He married his second wife, Clara, when she was 21. Joseph moved to Oklahoma about one year after a fire destroyed his home in Illinois on 17 Mar 1932 - St Patrick’s Day. A family story about "Grandpa Joe" describes him as very stubborn. Apparently the farm house did not have an indoor bathroom, and as Grandpa Joe got older and had more difficulty getting around, the family decided to install indoor plumbing. However, Grandpa Joe did not see the need for it and continued to use the outhouse.
Listed in Logan in 1940 as a farmer (69, IL) with his wife Clara (35, IL) and children Milton (14, IL), Phyllis (12, IL), Martha (8, IL) and Jancie (2, OK).
He was listed as Joe Wells of Oklahoma City in his brother Robert’s funeral papers in 1957.
[Obituary] The Enid Morning News - Tue, 25 Feb 1958, pg 10
SERVICES TODAY
Joseph L. Wells, 86, Lahoma, died early Saturday afternoon in an Enid hospital. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today in the Lahoma Christian church, with the Rev James Bradford officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park cemetery, Enid, under the direction o the Brown Funeral hone.
Pallbearers will be Fred Buckminister, Victor Blanchard, Art Henneke, Cary Hobson, Floyd Carlson and Clarence Ramming.
Wells came to Oklahoma in 1932 and settled on a farm north of North Enid. He moved to a farm south of Lahoma in 1938. He was born in Illinois and was a member of the Lahoma Christian church.
Survivors are his wife, Clara of the home; two sons, Delbert, Davenport, Iowa; and Milton, Enid; three daughters, Mrs. Kenneth Wedel, Enid; Mrs. Bruce Coppock, Cherokee; and Janice, of the home; two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Leader, Sidney, Nebr.; and Mrs. Ruth Irons, New Orleans, La.: 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchlldren.