The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-04-17
DEATHS OF A WEEK.
EX-PoStmaSter Joseph Wells.


residence on East Main street on Tuesday
afternoon about o'clock, in his 18th year,
from an accumulation of diseases incident
upon his advanced years. He had been con-
fined to his room since the first week in Janu-
ary his health having been gradually declin-
ing for year.
Mr.. Wells was born in Elkton on November
%, 1918, in the property now occupied by Mr..
Eugene Gcnce. His father John Wells was u
native of Delaware. who removed to this
county early in this century, and engaged in
the hotel business in the Black Rock property,
in which Joseph was born, as well as in the
brick house in the extreme west end of Main
street now occupied by George II. Howard.
Joseph was one of six children, his eldest
brother Benjamin having been agent of the
p, w. & b. railroad in this town for fifty
seven years. another brother. George, having
died while his assistant at the railroad station.
and three sisters, Sarah A. Wells, who mar
ried William Wood, of Wilmington, Delaware,
and who is still living; Hannah, who married
Joseph Buckley, of Philadelphia, and Eliza.
beth, who married Daniel Stewart.
Joseph, early in life. manifested an inordi-
nate love of horses, and while yet boy, in
1882, had attained considerable local celebrity
as ii dashing and ambitious rider of the U. S.
Pony Mail Express, carried between Wash
ington and New York He made the trips on
horseback from Elkton to Wilmington, using
relays Of horse at Glasgow, The Bear and
Hure's Corner. and had been known to make
that distance eighteen miles in ilfty-two min
utes. Upon the attainment of his majority
he engaged successfully in the livery business.
and in which he was engaged after the
opening Of the P, W. & Il. railroad in 1886,
until 1S47, when in connection with the late
Rudulph Bennett he slaughtered cattle ex-
tensively. In that year he engaged with
Jacob Endrcss in the same business, in which
he remained until 1855, when he formed n
co-partnership with j. Z. Murdoch, Of Will
mington, Delaware. in a line Of [. $. Mail
stages between ElktCn and Cambridge. Nd,
Elkton and Chestertown, and between
Chestcrtown and Smyrna. Mr.. Wells cor
tinued in this business until 1865.
In the meantime his business activity en-
tended in other directions. Being Il pro-
nounced Whg he was nominated as candidate
for Sheriff in 1853, by the American party,
into which the old Whig organization had been
merged in this State. but was unsuccessful, his
Democratic opponent james +. Oldham being
elected. Upon the outbreak of the rebellion
he zealously espouscd the Union cause. and
was Collector of Taxes, as well as enrolling
officer during the war These were the only
two public positions held by him, until his
appointment as Postmaster by General Harr-
son in 1880, his commission expiring in 1894,
and it is interesting to note, that he had fifty
years before, in 1910, cast his first vote for
"Old Tippecanoen Harrison, General Benia-
min Harrison's grandfather. for president,
and had assisted in building the Old Tippe-
canoe Log Cabin in this town, and which
afterwards was the publication office of the
CECIL WING when started by Palmer Ricketts,
in August, 1S41.
Mr.. Wells married early in life, his wife
being Miss Cornelia Crouch, who still survives
him. They were married by the Rev. James
McIntire on April 8, 1915, their children being
Mr.. John Wells, of Philadelphia; Mr.. Edwin
E. Wells of the same city; lIr. Joseph l..
Wells, of this town, and Mrs. Annie Cooper.
The ilfty-two years of married life of this
venerable couple, embrace an important
period in the history and growth of Elkton.
The house in which Mr.. and Mrs. Wells have
continuously resided for over lorty-four years
was the first new dwelling erected on the
south side Of main street prior to 1854. They
became members of the Elkton NJ. L. Church
under the pastorate of the Rev. Elon J. Way
in 1854, a period Of forty-three years, during
Il part of which period Mr.. Wells was Il trus-
tee of that church.
Until within Il year past Mr.. Wells had been
an active man OF affairs in Elkton. His bust
ness life has covered Il period of flfty-seven
years. which is the exact measure of the
period of service his brother enjamin spent
with the p, w. 4 b. railroad. In all the
multiplied relations of life he has been an
exemplary and useful citizen. His business
operations in his earlier years, possibly
brought him into personal contact with more
people than any man in this section of the
State, his connection with the carrying of the
L. S. Mails earning him an extensive personal
acquaintance. His death is the removal of a
familiar face from the streets of Elkton. and
the termination of the career of an active
and respected business man of the town.
His funeral took place on Friday afternoon
from his late residence at the corner of Main
and South streets, and was attended by a
large assemblaSe of his friends and citizens
of the town and vicinity.
The services were conducted by the Rev. A.
$. Mowbray, pastor of Ekton NJ. L. Church,
assisted by the Rev. Benz. i. Price. Three
grandsons and three nephews of the deceased
acted as bearers: John Wells, Roy L. Wells,
Geo. Harlan Wells, Benjamin Wells, Charles
G. Wells and o. c. Giles. Mr.. Wells body
was laid in the Elkton Cemetery.
Charles Piercy.
Mr.. Charles Piercy, a well-known citizen OF
This county died suddenly on Tueslav morn