Looking for information on this preach or the Church at
Gervais, French
Prairie Church of 1878;
James William
WellsBirth: Apr. 30, 1844 Farmington, St. Francois County, Missouri, USA
Death: Feb. 7, 1921
Manton, Tehama County,
California, USA
Son of Hiram
Wells and Nancy (Kelly)
Wells. Fought for the Union in the Civil War, 18th Illinois Infantry, Co D. Discharged Apr 28, 1862. He was a
Baptist preacher and school teacher. Married Mary Ellen Walker (14 Nov 1875
Pine Grove,
Amador, CA) and had three children; Elene Ilene
Wells who married Alvin Hansen and secondly Joseph Francis Arnol, Ernest Alvin
Wells who married Elsie May
Cunningham, and Winona L
Wells who married Perry E
Vilas and secondly Samuel Aaron
Kenoyer. The Reverend James
Wells was married a second time to Martha E
Daily (18 Dec 1903 San Francisco, CA) , who he later divorced.
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The ministerial directory of the
Baptist churches in the United States of
AmericaBy George William Lasher
Published: Ministerial directory co., 1899
Wells, James, Plateau, Calif. - Born, Farmington, St Francois County, Missouri.; Studied at Bethel
College, Russellville, Ky..; Licensed Feb. 20, 1867, Ordained May 24, 1872, Caldwell's Spring Church, Caldwell County, Kentucky; Pastor Macedonia and Emmaus;
Pine Grove, Shasta County, California; Ione, Amador County, California; Biggs, Butte County, California; Plateau,
San Mateo County, California;
Gervais, Marion County, Oregon; Virginia City,
Storey County,
Nevada.
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History of
San Joaquin County,
California with Biographical Sketches
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA - 1923
CHAPTER XXIII
POST AND RAILROAD TOWNS, pg 286
The Ripon
Finch Murder
"Probably the greatest sensation in Ripon was the killing of Philip
Finch by the Rev. James
Wells, December 12, 1884. The cause was a difficulty of long standing and seems that in the eastern states
Finch had seduced
Wells' half-sister. Wells came to
California and located at Ripon and
Finch followed and obtained work in the warehouse; at one time he boarded and lodged with the
Wells family. Just previous to the shooting it was reported to
Wells that
Finch had threatened his life. Wells at this time was teaching the Ripon schools on the main street, located where now stands the First National Bank. About 4 o'clock on the day of the murder,
Finch was walking towards the schoolhouse and some of the men on the street remarked, "Now there'll be trouble." As
Finch came near the schoolhouse
Wells came out of the building and walked up to
Finch. After a short talk, those watching the affair saw
Wells draw a revolver and shoot at
Finch four times. Two of the shots took effect and
Finch was taken into John T. Bloomer's store. He was attended by Dr. B. M. Bainbridge but died shortly afterwards. As two of the witnesses of the murder John B. Matthews and Thomas Fredericks ran to the scene,
Wells exclaimed, "I am sorry I had to shoot you, boy, you have been following me for years. You seduced my sister and this morning you insulted my family." Sheriff (Thomas)
Cunningham hearing of the murder by telegraph hastened to the scene, arresting
Wells and bringing him to Stockton jail. Wells was indicted by the Grand jury for murder, and his trial came up February 25, 1885, in the Masonic Hall as the old courthouse had been condemned as unsafe. He has sold his little house in Ripon to pay his attorneys, James A. Louititt and Wm. Dudley. The prosecuting was represented by the district attorney, Ansel Smith, assisted by Joseph C. Campbell. The jury went to their room on the evening of February 28, and the following morning reported that they could not agree, standing seven to five for acquittal. At a subsequent trial
Wells was acquitted."
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Red Bluff
Daily News, 8 Feb 1921
Rev. James
Wells Taught In Many Schools Of County
The funeral of Rev. James
Wells who died at his home in
Manton early Monday morning, will be held at
Manton tomorrow at 1 o'clock. Mr
Wells was 76 years, 9 months and 7 days old at the time of his death. He had been a resident of
Manton and vicinity for thirty years and had taught school in many other sections of the county. He was a man on high ideals and a splended citizen. Mr. Wells is survived by three children, Ellen Arnol of
Manton, E. A. (Ernest)
Wells and Mrs
Vilas of Modesto. The children have all been with him during his illness of several months. Beside the children there are surviving two half sisters and a half brother in
San Joaquin County, twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild.
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Baptist home missions in North
America By American
Baptist Home Mission Society
INCLUDING A FULL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ADDRESSES OF THE
JUBILEE MEETING, AND A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
AMERICAN
Baptist HOME MISSION SOCIETY,
HISTORICAL TABLES, Etc.
1832—1882.
Page 598
Nevada
Virginia City, Jas. Wells....................................Jan. 1876....5 mths
Page 605
Oregon
Gervais, Jas. Wells, French
Prairie Church.........Oct '78 -'79 ...1 yrs 2 mths