The George Washington Wells Family

Over the weekend while visiting Dad & Connie we pulled out some old photographs recovered from my Great Aunt Hazel's home in Forest City, NC. Aunt Hazel is 94 and in remarkably good health for someone of that many years, especially given she smoked like a chimney her entire life. Dad & Connie have worked very hard in seeing to her comfort and healthcare in her golden years, and have handled her estate and whatnot for a good while. As the last living sibling of her immediate family, she has amassed a wonderful collection of Wells Family heirlooms which I hope to also be the keeper of one day.



My Great-Grandfather was George Washington Wells (henceforth GWW). GWW lived in this magnificent house in Forest City, North Carolina. I don't know the exact dates they lived there, but most likely in the early 1900's through at least the 1940's.



GWW had 5 children: Norris, C.R., Hazel, GB and Houston.C.R., whose full name is Chalmers Reid Wells, is my Grandfather. My Dad is George Richard Wells, son of C.R. and Kate Williams Wells, pictured here:



My Dad spent a lot of time in his younger years at this house and vividly remembers playing there, and being among GWW's horses. This is my Dad and his older sister Martha and their little dog Honey.



Two of the sisters and one brother, Aunts Hazel & GB, and Uncle Houston, all lived together until their deaths, and never married. Aunt Hazel & GB were school teachers, and Uncle Houston was a World War II Veteran who served heroically in Italy and other places in Europe. GWW was a war hero in his own right, who served in the Spanish-American War, deployed to the Philipines and South America during that time.

As young --and not so young-- women, Hazel & GB travelled extensively as well. Europe, Russia, China and Egypt were some of the exotic places they visited. In their younger days, Aunts Hazel and GB would take off on cross country road trips with their friends to places like California and New Mexico. How incredible must it have been taking off in the 1940's, 50's and 60's on cross country road trip adventures with a bunch of prissy, yet very worldy, women. I definitely got my life long love of travel and adventure from this trail blazing family!



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