M. L. K. Wells
July 14 Paintsville Herald 1926
OLD UNION SOLDIER
Passing of One of the County's Leading Citizens of Noble Ancestry
The following brief sketch of the life history of M L K Wells who died in Paintsville last week was written by Dr. H. G. Sowards, pastor of the Mayo Memorial Church and President of John C C Mayo College. He also gives a history of the Wells family.
M. L. K. WELLS
by H. G. Sowards
M. L. King Wells was born near Odds, Ky., December 5, 1848. He was the son of Dr. William Green Wells and Mary Butcher Wells. He was the grandson of Richard Wells, who distinguished himself as an American Patriot on the battle fields of the American Revolution. M. L. King Wells has been known for years to his many relatives and friends as Uncle king. He is a distinguished descendant of noble ancestry. Among his illustrious ancestry we mention Jocelyn Wells, a native and intimate companion of William the Conqueror. From him was descended Hugo de Wells, born in 1135, Bishop of Lincoln and Lord Chancellor of England. Hugo de Wells was one of the English barons who forced King John of England to grant the "Magna Charta" at Runnymede in 1215. This document upon which the English liberty is based today was drawn up in the handwriting of Hugo de Wells. To claim kinship with such illustrious ancestry is an honor that would be coveted by kings and princes of any nation. It is certainly no less an honor nor mark of distinction to a citizen of our United States of America. Uncle King's grandfather, Richard Wells Jr., settled in Daniels Creek, Ky., about the year 1838. He acquired a large farm and lived to a venerable age. He died in 1838. Here in the new frontier of the new country he undertook to rear his children in keeping with traditions and customs of his distinguished ancestry. Richard Wells' son, William Green, who was a father of Uncle King, studied medicine and surgery. In the practice of his profession he brought relief and healing to the homes of a large community. Religion and service in the name of Christ was the passion of his life. He was a member of the Methodist Church as was his entire family. The home of Dr. Wells and the generous hospitality of his wife was a bon and comfort of the traveling Methodist ministry of those early days. Dr. Wells traded his lands on Daniels Creek for other lands on Greasy Creek. His removal to Greasy Creek occurred about 1857. The wife of Dr. Wells was the daughter of Jacob Bitcher. She was born in Scott Co., Va. To this union was born thirteen children. Twelve of these children grew to maturity. All of them were citizens of fine character, fully living up to that strain of noble blood that flowed through their veins. Of this family of thirteen Uncle King was the last to go into the Unseen.
Uncle King attended a country school near his home. He applied himself so vigorously to his school room work that he had acquired a foundation for far more of the average education of his day. When he was only a little more than fourteen years old he enlisted as a soldier in Company C, Forty-fifth Kentucky volunteer Infantry, in which he gave courageous service in the defense of the American Union in the Great Civil War. Although he was so young he was soon made to Corporal. He was in several battles and was wounded twice. Soon after his honorable discharge from the Union Army, Uncle King was married to Exer Meek, a daughter of Isaac and Sally Ward Meek. He continued his studies and throughout his whole life has kept his mind keen and alert by systematic study and reading in the fields of science and literature. M. L. King Wells and his wife Exer, established their home near Boonscamp on Greasy Creek. He taught in the rural schools; he was elected and served as magistrate, and gave many other expressions to his public spirit. As his family grew and he engaged in the mercantile business. Through farming and merchandising he supported his family and gave to them far more than the average educational opportunities. He gave much service as a surveyor of lands and was at one time associated with the late John C C Mayo in the purchasing and opening of coal mines in the Big Sandy Valley. With his father and mother and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church and the Wells Chapel attests the loyalty of this family to the M. E Church, South. He was a Mason, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, a citizen of untiring zeal and unquestioned integrity. To Mr. and Mrs. Wells were born nine children, eight of whom survive him. Sally, the eldest of the children, was the wife of Hon. John P. Delong. On march 19, 1927 she passed into the unseen, being the first member of the family to go. All of the other children survive him and their standing in the community where they live is a living tribute to the memory of Uncle King, far beyond the power of words to express. They are William G.; Paulina, the widow of M L Robinson, Shadrock; Dr John P.; Marcus L.,Jr.; Edward;Zephaniah and Golda.
One of Uncle King's great desires was to bring to the Big Sandy Valley a realization of rich heritage from noble ancestry to show them that there had been committed to them a sacred trust of upholding the honor and tradition of their household name. To this end he made research into the records of the old Kentucky families. He knew more intimately the history of the Big Sandy Valley and of the people that had made its history any man in the state of Kentucky. He going from among us has not only removed a venerable man for whom we all had the highest respect and admiration but has brought us an incalculable loss. There is no one prepared to take his place. Our Big Sandy Valley will forever fill his loss. It was his earnest desire that our young people should turn from lawlessness to the citizenship worthy of their illustrious ancestry and the great American Republic.
Death came to Uncle King Wells on the morning of July 6, 1927. He had been quite active but not vigorous. His death has, because of the suddenness and because of the high value and esteem in which he was held, brought upon this community and from his home a shock from which it will require time to recover from. His genial and pleasing personality; the vast fund of information that he carried; his keen interest in the lives of our citizen ship and his kindly and sympathetic greetings are ours no more. Perhaps most of the numerous families of Eastern Kentucky was that established by his grandfather, Richard Wells, Jr. Uncle King stood=d for years as the patriarch, the acknowledged leader of the Wells family. As the years go by ad the traditions of the Wells family are recounted by his posterity, grateful and loving reference will be made to Uncle King. He lives on enshrined in the hearts of those who love him, in the memories of those who knew him and his priceless value to us.
While Uncle King is the last of his family to go and in that sense is "The last leaf upon the tree," you can not say to him "the names he loved to hear have been carved because he continued his interest and for many a year upon the tomb," his love in people young and old. Among his friends were many young=g people. He desired for them the high attainments they ought to have.
For more than sixty years, Uncle King and his wife, Exer, have gone down the River of Time together. Perhaps there is not another record in all of Kentucky like it. There lives have flowed on together like the notes of a grand sweet song. Who can measure what his going means to his wife he has left behind. It is like taking the strings from the instrument, the tune from a song. Only God, our heavenly Father, through the Holy Ghost can speak those words of comfort that will solace the heart of the sorrowing wife.
John Anderson my jo, John,
When we were first acquent,
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonnie brow was brent;
But now your brow is beld, John,
Your locks are like the snow;
But blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson my jo.
John Anderson my jo, John.
We climb the hill together;
And monie a canty day, John,
We've had wi' ane anither;
Now we maun totter down, John,
But hand in hand we'll go,
And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson my jo,
~Robert Burns