Miami Union

August 29, 1912 

WELLS, DR. SARAH F. - The little Quaker cemetery south of Ludlow Falls now holds all that is mortal of the late Dr. Sarah F. Wells, who according to reports from St. Louis, has for a number of years held the neighborhood around her late home, 1419 Franklin street, in awe with her strange actions and the oddity of her mode of life since the death of her husband, Rufus G. Wells, eccentric aeronaut, poet after a fashion, and strange character in general two years ago.  The death of Mrs. Wells occurred in St. Louis Tuesday and the remains were shipped to Ludlow Falls for burial, arriving there Thursday, and were buried Friday.  Reports from St. Louis were to the effect that Mrs. Wells was the possessor of real estate at Ludlow Falls, but this was denied Friday by Mrs. Miles, who states that so far as she knows, Mrs. Wells fortune is almost entirely in stocks and bonds, although she may own some real estate in St. Louis and perhaps has some property in Dayton.  If reports from St. Louis are to be believed the latter years of Mrs. Wells' life have occasioned anxiety among her neighbors.  It is said that for two years she had held them in fear and awe through mystic and psychic powers which she was reputed to possess.  She rests beside the remains of her husband in the little Quaker burying ground south of Ludlow.  It is said that when the dead aeronaut was composing poetry in the family home he would sit at his desk with one of the big cats on his right shoulder and another on his left knee, attributing to them the power to bring the words necessary to the formation of his rhymes.  Although she is claimed to have been comfortably situated financially, Dr. Wells is said to have refused aid after she was burned and refused to allow the neighbors in the vicinity of 1914 Franklin avenue, St. Louis, to call a physician.  Dr. Wells was a graduate of medical schools at Philadelphia, Los Angeles and London, England.  Her husband, Rufus Wells, died about two years ago.  St. Louis dispatches state that Dr. Wells dealt in mystic practices, but relatives deny any knowledge of this.  Clarence Miles, the grand nephew, is in Michigan for his health, but Mrs. Miles said Friday that Dr. Wells possessed no property in Dayton or elsewhere, although she had a small estate when she died.  

"Ahead of Their Time" by Joanne Duke Gamblee published 2001 - has a story of 19th Century Miami County Women which includes this Sarah Wells

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