Robert Clay Wells^{[1, 2]}

1842 - 1926  (84 years)

• Name	Robert Clay Wells
  Born	19 Apr 1842	Henry County, County, Virginia
  Gender	Male
  Died	21 Dec 1926	Tazewell County, Virginia
  Buried	Wells Cemetery, Tazewell County, Virginia   [3]
  Person ID	I67835	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	20 Feb 2017

  
  

  Father	Joel C. Wells,   b. 1801, Pittsylvania County, Virginia ,   d. 20 Mar 1884, Pittsylvania County, Virginia  (Age 83 years)
  Mother	Sarah Eliza M. Tarpley,   b. 1808, Henry County, Virginia ,   d. 1890, Henry County, Virginia  (Age 82 years)
  Married	8 Jun 1825	Pittsylvania County, Virginia
  Family ID	F3760	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Elizabeth Dillon,   b. 18 Nov 1847, Henry County, VA ,   d. 7 Sep 1887, Tazewell County,, Virginia  (Age 39 years)
  Married	5 Dec 1867	Henry County, Virginia
  Notes	Birth: 1842, Henry County, Virginia Death: Dec. 28, 1926, Tazewell County, Virginia THE HENRY BULLETIN, Fri., Dec. 31, 1926, p. 1, col.6: (edited) OLD HENRY COUNTY CITIZEN WRITES OWN OBITUARY - DIES. Of interest to the older generation of Henry County citizens, will be the following item taken from the Bluefield (W. Va.) Telegraph concerning a Henry County citizen of many years ago. A few weeks after he had written his own obituary in which he wished his many friends a Merry Christmas and thanked them for their many kindnesses, the life light of R. C. Wells, pioneer citizen and Confederate Veteran, faded slowly out at his home in the Bluestone Valley, Tuesday morning. "I am worn out and broken down and if I live to see the twenty-fifth (meaning Christmas Day), it will likely be my last," dramatically wrote the aged man in his obituary. Soldier that he was, and figuratively speaking, he could hear the faint dying sound of taps, a soldiers' good night, for shortly after he penciled the touching words of his obituary, he sent a copy to Henry C. Callaway, editor of the Bluefield, Va. News, of the Daily Telegraph. Mr. Callaway carefully preserved the copy, which is sub-joined to this article and which gives the life history of Mr. Wells as told in his own words. Mr. Wells was a charter member of the Tip Top Masonic lodge and was 84 years of age. Surviving relatives are: daughter, Mrs. J. M. Hendrick of Thorpe, and three sons, namely W. W., J. L. And J. B. Wells, all of whom reside in the Bluestone valley section. Vance Wells, well known local barber, is a grandson of the deceased man. Funeral services and burial will take place Thursday morning at Wellsville. ****** " I am a native of Henry County, Virginia. Spent my boyhood there. I belonged to Co. G., 42nd Va. Inf., 2nd Bri., 1st Div., Jacksons' old Corps. I was captured at Gettysburg, taken to Point Lookout and remained there until the close of the war. Was married the following year and moved to Tazwell County, Va., and have since been a resident of this county and lived among its people who have been especially kind and good to me, for which I want to thank one and all. I am worn out and broken down, and if I live to see the 25th, it will likely be my last. A Merry Christmas to all and a Christmas gift