Craig, the 1860 Dunklin Co., MO census actually shows Charles' age as 28. I can't help but wonder who provided the information to that census taker because there seems to be incorrect data, i.e., Dema's descendants are adamant that she was born in Minnesota, not Illinois, and Edwin, according to his marriage certificate was born in Cass Co., Illinois, not Missouri.

The above Charles W. WELLS was most definitely my gr grandfather and Sarah A. GREGG/GRAGE/GREIG was my gr grandmother. Edwin was my grandfather.

I have been unable to find Charles on any 1870 census yet. He seemed to have disappeared.

Finding a Charles W. WELLS, 48, carriage maker, on the 1880 Jackson Co., MI census seems to be a fit, although he has a different family.

My gr grandmother Sarah married Amos D. BARNETT in 1872, so we can safely assume that something happened to her marriage to Charles, if indeed they were actually married. Sarah returned to Chester, Randolph Co., IL and died there in 1911.

I am having difficulty copying Charles' short bio onto this form and so will retype it:

Charles WELLS, carriage-maker, was born in Berkeley Co., VA., Sept. 4, 1830. When a small child his parents, Nicholas and Elizabeth Wells, emigrated to Hocking Co., OH in 1831, took up government land and made a farm, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1869. The subject of this sketch remained on the farm until he was 16 years of age, when he was apprenticed to a man by the name of Michael MOORE, and remained four years. He then worked as a "jour." and traveled over the western states. In 1849 he crossed the plains to CA, but his health failing, he returned to OH. In the spring of 1851 he came to Ann Arbor (MI) and followed his trade a short time. In 1861 he enlisted in the 16th Ohio Vol. Cav., Co. K, and served three years; was in all the engagements of the regiment up to the battle of Gettysburg, where he was injured by a cannon ball coming so close to his head that it knocked him down, and it was supposed a horse ran over him. After the war he came back to Ann Arbor and remained there until 1878, then came to Jackson and has remained since. He married Miss Elizabeth SHAIBLE, a native of Germany; she was born in 1847. They have 1 child--Loda. In politics Mr. W. is a Republican.

From HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, pub. 1881.

I have been searching for Nicholas WELLS in Berkeley Co., VA and Hocking Co., OH on the 1830, 1840 and 1850 censuses but so far haven't found them.

Many thanks in advance for any enlightenment you can shed.

Peggy