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Below is a family biography included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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Jesse H. Wells, a well-to-do farmer of Obion County, was born in Orange County, N. C., on the 26th of March, 1816, and is one of two living children of a family of ten born to John and Margaret (Hunter) Wells, who were also natives of Orange County, N. C. The father was a farmer and died about 1819. His wife afterward moved to Indiana, and then came to Tennessee in 1839, locating in Maury County, where she died in 1845. Jesse H. Wells came to Maury County in February, 1838, and followed farming and overseeing a plantation until 1859, when he came to Obion County, locating on his present farm of 375 acres near Palestine. In 1838 he married Martha E. Blackburn, of Maury County, and their union has been blessed with three sons and three daughters. Those living are Sarah Elizabeth (Mrs. Woody), Alex Kirkland, Alice Jane (Mrs. McCorkle), Jesse James, John Edward. Rena Harris is deceased. Mrs. Wells died August 25, 1885. Mr. Wells and his family are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Democrat. On his farm is the stump of a poplar tree that measures nine feet in diameter. About fourteen feet from the ground it branched in two prongs, which, when taken to the mill, sawed over, 11,000 feet. The entire tree sawed over 12,000 feet. Alexander Kirkland Wells, son of Jesse Wells, was born in Maury County June 3, 1852, and has always resided with his parents. In December, 1876, Laura Miller became his wife. She is a daughter of Abraham and Bettie Miller, and is the mother of one son: William Kirk. Alexander Wells has charge of the home farm and devotes considerable attention to stock raising. He is a prominent young farmer, and is identified with the Democratic party. Jesse J. Wells, M. D., another son of Jesse H. Wells, was born in Maury County November 2, 1857, and remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, having previously attended two sessions at the Louisville Medical College, graduating in March, 1880. He began the practice of his profession in Palestine, continuing up to the present time, with the exception of one year’s practice in Louisville. October 6, 1880, witnessed his marriage with Mary E. Hogg, born in Hancock County, Ky. They have one daughter, Jessie Lander. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Democrat.
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This family biography is one of 179 biographies included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Obion County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee
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