From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 71-72
 
HORACE WELLS (Deceased).  It is with true interest that the biographer takes up his pen to 
speak of those worthy citizens whose active lives have ceased on earth, but whose influence 
extends still and will continue to extend among all who knew them.  The truth is doubly true when 
such a man has established for himself and his children a reputation for integrity, character and 
ability.  Such a man was Horace WELLS, who was born in Canada, August 10, 1833, and there 
grew to manhood and was educated.  When a young man he came to Wisconsin with his father, 
Stephen WELLS, and located in Oak Grove Township, Dodge County, on the farm where his 
widow and son now reside.  His first purchase of land amounted to 120 acres of open land and 
twenty acres of timber land, and a dwelling house in which he and his parents lived until his 
marriage, when the parents located on an adjoining farm.  Mr. WELLS was married May 22, 
1859, to Miss Jane E. MARSH, a native of Vermont, who was brought to Wisconsin by her 
parents when twelve years old, and resided with her father, Henry MARSH in Beaver Dam.  Mrs. 
WELLS received the most of her education in Vermont, and upon attaining womanhood in 
Wisconsin began teaching school, being one of the pioneer educators of the county.  She taught 
her first school at the age of thirteen years, where the town of Juneau now is, and continued to 
teach every summer and attend school during the winter months until she had acquired an 
excellent education.  Mr. WELLS became one of the most substantial, enterprising and 
successful farmers of the county, and as soon as his means permitted, he erected a substantial 
and commodious brick residence besides excellent barns and outbuildings, and in many other 
ways made valuable improvements, every nook and cranny of his place indicating that a man of 
thrift and energy has control of affairs.  During this time he also cared for his parents and was 
liberal in his support of enterprises tending to benefit the county, in fact, proved himself to be a 
model citizen, liberal, public-spirited and law-abiding, and his many worthy qualities of heart and 
head won him numerous friends, while his enemies, if such existed, were indeed few and far 
between.  He came to this section without means and by his own determined effort made a 
comfortable competency for himself and family, in which laudable endeavor he received the 
assistance, advice and encouragement of his intelligent and worthy wife.  Mr. WELLS always 
identified himself with the Republic party, supported its men and measures at all times, and 
himself filled a number of minor official positions of trust.  He was a warm friend of education, was 
a member of the school board of his district for years, and gave his daughters excellent 
educational advantages.  After they had attended the high school of Beaver Dam, they attended 
the Normal College of Oshkosh for three years.  Mr. WELLS was called from life very suddenly 
December 14, 1893, and his death was a source of much regret to all who knew him.  His good 
name was unassailable, and the respect of all who knew him was ungrudgingly accorded him.  
His mother, who is now eighty-two years old, resides with his widow, and notwithstanding her 
advanced years is a hale and healthy old lady.  To Mr. and Mrs. WELLS three children were born: 
Olive R. (BUMBY), of Juneau; Mary A. (NASH), of Green Lake County, Wis.,; and Jasper C. who 
is an industrious and enterprising young man and is looking after the farm.  He has good habits 
and is intelligent and well educated.  His sisters also received good educational advantages, and 
previous to their marriages were school teachers.  Mrs. WELLS is a member of the Oak Grove 
Congregational Church.
 
Submitted by Carol