James Darius Wells

J. D. Wells
James Darius “Jimmy” Wells
b- Oct 1872, Hatzic BC
d- Dec 24,1926, drowned in the Skeena River, age 55

Arrived in Skeena River area 25-30 years before his death
Worked in Omineca area with the “Black Outfit”
Deputy Mining Recorder at Tom Creek in the Ingenika area.
Located at Kitselas after coming from the Omineca area.
Original locator of the Kitselas Mountain Copper Co's Property
He was Secretary of the Company for years.
Secretary Skeena Prospectors Assoc.
Member of Executive, Usk Liberal Assoc.
1911 he was at the Kitselas Hotel, age 38, b- Oct 1872

father- Joshua Willard Wells
b- Mar 10, 1827 in Genesee co. NY, USA
d- Nov 23, 1898 in Hatzic BC, age 71
buried in Hatzic Cemetery, Mission BC
farmer in 1881 in New Westminster BC area.
Moved to Harrison Lake from Leoni, Jackson Co.,MI
during the gold rush in BC (1858), probably via California
He ran a ranch, boarding house, and bar at Port Douglas BC.
Moved in 1870 to Wells Landing, which later became Hatzic BC.

First wife Elizabeth Weeks, children?

2nd wife- mother- Julia Wells, nee Douglas
b- age 28 in 1881, in BC (doubt if age is right here?)
d- Sept 27, 1905 at Hatzic, age 65, b- ca 1840 (is this her?)

Joshua had 5 children:
I know Amos shows Julia as his mother.

sister- Sarah Wells
b- ca 1865 (age 16 in 1881) in BC

brother- John Joshua Wells
b- Apr 23, 1867 in Port Douglas, BC
d- Mar 1, 1947, MSA Hospital, Abbotsford BC, age 79
buried in Hatzic Cemetery
Lived in Sumas, Welsh, single, Dairy Farmer

brother- Chester Phillip Wells
b- 1870, in BC
d- Feb 3, 1904 in New Westminster, age 29
buried in Hatzic Cemetery
1901 in Victoria BC, age 30

brother- Amos Wells
b- Sept 9, 1874 at Hatzic, (Mission City) BC
d- May 26, 1943 at Smithers BC
In Hazelton area in 1901, Methodist, Gold Miner
age 46 he married, living in Round Lake, Telkwa, rancher
married Sarah Elizabeth Emptage, June 27, 1917, at LaCroix's Ranch, Hubert BC
b- Langley BC (age 19 when she married)
daughter of Stephen Emptage and Christina Elkins

sister- Matilda? Wells
b- ca 1876 (age 4 in 1881) in BC

Jimmy arrived on the Skeena River from the West Coast of Vancouver Island, between 1901 and 1905
Known as a Prospector, Explorer, Land stacker, and Miner.
He located many claims in the district.
He was known to be exceptionally well read.
His brother Amos lived with him, when he died.

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