John Chapple Wellons Sr.

John Chapple Wellons (Sr.) was the father of John Chapel (consistently spelled differently) Wellons and the grandfather of James H. Wellons and the great grandfather of my grandfather, Ralph Wellons.

His unique middle name is his mother’s maiden name.

He was born April 22, 1805 in Pulaski County, Kentucky and died on January 23, 1896 in Warren County, Iowa.

On December 8, 1831, he married Sarah Elizabeth “Sally” Hudson in Pulaski County.

His son, John Chapel Wellons, was born on February 17, 1839 in Pulaski County.

They are in Pulaski County for the 1840 census. The family consists of 2 adults and 5 kids under the age of 20, who are all categorized as “free-white”. There are no slaves.

They are still in Pulaski County for the 1850 census and we see:

John C. 45
Sarah “Sally” 44
Nancy E. 18
William M. 16
Mary 15
Rebecca 14
John C. (Jr.) 11
Jemima 8
Sarah E. 5 (Jr confuses the historical record by marrying another Sarah E.)
Daniel H. 3
Henry J. 2
George W. 1

All of the kids are born in Kentucky, except for Mary who is born in Tennessee.

They have moved to Richland Township in Warren County, Iowa for the 1860 census. William M. And Rebecca are presumably adults and have left home. The remainder are still at home and they are joined by:

Samuel M.
Andrew J.
John F.
Ben F.

The first two of these are born in Indiana and the last two in Iowa. So there has been a stop for some period of time in Indiana.

Sally dies on January 8, 1861 in Warren County, Iowa with possibly 14 living children.

On August 27, 1865, John Chapple Wellons (Sr.) married Mrs. Elizabeth Henderson Weaver in Warren County, Iowa.

They have moved to Hartford Township (or townships have been added or changed... it happened), still in Warren County, Iowa.

John 65 is a farmer (and presumably was all along)
Elizabeth
Ben F. 14
Charles Wellons 4 (John’s 15th child; not sure which mother)
And 3 Henderson children from Elizabeth’s first marriage.

They are still in Hartford Township of Warren County for the 1880 census. John, age 75, is a laborer and is living with the Hurst family.

In the 1885 state census, John is in Palmyra, Iowa. He reports being married but there is no wife listed. He lives alone with Charles, now 18 years old.

From these last two census reports, it raises the question as to whether Mrs. Wellons has left with her kids.

John Chapel Wellons (Jr.)... the son... dies on April 27, 1893 in Indiana.

John Chapple Wellons (Sr.) died on January 23, 1896 and is buried in Hartford Cemetery.

His second wife, Elizabeth Henderson Weaver Wellons, died on March 10, 1900 in Avilla, Noble County, Indiana.