William Hardess Wells

Birth: 18 Jul 1858

in Tennessee

Death: 6 Mar 1925
in Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee, USA

Father: Jesse George Wells

Mother: Caroline Price

Siblings:
Mary Jane Wells
Harriet Belle Wells
Stephen Gilford Wells
Martha Jennett Wells
Elmire M Wells "Ella"
Annie Veta Wells

Spouse: Rachel Josephine Dunlap

Married: 1896

Children:
Gordon R Wells
Golden W Wells "Brassy"
Garland Strong Wells, Sr.
Will Ella Wells
Anna May Wells

Obituary:
(Found in his sister's family Bible (Annie Veta Wells Osborne, in possession by Helen Sharpe)
W. H. Wells, age 67, barber, died yesterday morning at his home on Woodlawn Pike, after a long illness. Surviving are his widow; three sons, G. R. Wells, Los Angeles, Cal.; G. W. Wells, Knoxville; G. S. Wells, Chicago; and two sisters (daughters), Miss Annie Mae Wells and Miss Willie Ellis Wells, Knoxville; one brother, Rev. S. G. Wells, Knoxville; three sisters, Mrs. Mary J. Rich, Los Angeles, Mrs. G. J. Eubanks and Mrs. John Osborne, Knoxville. Mr. Wells had been a member of the First Baptist Church for years.
The funeral will be conducted at Gallaher's View Baptist Church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. F. F. Brown officiating. Interment in Gallaher's View Cemetery. Pallbearers will be L. J. Lapasser, J. J. Hall, George Frazier, Tom White, Emerson Julian, and Ben Wilkerson.

Connection to Siblings:
Using the obituary, we can use listed siblings to corroborate William's early census records. Here are records related to William's siblings:

Annie Veta Wells married John C. Osborne. She is listed in the 1880 U.S. Census with Jesse G. as the head of household.

Annie's death certificate is certified by her husband and lists Jesse Wells as her father. It lists Harriett Price as her mother, which suggests Caroline Price had "Harriett" as her first or middle name.

The death certificate of Harriett Bell Osborne (I suppose she also married an Osborne) is certified by her brother S. G. Wells. She has parents Jesse Wells and Harriett Price.

Stephen "Gilbert" Wells' death certificate is certified by his son. It lists his father as Jesse G. Wells and mother as Caroline Price. It lists his occupation as minister, so this is in fact Rev. S. G. Wells mentioned in William's obituary. Records vary on S. G.'s middle name. He is listed as Gilford and Gibson in different census records. Both Jesse and Carter are living with S.G. Wells in the 1900 U.S. Census.










1870 U.S. Census (detail):
Date: 17 Aug 1870
Location: District 11, Knox, Tennessee, USA
Notes: Mary, William, Belle and Gilford are listed in the same household.

1880 U.S. Census (detail):
Date: 1880
Location: District 11, Knox, Tennessee, USA
Notes: This transciption probably has errors. I need to check the original document. Mary and Adaline from 1870 would be 24 and 20 respectively. Martha J is Jennett from 1870, but she would be 15. Bell would be 17. Elmira and Anna are new additions since 1870.

1900 U.S. Census (detail):
Date: 13 Jun 1900
Location: District 24, Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee, USA
Notes:

1910 Knox Co. Census 8 dist Lonsdale #464/482
Wells, William H. 51 M1 for 14 years barber TN
Radie J. 38 wife 5 children 5 living
Gordan R. 11 son
? W. 9 son
? ? 7 son
Ella 4 daughter
Annie M. 1 10/12 daughter

1920 Knox Co. Census 25 WD Knoxville 3-Dist #260/267
Wells, William 61 barber shop
Rachel 48 wife
Will Ella 14 daughter
Annie M. 1 10/12 daughter

GALLAHER VIEW BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY RECORD BOOK
347. William Wells 1858-1925