Wells - Tom
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Saturday, 14 April 1894
Last evening in the county poor farm died poor old Tom Wells, whose life was lived in vain.
From all accounts he was born in Europe about 1810, but came as an infant to this country with his parents who settled at Brattleboro, Vt. They were people of refinement and means and Tom was given the advantages of a liberal education. He was a brilliant student and was especially distinguished for oratory. He enjoyed the honor of having once defeated the afterwards distinguished statesman, Stephen A. Douglas, in an oratorical contest at the academy which they were both attending. When the Mexican War broke out, young Wells enlisted and served through it. He also served through the Civil war. He had lived in Clarke Township, this county, for many years, but he never rose to the eminence to which his genius entitled him. Strong drink was his ruin and the man of brilliant parts met his living death in the curse of the cup.
He was polished, refined, educated. He was a gentleman of kindly heart and superior mind, but he lived in the low estate to which a vicious appetite consigned him. He was fond of books and could quote long passages from the standard authors. He was a brilliant conversationalist and a scholar. He never married but lived strayed from the life and society for which he was fitted by instinct and education. His life is a warning.