married Emily Knapp, and two children, both deceased, were the fruits of this union. James Madison Wells was a soldier during the late war, enlisting for three months at the first call, leaving just before graduating from Allegheny College, and served for nearly four years in the 111th P.V.I., and at the close of the war he finished his education and graduated. He was principal of the Erie High School for six years, of the Rochester Free Academy for twelve years. He began the study of law at Rochester, and will be admitted this year. Our subject also served during the war of the rebellion, enlisting in 1861 in the 111th P.V.I., serving eighteen months under Cols. Schlaudecker, Cobham, Walker, and under Capt. Braden. He was commissioned as Lieutenant of his company, and was transferred to the command of another company, which he commanded until the end of the war. He participated in all the important engagements, among others second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain, and all of Gen. Sherman’s engagements during his memorable march to the sea. Being captured, he was placed in Andersonville, but almost miraculously escaped. He earned the rank of Lieut. Col. by acting as scout on one occasion and discovering the position of the enemy, thereby saving his entire Division; but his being captured and detained as a prisoner for several months near the close of hostilities, at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, prevented him from bearing his well-earned promotion. He received from Gen. and Gov. Geary a special commission as a souvenir of his daring act at the battle of Lost Mountain, Ga. He was discharged in 1865. Capt. Wells married, in Feb., 1867, Adele S., daughter of Stewart Chambers, an early settler of this county. Three children were born to this union, two now living: Herbert M. and Raymond R. Our subject was elected to the office of County Treasurer in 1883 by the very flattering majority of 1,500.