My Genealogy Hound

F. P. Wells. A sketch of Mr. Wells’ life, as far as Prairie County is concerned, covers a period of but little over six years, yet he has become so thoroughly identified with the business interests of the same, and his career has been so successful that a brief sketch of his career will be of much interest to all. His birth occurred in Erie County, Penn., in 1836, he being the eldest of a family of nine children born to the marriage of J. E. Wells and Louisa Cole. The former was born in the “Green Mountain State” in 1812, and about the year 1820 removed with his father to Pennsylvania, and in that State he was reared to manhood and married, the last-named event taking place in 1835, and resulted in the birth of these children: Mittie, Charles, Jerome (deceased), Julius, Louisa, Judson, Addie, Jerome (named for his elder brother who died) and subject of sketch. Mr. Wells was a tanner by trade, and in this business became quite successful. He died in 1886, still survived by his wife, who is residing in Buffalo, N. Y. F. P. Wells’ youthful days were spent in the “Key stone State,” but his education was acquired in Hillsdale College, Mich. Mr. Wells is a married man, his wife having formerly been Miss Sarah M. Page, a daughter of E. Page, their union being consummated in 1861, and resulted in the birth of six children: Charles, Marie, Julius, Frank, Louise and Clara. They, with their mother, reside in Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Wells first began manufacturing boat-oars in 1865, in Albion, Erie County, Penn., but at a later period he removed to Lansing, Mich., where he had control of four mills for this purpose, his business there being on a very extended scale, indeed. In 1883 he established a factory at De Vall’s Bluff, Ark., which establishment is the only one of the kind in the State, and it is fitted up with all the latest improved and best machinery, and has a capacity of 3,500 feet of oars per day. He ships his product to all points of the globe, and in addition to having an extensive trade with the seaport and river towns of the United States, he supplies the markets of London and Liverpool (England), Glasgow (Scotland) and Sidney and Melbourne (Australia). He manufactures pike-poles, handles of all kinds and descriptions, but makes a specialty of oars. Joseph Gordner & Sons, of London, Liverpool (England) and Glasgow (Scotland), are interested in this establishment. Mr. Wells owns a portion of 14,000 acres of woodland, and in addition to this, owns valuable property in Lansing, Mich., and Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Wells is one of the progressive and enterprising business men of the county, whose strict attention to work, perseverance and integrity have produced such substantial results, and it is a pleasure to lay before the reader the unsullied record of such a man. He is a member of the Masonic order, and he and wife are members of the Congregational Church at Lansing, Mich.