James Monroe Wells (1837–1918) was an author, Union Army officer, and politician. He wrote ''The Chisolm Massacre; A picture of "home rule" in Mississippi'' about the

Chisolm Massacre The Chisolm Massacre occurred on April 29, 1877 in Kemper County, Mississippi, less than a month after the Reconstruction era was brought to a close. A judge and former sheriff named William Chisolm was accused of killing sheriff John Gully, a membe ...

James Daniel Lynch James Daniel Lynch (January 6, 1836 – July 19, 1903) was an American lawyer, farmer, judge, poet, and writer. His poem "Columbia Saluting the Nations" was chosen as the official salutation for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. He lived in Miss ...

responded with an account blaming

Radical Republican The Radical Republicans (later also known as " Stalwarts") were a faction within the Republican Party, originating from the party's founding in 1854, some 6 years before the Civil War, until the Compromise of 1877, which effectively ended Reco ...

s titled ''Kemper County Vindicated, And a Peep at Radical Rule in Mississippi''. Wells served as a state senator in Idaho. Lucinda D. Wells and Samuel Percival Wells were his parents. Wells was born in Erie County, New York and moved to Michigan with his family at age two. He grew up on a farm. He studied at

Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo College, also known as Kalamazoo, K College, KC or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Founded in 1833 by Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute, Kalamazoo is the oldest private college in ...

, and became a teacher. He served in the Union Army as a cavalry officer. He was twice captured. He and others escaped through a tunnel from

Libby Prison Libby Prison was a Confederate prison at Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. In 1862 it was designated to hold officer prisoners from the Union Army. It gained an infamous reputation for the overcrowded and harsh conditions. Prison ...

. He married Delphene Bartholomew in 1866. He came to Mississippi in 1868 for a Federal revenue position and was a Republican leader in

Kemper County, Mississippi Kemper County is a county located on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,456. Its county seat is De Kalb. The county is named in honor of Reuben Kemper. The county is part ...

. He moved to Idaho in 1884 and served as a state senator in its first legislature. His autobiography titled ''With Touch of Elbow'' was published in 1909.

Writings

*''The Chisholm massacre : a picture of "home rule" in Mississippi.'' *''Tunneling out of Libby Prison : a Michigan lieutenant's account of his own imprisonment and daring escape'' *''With touch of elbow or, death before dishonor : a thrilling narrative of adventure on land and sea'' by James M Wells; United States. Army. Michigan Cavalry Regiment, 8th (1862–1865)

References

External links

* Idaho state senators People from Erie County, New York American autobiographers 1837 births 1918 deaths Kalamazoo College alumni People of Michigan in the American Civil War Mississippi Republicans Idaho Republicans Schoolteachers from Michigan People from Kemper County, Mississippi 19th-century American educators 19th-century American male writers Union Army officers 20th-century American male writers 19th-century American biographers American escapees American Civil War prisoners of war Escapees from Virginia detention Escapees from United States military detention {{Idaho-politician-stub