Abijah Wells

Abijah Wells was born 12 June 1840 in Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. He was one of seven children of William R. and Betsey K. (Skinner) Wells. His brother was Adolphus and sisters were Phoebe Jane, Sarah, Sallie Ann, Charity P., and Amma. The first few years of his life, he lived in Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. At age five his parents moved to LaSalle Co., Illinois. At the age of 17, his parents again moved and he arrived with them in Nemaha County during June of 1857. He attended Centralia College and was one of many arrested and prosecuted in what became known as "The Centralia Riot." He attended the first session of the State Agricultural College of Manhattan, Kansas. He married Loretta C. Williams, daughter of Arthur William and Mary Angeline (Nordyke) Williams on 18 October 1866 in Nemaha Co., Kansas. Loretta was born 5 March 1847 at Greenville in Green Co., Wisconsin. She died 9 November 1935 in Seneca. She was buried in the Seneca City Cemetery, Nemaha Co., Kansas.

This wedlock produced seven children, five boys and two girls, all of who were born in Nemaha County. The first child, Frank, was born in 1867. He probably married Florence L. Stilson on 21 May 1891. Frank later removed to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The second child, Arthur, was born 1869, died before 1872 at age 22 months, and was buried in the Seneca City Cemetery, Nemaha Co., Kansas. The third child, Ira K., was born 18 June 1871. He married Zula M. Thompson on 4 April 1895 in Nemaha Co., Kansas. They reared two children. Ira died 2 April 1934 at Puerto Rico while being employed by the government. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. The fourth children, a daughter, Elsie, was born 27 August 1873 and died 4 September 1897. She was buried at Seneca City Cemetery, Nemaha Co., Kansas. The next child, Maude W., was born 18 December 1875. She married Robert Erwin Deemer on 6 June 1905 in Nemaha Co., Kansas. She died 18 October 1960 at Omaha, Nebraska. Maude was buried on 20 October 1960 at Seneca City Cemetery, Nemaha Co., Kansas. The sixth child, William A., died 1 October 1938. He had been living at Seattle, Washington in 1934. The last child, a son Rolland, was living at Anaheim, California in 1934.

Before Abijah was married, he taught in the first public school probably from the fall term of 1864 through the spring term of 1866. The year 1866 was a very busy time for him. He was clerk of school district #11 City of Seneca. Abijah became a charter member of the Nemaha Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He passed the Nemaha County bar to practice law. He also married a former student. He was a trustee of the Universalist Church helping in reducing the building debt by contributing $500 in 1867. Abijah had been a Sunday school superintendent for his church. He was also president of the Kansas Universalist Convention for 25 years. By June of

1870, he was a 30 year old lawyer with real estate valued at $7600 and personal property valued at $800. After Seneca became a self-governing city, the city council meetings were held in his law office. His law office at this point in time was probably above the Assenmacher Saloon (where Harsh Drug Store stands today). By 1881 he was in a law partnership with J.F. Curran and during this year was editor and proprietor of the Seneca Tribune before selling this newspaper. He was appointed to the fair committee by the Board of Trade of Seneca in 1882. During his lifetime, he was vice-president of the National Bank of Seneca, served as worshipful master of Seneca Lodge 39 AF&AM, and was a member of Knights and Ladies of Security.

Abijah's official contributions to Seneca and Nemaha County were:

• • 1863 elected county superintendent

  • 1866 elected clerk of district court

  • 1867 elected register of deeds

  • 1871 appointed Seneca police judge

  • 1873 appointed Seneca police judge

  • 1874 elected county superintendent

  • 1876 elected mayor of Seneca

  • 1876 elected county superintendent

  • 1877 elected mayor of Seneca

  • 1878 elected county superintendent

  • 1880 secretary of Old Settlers Society

  • 1881 secretary of Old Settlers Society

  • 1884 appointed postmaster (resigned)

  • 1896 elected judge of court of appeals

  • of Kansas at Topeka (4 years)

Abijah, a pioneer and very prominent member of Seneca's community, had moved to California for health reasons a few months before his death. He departed this life on 1 March 1915 in Los Angeles, California. Funeral services were held at the Universalist Church on 6 March 1915. He was buried in the Seneca City Cemetery, Nemaha Co., Kansas.