A website for the descendants of J. W. Wells of Menominee, Michigan
Your comments
A place for your comments and additional information (posted with your permission). Write to bobwells2@me.com. Newest contributions are at the top.
Bob,
According to the 1935 and the 1940 editions of Lloyd's Register of American Yachts, A.C. Wells of Menomonee, Mich. And Milwaukee, Wisc. owned the 98' motor yacht, "Black Watch II" which was originally built in 1910 by the George Lawley Shipyard of Neponset, MA and named "Mona" and later "Topsy". She was used by the U.S. Navy in WWI under the name "Shrewsbury". In 1949 she was owned by a Sheldon Udell of Lake Bluff, Ill. And Milwaukee, Wisc. By 1958 she was for sale by a broker and wound up in New Orleans where I grew up. I remember seeing her often moored in the yacht harbor, one of the largest yachts there in the 1960's. As you can see from the photos, she had a "cruiser" type stern, very distinctive. By then she looked more like the Mystic Seaport photo taken in 1958 where the pilot station was enclosed. I continue to search for who owned her in New Orleans but to no avail. I don't know whatever became of her. I recall she was well maintained well into the late '60's. I thought you might be interested to know this bit of Wells history. Does A.C. Wells have any living descendants? I wonder if any photos or stories of the yacht survive from the Wells ownership. She must have been ideal for the Great Lakes, and I'm sure there were great memories tied up with the vessel during that period.
Maunsel White
maunsel.white@mchsi.com
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Received 9/20/11
Bob:
This article was in a recent Eagle Herald paper. Thought it might be of some interest to you, I will keep a keen eye on any follow ups as I think near the end of the article it said there would be more to follow.
Syd [Wells]
Menominee, Oct. 15, 2010
I've added the column by Larry Ebsch from the Eagle Herald and two accompanying pictures to this websites fire page here. Thank you, Syd. -- BW
Bob:
Just checked the family website and saw the note from a man in Athelstane WI in regards to flooring with the JW Wells lumber company stamp. I'm certain there are numerous stories like these floating about. When I did some re-modeling in our family home I also noticed the stamp on the back of the flooring. I had picture frames made for my sister (Rita) and brother (Carter) so they could have a bit of the family history. I also had a shelf built with some wood from the kitchen project that was completed a few years ago, pretty cool to see "J.W. Wells Lumber Company" stamped across the front of the shelf unit. I have been tempted to stop at renovation projects around town to see if the debris might also have the family name on it but so far have not had the courage to do so. Thought you would like to hear good use has been made of some of the demolition.
Syd
Jan. 27, 2010
(Sydney Ruth Wells is a second-generation descendant of Artemis (A.C.) Wells and Hattie Stephenson and daughter of Samuel Wells and Dorothy Schrock. She lives in Menominee.)
Hello Bob,
Very interesting to find the floor I'm taking up in the living quarters of my bar have the J.W.Wells imbossed in almost every piece.Top grade maple hard wood .Pretty neat.Heard Wausaukee lumber in wisconsin was a J.W. Wells store. Thanks for your time.
Gary Jobelius (Jabber)
gary771 [at] @centurytel [dot] net
Firelane Bar and Grill.
Athelstane, Wisconsin
January 6, 2009
Hi Bob,
I just came across your website and I thought you may be interested in some
of the old photos I took around Menominee in the 1960's at this link: members.cox.net/acr-ted/.
Of particular interest to you might be the last photo at the bottom of the
page...this is the house where I grew up. Last time I was in Menominee (about
5 years ago) it was still there and had been painted a gray color.
Ted Ellis
Mesa, Arizona
November 23, 2008
J.W. and entourage in Egypt (date unknown)
Hi Bob,
I've been meaning to write you and thank-you for the great job you are doing
on the Wells website! Here [above and below] are a couple of photos that might
interest you. [In the Egypt picture,] J. W. is the one second from the left on
the camel.
Ardyce Wells
Marinette, Wisc.
