Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

J. W. Wells went to Mississippi in 1844. (A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago: 1893, pages 895-896). His tombstone says his name is J. W. Wells. When his father-in-law died, Thomas W. Wells bought his farm in Pine Springs, Lauderdale Co., MS. in Nov 1850. A slave schedule, Nov 1850, says he owned one slave girl, age 14 in Lauderdale Co. (Strother, Peggy, 07 Jan 2002, 8:06 AM) On the 1860 census Thomas lived in Lauderdale Co., MS. The family appears on the 1880 Limestone census pg.426, family 457. It says Thomas W. Age 57, Sarah E. 55, Thomas J 24, Caroline 21, Philip 15, (Philip says male and son by the name, but this was a girl.) James F 13, (name was James Edwin). Lots of other kids were on the pg., Susan Avara, John C. Wells, Benjamin Wells, and William Wells.
He served in the Confederacy as Priv., CO. G Miss. Cavalry, 6th Reg. under Capt. E. J. Reynolds, Col. Isham, & Col. H. P. Mabry, commander of the Brigade (Robert Wells e-mail, 30 Mar 2001).
Sarah Wells applied for a widow's pension on 18 November 1904. Q. Name A. Sarah Ellen Wells Q. Husband's name A. Thomas Westmoreland Wells Q. your age A. 79 this month (oct) Q. date married A. 10th day of Jan. 1847 Q. date of his death A. Sept 9th 1886 Q. how long have you lived in this county A. about 34 yrs. Q. what do you own A. twenty acres of land and an old house worth about only $200.00 and no personal property. (Information from Peggy Strothers) There seems to be quite a bit of uncertainty as to his name. However, since his widow used the name Thomas on the application for widows benefits, that appears to be correct. Perhaps he also had other names he used as well.
Peggy Strother says they moved to Shiloh, TX about 1865 from Meridian, Ms. Their last child was born in TX.
Robert Wells provided information about Thomas. He brought his family from Mississippi in wagons. The children mostly walked since the wagons were used for supplies. They crossed the Mississippi on a ferry or float about 1864-66. After coming to Texas he cut and trimmed logs to build their house and barn. He used some lumber in the ceiling, roof, and floors. His son did not know where they got the lumber. They had to make their furniture and candles. Four of his sons and one daughter had homesteads all joining. It is unknown whether they obtained the land through some kind of homestead law or not.
The following Song Ballad (provided by Robert Wells) was written by Thomas W. Wells to his wife, Sarah E. Wells, in 1862.
"I write this in remembrance to you,
If I should fall on my post,
It is but a soldier's due.
For you not to shed a tear for me,
Freedom is the best of all-
That you very well know."
War, War, War
This world is all a fleeting show
For man's probation given,
The smiles of joy, the tears of woe,
Deceitful things deceitful flow,
There's nothing true but heaven.
Poor wanderers of a stormy day
From wave to wave are driven,
And fancy's flash and reason's ray
Lived but to light us on the way,
There's nothing calm but heaven.
And falls the light on glory's plume
As fading hues at even,
And genius' bud and beauty's bloom
Are blossoms gathered for the toom,
There's nothing bright but heaven.
And where's a hand held out to cheer
The heart with anguish riven,
For sorrow's sigh and trouble's tear
Have never found a refuge here,
There's nothing kind but heaven.
In vain do mortals sigh for bliss
Without their sins forgiven,
True pleasure, everlasting peace
Are only found in God's free grace,
There's nothing good but heaven.
There is enough of peaceful rest
to morning wonders given,
There is a tear for soul's distress,
A balm for every wounded breast,
Tis found above in heaven.
Amen.
He took his own life by hanging. (Robert Wells)
He is buried in Prairie Grove Cemetery between Shiloh and Jewett. Robert Wells says the tombstone at Prairie Grove has the following inscription:
A precious one from us has gone
A voice we loved is stilled
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filled.

Census:
1870, Eutaw PO, Limestone, Texas, Series: M593 Roll: 1596 Page: 246
1346/1488, Wells, Thomas W., 46, m, w, laborer, TN, male citizen over 21
----, Sarah E., 44, f, w, keep house, SC
----, Ellen, 21, f, w, at home, MS
----, Martha W., 20, f, w, at home, MS
----, William, 19, w, m, w, labor, MS
----, Susan, 17, f, w, at home, MS
----, John, 16, m, w, labor, MS
----, Caroline, 14, f, w, at home, MS
----, Thomas, 13, m, w, labor, MS
----, Benjamin, 12, m, w, labor, MS
----, Philip, 9, m, w, home, MS
----, James, 5, m, w, home, MS

1880, 6-PCT, Limestone, TX, Series: T9 Roll: 1317 Page: 426
457/2, Wells, Thomas W., w, m, 57, farmer, TN, TN, TN
----, Sarah, E., w, f, 55, wife, SC, SC, SC
----, Thomas J., w, m, 24, son, MS, TN, SC
----, Caroline V. (?), w, f, 21, daughter, single, MS, TN, SC
----, Philip, w, m, 15, son, attended school, MS, TN, SC
----, James, F., w, m, 13, son, attended School, MS, TN, SC