As told to and recounted by his grandson, Milton -
“They lived on a farm and grandfather was in the field cultivating corn. When he came to the end of the row he met a neighbor boy cultivating corn on the adjoining farm. They tied their horses up and left to join the army. The Civil War was in progress at the time. Instead of joining the North they joined the Confederate army. The first battle they were in he was taken prisoner and spent the rest of the war at Fort Donelson. If I'm not mistaken that is in Tennessee.”
Served in Co. B 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers of the Confederate Army during the Civil War from 21 May 1861 until 16 Dec 1864, with a break while an injured prisoner and away from the unit from Feb 1862 to May 1863.
Listed in Roseville, IL as a farmer in 1880.
Living on a farm in Warren Co, IL in 1900 with his wife and 3 youngest children.
In 1910 he is living on Main St and working as a teamster for the city, and only their daughter Ruth is living with them.
In 1920 he is listed as R. L. Wells (74, PA) and renting a home with his wife Melvina (72, PA).
[Obituary] Daily Review Atlas, Monmout IL - Mon, 26 Feb 1923, pg 1
ROBERT WELLS DIED SUNDAY
WELL KNOWN RESIDENT PASSED AWAY FOLLOWING BRIEF ILLNESS
Robert Laughlin Wells, a resident of Warren county since 1867 and respected by all who knew him, passed away yesterday morning at 5:00
o'clock at his home, 1023 South B street, after a brief iliness of six days. Pleural pneumonia was given as the cause of his death.
Deccased was born in Fayette county, Pa., April 17, 1845 and when twenty-two years if age came to Warren county, settling on a farm between Monmouth and Roseville. He was united in marriage to Melvina D. Smith, Sept, 2, 1870 at Roseville and she survives with ten children. They are Joe Wells of Monmouth, P. S. Wells of. Enid, Okla., Mrs. George Kelso of Canonsburg, Pa., Mrs. Nettie Brall of Washington, D. C. Mrs. Herbert Hostler of Streator, Elmer Wells of Monmouth, Mrs. R. W. Lead•er of Independence, Kan., Mrs. J, P. Montgomery of Ingram, Pa., Robert L. Wells, Jr., of Monmouth, and Mrs. E, L. Jones of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Two brothers also survive, namely James Wells of Brownsville, Pa., and Hugh Wells of Bayville, Pa. Besides these there are twenty-five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Two sisters preceded Mr. Wells in death.
Mr. Wells was a member of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War and took part in a number of important engagements.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternson at 2 o'clock from the First Baptist church with the Rev. George Sneath in charge. Interment will be made in Monmouth cemetery. Upon request of the deceased, friends are asked to omit flowers.