Cousins:
The "Parson Wells" in question could possibly be Joseph C. Wells. Although
he is not my direct line, I have a few facts on him.
He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in East Stone Gap with a headstone
reading: "Rev. J.C. Wells, The Great Mountain Preacher, Born Aug 13? 1832,
Died Feb 24? 1900." The picture I can find is dark on the days of birth and
death.
He was married to Elizabeth Blair. The only child I have listed is Sarah
Agnes Wells, born Oct 1853, as she was the second wife of my ancestor, Dr.
Jeremiah C. Wells. This info was provided by a descendant of Sarah's and her
first husband, if I remember correctly. I have no clue where those notes are!
In my program, I have listed that Joseph C Wells' parents were Zachariah
Wells and Agnes Culbertson. I have no documentation on this. When I first
began putting info in, I was green and stupid and did not document as I
went...the mistakes of genealogy youth!
Sarah and Jeremiah are also buried in this family plot. Somewhere I have
more pictures taken by the ex-wife of my first cousin 2x rem, who said that
Sarah was buried between her father and her husband.
I have no proof that this is the "Parson" spoken of...but the dates would
work....He was certainly "aged" by then and died 10 years later. I have
always been curious as to why he was hailed as "The Great Mountain Preacher"!
Cathleen