Springs Valley Herald, March 12, 1931:
Mary Elizabeth Wells, daughter of William and Lavina Love, was born at Greensburg, North Carolina august 28, 1849 and passed away at her home in French Lick, Ind., March 7, 1931. Aged 81 years, 6 months and 9 days. When but a small child her parents moved from Carolina to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee residing there for four years when they moved to Orange County, Indiana and settled on a farm near what is now Ames Chapel. she grew to young womanhood in this neighborhood and on April 22, 1870 was married to William T. Wells. They established a home on a farm in the same community and reared a family of seven children. Two of the children died in early life and a daughter, Mrs. Nora Richardson passed away in August of last year. Surviving are two sons, Arthur and Fred of French Lick, and two daughters, Mrs. Sallie Stone of French Lick and Mrs. Frona Lashbrook of Miami, Florida. In 1916 when the health of her husband was declining they left the farm and moved to French Lick where he passed away in November of the same year. At the age of 14 years she was converted and united with the Methodist church at Nelson Chapel under the pastorate of the Rev. H. C. Harned. When the church at Ames Chapel was built she moved her membership there where it remained till the time of her death. The life of Mrs. Wells was one of devotion to her family, her neighbors and her friends. She gave herself for them in sacrifice and service and no task was thought of as hard or burdensome if it would give comfort or happiness to her companion or her children. During these days no night was too stormy or too dark for her to go to the homes of neighbors to help in times of sickness or distress. Having been blessed with such a long life, and not being especially rugged she spent her declining years in the quietude of the home in perfect peace and contentment. From one of the sons come the statement that "mother was always contented no matter what the condition in life" and from the other son of words, "Too many good things can not be said about mother." The devotion, affection and tender care of the daughters, likewise, attest to the beauty of the character of their mother. In her last moments she exemplified the same peaceful spirit that characterized her life, and when the end was inevitable she lisped the words, "I'm ready to go. Everything is all right," and softly slipped away. She leaves 2 sons, 2 daughters, 7 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, 4 half sisters, 5 half brothers besides a host of friends who feel their loss most keenly.