Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 774. JOHN WELLS is one of the pioneers of southwestern Oregon and one of the best known and among the most highly respected citizens of this state. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, on December 10, 1833, and is the son of George and Rachel (Keith) Wells. His parents were married in Pennsylvania and established their home immediately after their wedding in Richland county, Ohio, where they spent the remaining years of their lives. Mrs. George Wells died two years before the death of her husband, which occurred in the seventy-fifth year of his age. John Wells was reared in his father's home and acquired his early education in the primitive log schoolhouse of the district in which he lived. As a young man he engaged in the occupation of the farmer, in which he has since continued. In 1859 he crossed the plains and settled in California, where he continued to reside for the next five years and during that time was engaged in the business of freighting. In 1864 he removed to this state and made his first location in Jackson county, where he purchased a ranch upon which he lived until 1875, at which time he sold that property and invested in land near Grants Pass, on which he settled and continued to reside continuously for ten years. He then purchased his present home in the Illinois valley in Josephine county and has since maintained his residence upon that property. During the early years of his residence in this state, in addition to his farming interests, he was the owner and proprietor of a threshing machine outfit and in the autumns and winters, for fifteen years, was engaged in threshing the grain grown on the neighboring ranches. This business afforded him the opportunity to become well acquainted with nearly every family in Jackson county. In the year 1856 Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Jane Boyce, of Richland county, Ohio. Unto them were born ten children, five of whom are still living: Calvin, of Yamhill county; George, who resides on the old homestead; Roy, of Josephine county; Laura, who is the widow of William Erb and resides in Ashland; and Della, the wife of George Linton, of Washington county, this state. The mother of these children passed out of this life in 1892. Mr. Wells is affiliated with the democratic party and has served one term as county commissioner of Josephine county. Having been elected in 1899, he continued in that office for four years. He has also been a member of the school board of his school district for a period of forty-two consecutive years. John Wells is one of Oregon's successful agriculturists and during his residence in the state he has always been regarded as a man of high ideals of public and private life. He is known to be a man of unquestioned integrity in business affairs and is deeply interested in the educational advancement of the people. Transcriber's additional notes: Census 1850, Sept 18; Richland Co, OH; Franklin Twp, p 311 George Wells, 42, ENG, $3000 real estate, farmer Rachael, 40, PA Mary C, 18, OH, att. school John, 16, OH, att. school Margaret, 14, OH, att. school Christian, 12, OH, att. school Elizabeth, 9, OH, att. school Rachael, 7, OH, att. school Alice M, 5, OH, att. school Henry G, 3, OH Hannah L. Lodge, 19, NY 1860, July 20; San Joaquin Co, CA; Elkhorn Twp, Woodbridge PO, p 978 John Wells, 25, OH, farmer Jane, 22, OH Henry, 3, OH Calvin, 2, IA Frank Noble, 25, PA, farm laborer 1870, June 8; Jackson Co, OR; Willow Springs PO, p 541 John Wells, 36, OH, farmer, $2000 / $350, father foreign born Jane, 32, OH, keeping house, father foreign born Calvin, 12, IA, att. school Laura, 9, CA, att. school Delphna, 1, OR 1880, June 1; Jackson Co, OR; Slate Creek Pct, p 148 John Wells, 46, OH, ENG, PA, farmer Jane, wife, 42, OH, ENG, VA, keeping house Calvin, son, 22, IA, OH, OH, farm laborer Laurie, dau, 19, CA, OH, OH Della, dau, 11, OR, OH, OH, att. school George, son, 7, OR, OH, OH Frank, son, 4, OR, OH, OH Joseph Chausse, boarder, 12, WI, CAN, MO, att. school Harry Chausse, boarder, 10, MN, CAN, MO, att. school 1900, June 1; Josephine Co, OR; Kerby Pct, p 21 John Wells, 66, Dec 1833, OH, ENG, PA, Wd, farmer George, son, 26, Aug 1873, OR, OH, OH, single, farm laborer Roy, son, 17, June 1883, OR, OH, OH, single, farm laborer 1910, April 16; Josephine Co, OR; Althouse Pct, p 63 John Wells, 76, OH, ENG, PA, Wd, farmer Roy, son, 25, OR, OH, OH, mar 8 yrs, farmer Jettie, d in l, 24, OR, OR, OR, mar 8 yrs, 2 children-2 living Daisy, gr dau, 6, OR, OR, OR Lillian, gr dau, 1, OR, OR, OR John Wells and Jane Boyce married in Richland Co, OH; November 8, 1855 http://www. ohgen.net/Ohio_Vital_Record_Batch_Numbers_By_County.html Oregon Death Index John Wells, died June 8, 1918; Josephine Co, OR; cert. # 58 http://www.heritagetrailpress. com/DEATH_INDEX/ ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.