In the busy community located in the thriving village of Nicholson, we find a number of energetic and thorough-going business men, who have attained success through tact, good judgment and perseverance. Among them is Jerry F. Wells, who is the senior member of the well known firm of Wells & Farrar, proprietors of a feed mill on State Street. The business of which he is the head has been built up mainly by his own enterprise, and for years he has been counted as one of the most efficient businessmen of Nicholson. Nathan Wells, father of Jerry F., and a farmer, was born in Orange Co., NY April 8, 1828 and in 1848 married Miss Diana Thomas, the wedding ceremony being performed by O. Browning at Benton, PA. Mrs. Wells was born January 2, 1828 and by her marriage became the mother of 8 children: J.T., May 22, 1849, A.D., Jul 18, 1850, Diana E., Dec 14, 1852, Jerry F., October 14, 1855, C.J., Mar 17, 1858, Arminda A., Nov 23 1863, Nellie L., Dec 5, 1865, and Hattie C., Oct 16, 1867 and died Jun 1893. The mother of these children did Dec 16, 1894.
On coming to Nicholson in Jan 1872, Jerry F. Wells obtained employment in the mill of A.B. Walker, and later with the milling firm of Walker and Worden, remaining with them until 1894, with the exception of the year in 1876, when he was engaged in the meat business. In connection with the feed mill, he also owns a half interest and operates a cider mill at another location. Active, energetic, and enterprising, he is now numbered among the leading businessmen of Nicholson. Politically he is a staunch Republican, and fraternally a member of Nicholson Lodge No. 857, I.O.O.F. By his marriage to miss Delia Quick, he has a son Grover B., born Dec 15, 1886.
Source: "Portrait & Biographical Record of Lackawanna, Wyoming & Wayne Counties, PA" printed in 1897
1850 Census for Nicholson, Wyoming Co., PA
e-mail: Wells Family Research Association