William married BOOHER, Catherine Louisa about 1873. Catherine was born on 25 Dec 1855 in Indiana, USA; died on 5 Jun 1883 in Fort Thompson, South Dakota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Record of enlistment document shows him to be 5'4", light blue eyes, dark brown hair. Occupation shown as Clerk, age of 23. 1st Infantry, Company H.

1849 - His city of residence was listed as Lake Pepin, Minnesota. His 1849 election was contested by Harley D. White. Wells won the election with a 33 to 29 vote total. However, White claimed six of Wells' votes were cast by people who weren't legal residents of the Territory. The House members ended up with a tie vote on the resolution to deny Wells the seat; so he retained it. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?id=12047

Wild West | Published: June 12, 2006 at 8:00 pm
http://www.historynet.com/philip-wells-wounded-at-wounded-knee.htm

"The first time Sioux warriors had left Philip Wells bleeding had been more than 25 years earlier, on August 17, 1864, when he was 13. Although renegade bands of Sioux had continued to roam after the Minnesota Uprising of 1862, Philip's bear of a father, nicknamed Bully by white settlers and the Fox by the Santee Sioux, had little fear. It was said he never met his match in muscle or daring. Leaving his half-blood wife and their home in Fairbault, Minn., James Wells took his three sons - Aaron, 11, Wallace, 17, and Philip - and a Santee ward named George and his wife to explore a possible move to the Black Hills. Minnesota was too crowded.

West of Spirit Lake, Iowa, the group separated to hunt. Philip and George's wife were alone in camp on the Floyd River when they were attacked by a Sioux war party. George's wife screamed and fell, severely wounded. Philip, shot in the left arm and leg, ran from the camp and threw himself down in some tall grass. He watched an Indian coming straight toward him and debated. Should he beg for his life? Or stand up and offer to die like a man, perhaps winning the brave's admiration? Before he could decide, the brave turned away.

Not daring to move, he lay hidden through the night. About dawn he heard little brother Aaron's voice calling and crying. Fearing the Indians held Aaron and were making him call, Philip did not dare answer. Sometime later he saw movement in the trees. It was Wallace and George, knowing nothing of what had happened, finally returning to camp. About the same time, Aaron stumbled in with a bitter story. Their seemingly invincible father was dead. Taken captive, Aaron had been helped to escape by a sympathetic Indian. Since then he'd been running for his life. After finding and burying their father's body, the shattered group started home."


Died:
Murdered by Indians

James married GRAHAM, Jane on 12 Sep 1836 in Fort Snelling, Hennepin, Minnesota, USA. Jane (daughter of GRAHAM, Duncan and PENICHON, Suzanne) was born in 1821 in Minnesota, USA; died about 1881. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Duncan married PENICHON, Suzanne. Suzanne was born about 1784. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]