May 12, 2007
STATE PARK GETS A NEW TREE (1987): Some text is clipped off at left and right. Hope you can read it OK. -- BW
Hi Bob,
Just came upon your new website while checking out all the new stories of my
Ferry business, Spirit of LaSalle.
I don't know if you already knew this, but my Great Great Grandfather Schuyler,
settled the land which is now J.W. Wells State Park in 1875. After over 50
years and 16 children, just before he died, he sold it to J.W. for $900 dollars
... Damn!
I've live in "Wells Circle," or some call it Sheridan Circle, in
Menominee for 26 years, and right next door to the old Wells homestead, which
is now owned by Joe Lauer.
Robert Ruleau III
Menominee
March 26, 2007
(My recollection from my most recent visit to Menominee was that J.W. never
lived on First Street. I presume you're referring to the house where I visited
my Uncle Ralph and Aunt Frances as a child in around 1955. We also visited
another Uncle, Charlie Law (husband of Florence, who, like Ralph, was one of
J.W.'s six kids), in his house on First Street at that time. I remember the
view of Green Bay beyond the beautiful gardens. -- BW)
Dear Mr. Wells:
My name is Bruce Gerber. I am currently in the process of writing a book on
the History of Menominee County. While searching the web, I came across your
family website. I would like your permission to include information from your
website regarding the Wells family in my upcoming book.
The Wells family is one of the highly regarded families in Menominee County,
as well as other parts of the Upper Peninsula, and rank among the Stephenson's;
Spies; Ingalls; Sawyer's; Blesch's; Holmes; Lloyd; and, Henes; to name a few.
My interest in Menominee County is that I am third generation Menominee County
by birth (the old St. Joseph-Lloyd Hospital, Menominee!). My father began working
for the Michigan State Police when I was one year old--so, we became "Trolls" (i.e.
lived below the "Bridge").
The book covers as much information on almost every topic related to Menominee
County--from the "Sturgeon War," the McDonald Lynching (1881); the
soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who served in all wars; to the athletic
prowess of Menominee County High Schools (including the 2006 Division 5 State
Champion Menominee Maroons). I was fortunate enough to attend the game with
my father--Menominee High Class of '39.
I am hoping to have the book published in early 2008 to coincide with the 125th Anniversary of the City of Menominee and the 145th Anniversary of Menominee County. I will include appropriate credit in the book for any information obtained from your site. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Bruce W Gerber
ISCM(AW), US Navy (Retired)
February 10, 2007
(Thanks, Bruce, for linking to this site in your upcoming book. And another
thanks for the lovely pictures of the Wells Family plot in Riverside Cemetery
that are now on this site. -- BW)
Hi Bob,
Thank you for the note and update. I checked out the Menominee Wells website
and loved it. There were some things there that I had never heard. I loved
the letter by my Uncle Tom; he certainly wrote
like he talked! I could hear his voice as I read the letter. I did want to
mention that Olivia's birthday on the website is down as 1985 (six years before
we were married!!) but it is really 1996. Might raise some eyebrows otherwise.
I appreciate all the work you've done on the genealogy, and the fact that you
keep us updated on it. It is a real gift for my girls as well as for me.
Warm Regards,
Lynn Wells Newman
Tokyo
January 23, 2007
(Thanks for the birthday correction. It's been changed. -- BW)
Hi Bob & Michele,
Thanks for all the time and energy you put into the web site and research.
It is great. Thought you may be interested in this
article about Sam. Come visit!
Leanne and Carter Wells
Harbor Springs, Michigan
January 20, 2007
(Thanks for the note and for the article, which I've posted on its
own page. -- BW)
Bob:
Just reviewed the website, you did a wonderful job! Thanks for taking the time and energy to put this all down in one location. Megan (13) and Thor (10) now have some hard family facts to fall back on as they re-trace the past. They will also be able to find some answers to those age old questions of how am I related to J.W. Wells. Thanks!
Syd Moore
Menominee
January 9, 2007
(So nice to hear from you, Syd, especially since you're a real Menominee Wells -- still living there! --BW)