Today’s find from my WELLS folder features two documents that help illuminate the final chapter of Ellen Andrews Wells: her official death record from Calhoun County, Michigan, and her obituary published in the Albion Evening Recorder. Although I originally had photocopies in my files, I’m delighted that both of these items are now accessible online.
🔎 Death Record
The Calhoun County death record for Ellen Wells is now digitized and available on FamilySearch. I was able to attach the record directly to her profile on the FamilySearch tree so that other researchers—and future descendants—can easily view the original source. Having online access to the actual record also allowed me to verify details, check spellings, and capture a more complete and accurate citation.
📰 Obituary in the Albion Evening Recorder
I located Ellen’s obituary on NewspaperArchive, where the scan is much clearer than the copy in my files. The obituary provides key details about her family, her community connections, and the circumstances of her death—details often missing from official recordings.
Here is a transcription for easier reading and searching:
Transcription of Obituary:
Mrs. William Wells of Homer passed away Monday evening at 9:45 o’clock from a complication of diseases. The deceased was 65 years of age and is survived by several children, among who is Preston Wells of Battle Creek, formerly of this city.
🧭 Why These Finds Matter
Together, these two documents enrich the story of Ellen Wells by combining the facts of the death record with the personal narrative preserved in the newspaper. Whenever I can pair a civil record with a contemporary obituary, it fills in small but meaningful pieces of a life that might otherwise be lost.
If you have old photocopies tucked away in your folders, you might discover—like I did today—that the originals are now available online and easier than ever to cite and share.