Lucky Francis Wells and wife, Frances Menefee Sutherland Wells/
Their children (l to r) Flora Simons Wells McDowell, Robert Williamson Wells II, Thomas John Wells, and Elizabeth Martha Wells Egg

Judge Lucky Francis Wells
A Confederate Soldier, a County Official

Judge Lucky Francis Wells, a native of Jackson County, was born May 18, 1846, the eldest son of Dr. and Mrs. Frances F. Wells.

At the age of sixteen years he joined the Confederate Army and became a member of the 2^nd Texas Regiment, under the command of Col. Clark L. Owen. His parents secured his release from the army because of his immature age. But he was not satisfied away from the army, and after a few months rejoined his company and served through the years of the Civil War.

While a very young man, in his twenties, he was elected county judge at Texana and served in this capacity eight years.

He married Miss Frances Sutherland in 1872, and to this union were born Dr. R.W. Wells, Thomas Wells and Mrs. Behn McDowell.

Lucky Francis Wells was elected county and district clerk soon after the town, Texana, was abandoned for Edna. The Wells home was among the first four to be erected in Edna. Judge Wells served as county and district clerk continuously for twenty-four years He retired from politics for eight years, then was again elected county judge for two terms. In all, he served Jackson County as a county official for thirty-six years.

He was highly educated, refined, and possessed a jovial and sunny disposition. He was one of the most popular citizens of the county.

Lucky Francis Wells died in 1915 in the home of his son, Dr. R. W. Wells.

The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition, pages 449-450
Used by permission of the Jackson County Historical Commission