01/08/1903: An Old Citizen Gone (Tabitha C. Wells)

Entry/Object ID

NP.0839

Collection

Newspaper Articles

Archive Items Details

Description

An Old Citizen Gone - - (excerpted from longer article) - - Mrs. J. B. Wells died at her home a 1/2 mile east of Weston, January 3, 1903, at 9:30 p.m. Tabitha Cumi Davis was born June 13, 1814, at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. She married John Breckenridge Wells in 1832; moved to Missouri in 1833 and to Platte Purchase in 1837 at which time there were no white people in this part of Missouri except herself and husband. In 1838 her first son was born. Leander Wells was the first white child born in the Platte Purchase. She controlled a number of negroes during slavery days and all her slaves loved instead of feared her. (Researcher's note: In 1850 John B. Wells enslaved 15 slaves and 18 in 1860.)

Date(s) of Creation

1/8/1903

Other Names and Numbers

Other Names

Name Type

Enslaved

Other Name

Unidentified Slaves

Name Type

Enslaver

Other Name

Wells, Tabitha C.

Other Numbers

Number Type

Source Citation

Other Number

The Platte County Gazette (Parkville, MO, 1885-1970): 01/08/1903, p. 1

Copyright

Copyright Details

© 2026 BAAC All Rights Reserved

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Person

Bill Nichols

Date

7/6/2026

General Notes

Note

Weston, Missouri

Note

1903.01.08 Wells The_Platte_County_Gazette_1903_01_08_1.pdf

Note

BAAC workbook: 1839-(open) Newspaper Articles CatalogIt version.xlsx [Newspapers begun 04.16.26]

Create Date

September 2, 2026

Update Date

September 16, 2026

Name/Title

01/08/1903: An Old Citizen Gone (Tabitha C. Wells)