from all of you. Yours, R. C. Wells." ****** Ref: Anne Vestal-Miller: THE MARRIAGE REGISTER OF HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA, Vol. I, 1853-1878, pp. 30 & 31, #124: 5 Dec. 1867: Robert C. Wells, Age 23, Single, Born Pittsylvania Co., Son of Joel & Sarah Wells, married Mary E. Dillon, Age 18, Single, Born Henry Co., Dau. of Mart & Marlin Dillon. ****** 1880 Census, Clear Fork, Tazewell County, VA.: Robert C., Head, Age 38, Farmer Mary E., Wife, Age 30, Keeping House William W., Son, Age 11, Laborer On Farm Joseph F., Son, Age 9 Dellamaid, Dau., 7 Lula M., Dau., 5 Charly E., Son, Age 1 Fannie, Dau., Age 1 month ****** 1910 Census, Clear Fork, Tazewell County, VA.,family#127: Robert C. Wells 68 Widower Jesse B. Wells 22 son John R. Hambrick 38 son-in-law Lula M. Hambrick 35 daughter Vance W. Carter 15 grandson ****** Info below from Jack Mitchell: Children of Robert: Willie W Wells 1869- Joseph T Wells 1870- Della Maude Wells 1872-1896 Lula M Wells 1874- Charles Edgar Wells 1876- Robert C Wells 1878- Lela Lee Wells 1880-1952 ****** Roberts' brother, Luther P. Wells was also a Confederate Soldier. He was in CO A, 5th Bttn., VA Reserves. (sometimes known as "Henrys' Regiment Virginia Reserves," which was commanded by Patrick Miller Henry, a grandson of Patrick Henry. ****** Parents: Joel C Wells (1801 - 1856) Sarah Elizabeth Tarpley Wells (1805 - ____) Spouse: Mary E. Dillon Wells (1847 - 1887) Children: William W Wells (1869 - 1945) Joseph T Wells (1870 - ____) Della Maude Wells Carter (1872 - 1896) Lula M Wells (1874 - ____) Charles Edgar Wells (1876 - 1902) Robert Clay Wells (1878 - 1918) Lela Lee Wells Hendrickson (1880 - 1952) James Luke Wells (1882 - 1953) John W Wells (1884 - 1895) Jesse B Wells (1887 - ____) Note: His dates may be 19 April 1842 - 17 Dec. 1926. Burial: Wells Cemetery, Tazewell County, Virginia
  Children	1. Lela Lee Wells,   b. 16 May 1880, McDowell Co., West Virginia ,   d. 26 Nov 1952, Tazwell, Virginia  (Age 72 years)   2. William W. Wells,   b. 16 Mar 1869, Tazewell County, Virginia ,   d. 14 Jun 1945, McDowell County, West Virginia  (Age 76 years)   3. Robert Clay Wells, Jr,   b. 28 Mar 1878, Tazewell County, Virginia ,   d. 3 Nov 1918, McDowell County, West Virginia  (Age 40 years)   4. Charles Edgar Wells,   b. 10 Sep 1876, Clear Fork, Tazewell County, Virginia ,   d. 3 Jan 1902  (Age 25 years) + 5. Della Maude Marie Wells,   b. 25 Nov 1872, Tazewell County, Virginia ,   d. 23 Oct 1896, Tazewell County, Vitginia  (Age 23 years)   6. James Luke Wells,   b. 7 May 1882, Tazewell County, Virginia ,   d. 19 Oct 1953, McDowell, West Virginia  (Age 71 years)   7. John W. Wells,   b. 21 May 1884, Springville, Tazewell County, Virginia ,   d. 31 Aug 1895  (Age 11 years)   8. Jesse Bane Wells,   b. 7 Aug 1887, Springville, Tazewell County, Virginia ,   d. 9 Nov 1948, Clear Fork, Virginia  (Age 61 years)   9. Lula Mae Wells,   b. 19 Jul 1874, Henry Co., Virginia ,   d. 27 Apr 1920, Tazwell Co., Virginia  (Age 45 years)
  Last Modified	21 Feb 2017
  Family ID	F518494746	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		Robert Clay Wells
  		Home of Robert Clay Wells

