N. R. Wells, a successful farmer of Marion Township, Cole Co., Mo., was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1830, and was educated in Chillicothe, where he attended school until he was about twenty-one years of age. At that age he embarked on the sea of life for himself, and was engaged in farming until 1855, when he received a sun-stroke, and was obliged to give up this work. The following year he went to Kansas, but not liking the country returned to Ohio, and the summer of that year was spent in traveling. In 1858 he purchased a flourmill in Ross County, which he conducted for four years, and during this time was married to Miss Frances E. Ward, a native of the county, and a daughter of J. F. F. Ward. After disposing of his mill Mr. Wells engaged in the grocery business in Chillicothe, but in 1866 immigrated to Jefferson City, Mo., where he was occupied in the china and glassware business for eleven years. He then operated a mill in Benton County for two years, after which he sold out and returned to Cole County, and purchased a farm of 125 acres on the California road, three miles west of Jefferson City, which is well situated and is finely improved with good buildings and orchards. He has always been quite active in politics, and votes with the Republican party. He and wife are the parents of the following children: Frank, Natillie, Frances E., Elnora, Frederick, William, Eliza, Elizabeth and Daisy. Mr. Wells is the fifth of seven children born to James and Cynthia (Reeves) Wells, who were born in Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was a farmer, and followed that occupation until his death, in 1835. The mother died in Jefferson City in 1878.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).