Joe Wells came to Deary Idaho in 1889 from North Carolina. He was born in 1858 as a slave and was freed in the Civil War. It is believed that his slave owners were the Well family. He traveled north with Crom & Frank Wells and his wife Lou. Frank become a blacksmith in the Deary area. They were one of the first families to settle in the Deary area. They first lived on Pine Creek, and later moved to the east side of Deary (Bill Buswell farm). They ran a popular half-way house for travelers providing food and lodging. She was a good cook and he liked his whiskey. Joe helped build the first Deary school (Wells School–photo below). They had three children, Chuck, Roy, and Mary. Joe was a gypo logger and helped clear the land for the town of Deary. Lou raised sheep and spun the wool.
Joe is quoted as saying, “I am the only white man in the Spud Hill area, the rest are all Swedes”. 
photos courtesy of Latah Historical Society
Miller, John 1972 The Trees Grew Tall, pg 50
Latah Historical Society, Oral History of Arthur Bjerke
Obituary courtesy of The Palouse Republic, 8/3/1923
Copyright 2016©
idahotrailblazersdotcom 