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		Obituary Vance Whitten Wells vance whitten wells.jpg
  		Robert Clay Wells-Writes Own Obituary Bluefield Daily Telegraph Dec 22, 1926
  		Robert Clay Wells-Funeral Services Bluefield Daily Telegraph Dec 23, 1926
  		Death Certificate-Robert Clay Wells wellsrobt.clay.jpg
  		Confederate Pension, Tazewell County, Virginia rcwells.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  Robert Clay Wells Birth: 1842 Henry County Virginia, USA Death: Dec. 28, 1926 Tazewell County Virginia, USA THE HENRY BULLETIN, Fri., Dec. 31, 1926, p. 1, col.6: (edited) OLD HENRY COUNTY CITIZEN WRITES OWN OBITUARY - DIES. Of interest to the older generation of Henry County citizens, will be the following item taken from the Bluefield (W. Va.) Telegraph concerning a Henry County citizen of many years ago. A few weeks after he had written his own obituary in which he wished his many friends a Merry Christmas and thanked them for their many kindnesses, the life light of R. C. Wells, pioneer citizen and Confederate Veteran, faded slowly out at his home in the Bluestone Valley, Tuesday morning. "I am worn out and broken down and if I live to see the twenty-fifth (meaning Christmas Day), it will likely be my last," dramatically wrote the aged man in his obituary. Soldier that he was, and figuratively speaking, he could hear the faint dying sound of taps, a soldiers' good night, for shortly after he penciled the touching words of his obituary, he sent a copy to Henry C. Callaway, editor of the Bluefield, Va. News, of the Daily Telegraph. Mr. Callaway carefully preserved the copy, which is sub-joined to this article and which gives the life history of Mr. Wells as told in his own words. Mr. Wells was a charter member of the Tip Top Masonic lodge and was 84 years of age. Surviving relatives are: daughter, Mrs. J. M. Hendrick of Thorpe, and three sons, namely W. W., J. L. And J. B. Wells, all of whom reside in the Bluestone valley section. Vance Wells, well known local barber, is a grandson of the deceased man. Funeral services and burial will take place Thursday morning at Wellsville. ****** " I am a native of Henry County, Virginia. Spent my boyhood there. I belonged to Co. G., 42nd Va. Inf., 2nd Bri., 1st Div., Jacksons' old Corps. I was captured at Gettysburg, taken to Point Lookout and remained there until the close of the war. Was married the following year and moved to Tazwell County, Va., and have since been a resident of this county and lived among its people who have been especially kind and good to me, for which I want to thank one and all. I am worn out and broken down, and if I live to see the 25th, it will likely be my last. A Merry Christmas to all and a Christmas gift from all of you. Yours, R. C. Wells." ****** Ref: Anne Vestal-Miller: THE MARRIAGE REGISTER OF HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA, Vol. I, 1853-1878, pp. 30 & 31, #124: 5 Dec. 1867: Robert C. Wells, Age 23, Single, Born Pittsylvania Co., Son of Joel & Sarah Wells, married Mary E. Dillon, Age 18, Single, Born Henry Co., Dau. of Mart & Marlin Dillon. ****** 1880 Census, Clear Fork, Tazewell County, VA.: Robert C., Head, Age 38, Farmer Mary E., Wife, Age 30, Keeping House William W., Son, Age 11, Laborer On Farm Joseph F., Son, Age 9 Dellamaid, Dau., 7 Lula M., Dau., 5 Charly E., Son, Age 1 Fannie, Dau., Age 1 month ****** 1910 Census, Clear Fork, Tazewell County, VA.,family#127: Robert C. Wells 68 Widower Jesse B. Wells 22 son John R. Hambrick 38 son-in-law Lula M. Hambrick 35 daughter Vance W. Carter 15 grandson ****** Info below from Jack Mitchell: Children of Robert: Willie W Wells 1869- Joseph T Wells 1870- Della Maude Wells 1872-1896 Lula M Wells 1874- Charles Edgar Wells 1876- Robert C Wells 1878- Lela Lee Wells 1880-1952 ****** Roberts' brother, Luther P. Wells was also a Confederate Soldier. He was in CO A, 5th Bttn., VA Reserves. (sometimes known as "Henrys' Regiment Virginia Reserves," which was commanded by Patrick Miller Henry, a grandson of Patrick Henry. ****** Family links: Parents: Joel C Wells (1801 - 1856) Sarah Elizabeth Tarpley Wells (1805 - ____) Spouse: Mary E. Dillon Wells (1847 - 1887) Children: William W Wells (1869 - 1945)* Joseph T Wells (1870 - ____)* Della Maude Wells Carter (1872 - 1896)* Lula M Wells (1874 - ____)* Charles Edgar Wells (1876 - 1902)* Robert Clay Wells (1878 - 1918)* Lela Lee Wells Hendrickson (1880 - 1952)* James Luke Wells (1882 - 1953)* John W Wells (1884 - 1895)* Jesse B Wells (1887 - ____)* *Calculated relationship Note: Hs dates may be 19 April 1842 - 17 Dec. 1926. Do you know ? Burial: Wells Cemetery Tazewell County Virginia, USA

  
  

• Sources

  [S37] Death Certificate. [S74] Pension Record, http://interactive.ancestry.com/1677/31867_B034440-01168?pid=545616&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26db%3DTexasConfederatePensions%26h%3D545616%26tid%3D%26pid%3D%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26_phsrc%3DhOS9312%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26rhSource%3D9278&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=hOS9312&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=31867_B034440-01168. [S32] Find-A-Grave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2376369&GRid=61111444&CScn=wells&CScntry=4&CSst=48&.