Dea. Jason B. Wells, the second child of Matthew Wells, Jr., and Weltha Burdick Wells, was born near DeRuyter, N. Y., Nov. 7, 1817. He was brought up on a farm and became inured to habits of industry and economy. He gave his heart to God, when fourteen years old, in a religious revival held by Eld. Eli S. Bailey in the old chapel north of the village of DeRuyter. His father's home was a model Christian one. From personal experience and observation in his youth he learned to become a thorough temperance man, avoiding all use of tobacco and intoxicating liquors as a beverage.
He attended, after fifteen years of age, not far from his home, Academic institutions at New Woodstock, Cazenovia and DeRuyter, and qualified himself to be an excellent public school teacher, filling positions in his younger manhood in such schools at Leonardsville, N. Y., and New Market, N. J., during winter terms. The writer of this article distinctly remembers how deeply he was impressed in listening to a simple and earnest prayer of this teacher in the school at the former place. Later in life, Mr. Wells won distinction as Commissioner of Public Schools in Madison Co., N. Y.
He was married Nov. 25, 1841, to Miss Maria Stillman, daughter of Abel Stillman, of Herkimer Co., N. Y. One child was born to them, Dr. Frank S. Wells, of Plainfield, N. J. He was interested for a brief time in 1844 with Eld. Geo. B. Utter, the editor, in the publication of the Sabbath Recorder in the City of New York. About this time he was attacked with the first stages of consumption, but finally recovered so as to be only slightly affected with lung trouble in after life. His first wife dying Jan. 7, 1845, he was married May 26, 1847, to Cornelia P. Maxson, a daughter of Dea. John Maxson of DeRuyter.
In 1847 he made his home in the village just mentioned, and continued to reside there the rest of his life. In 1858 he was ordained a deacon by the church at DeRuyter. He filled the office of Justice of Peace in his town for sixteen years; for more than forty years he has often been sent as a delegate to the annual gatherings of our people. Three years since, he experienced a severe stroke of paralysis, from which he only partially recovered.
On June 1, 1896, while his sister was kneeling in prayer for him, he peacefully passed into his final rest. His memory will be a sweet savor of life unto life to many persons.", 1896, p 16.
