Friday Find

Birth and Death Records for Kate Wells

Today’s find from my WELLS notebook includes two important documents for Kate Wells — her birth record and her death record. Together, these records confirm that Kate was the daughter of William W. Wells and Martha B. Wells, making her my first cousin three times removed.

These photocopies were originally sent to me years ago by a Michigan researcher. At the time, they were treasured additions to my files. Now, thanks to FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search, I can access both records online. However, the site’s transcription format lists the information by vertical columns, making it a bit tricky to read across as we would expect.

Calhoun County, Michigan BIRTHS

414 April 8 1867 Kate S Wells Female parents Wm W Wells born state of New York wagon maker / Martha B born Pennsylvania

“Calhoun, Michigan, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBZP-7PW?view=explore : Oct 13, 2025), image 78 of 799; . Image Group Number: 005191193

Calhoun county, Michigan DEATHS

113 June 29 1882 Kate Wells F w Single age 15 years 2 months 3 days, place of death Homer consumption of the lungs, birthplace Homer, parents William W Wells born N.Y. and Martha B; date of record May 29, 1883

“Calhoun, Michigan, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99V3-2QS?view=explore : Oct 13, 2025), image 350 of 721; . Image Group Number: 007608497

Even though these records are now easy to find online, I doubt I would have searched for Kate’s information without those old photocopies tucked away in my notebook. Sometimes, those early research exchanges — a letter, a photocopy, or a kind note from another genealogist — become the breadcrumbs that still lead us to discoveries today.