One of my Vermont ancestors was Cyrus Wells, the son of William Wells (1794 - 1855) and Martha Myrick (1798 - ?). They were from New Hampshire, but settled in Canada by the time Cyrus was born. He had at least four sisters ( Sarah, Mary A., Caroline Calista, and Helen Naomi) and one brother (C.J.Stuart Wells) I know he was born December 22, 1817 in Hatley, Canada, when his dad was 23 and his mother only 19. His Great-grandfather Ezra Merrick was in the American Revolution, and died at Fort Ticonderoga in 1777.
When Cyrus Wells was 22, he married Susan Garvin in Charlotte, Chittenden County, VT on March 3 1839. They would eventually have 10 children, perhaps more.
Marion Missouri Wells their first child was my ancestor, born July 17, 1840 in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, NY. They must have lived there for a while as their first son, Marshall William Wells was born there as well on May 7 1843. In 1847, their son Eugene Charles Wells was born March 24 in St Armand, Canada East. Caroline Melissa Wells was also born in St Armand, Canada East on June 16, 1848.
Their next child, Paulina Mary Wells, was born Sept 16, 1850 in Essex, Chittenden County, VT. This is the town where Susan's parents lived, and Cyrus and Susan show up in the 1850 census there. The US census lists another child, Helen Wells, age 3. I am not sure where or when she was born as I have no other birth information on her. Cyrus is listed as a Cloth Manufacturer. In the 1900 Census Cyrus states he did not immigrate to the United States until 1859, perhaps in 1850 they weren't living permanently in Vermont yet. In the 1851 Canadian Census there is a Cyrus Wells listed in St Armand Quebec, which could indeed be our Cyrus.
The next three children are recorded as being born in St Armand, Canada East. Byron Edwards Wells was born on Oct 24, 1853; Genieveve Wells on April 13 1855; and Susie Wells on 10 Dec 1856. Their last child I know of is Harriet Abigail Wells, born September 17 1860 in Waterville, Lamoille County, Vermont. They are also found in the 1860 Federal Census
living there. By this time, Marion had married William B Smith, and they were living with her parents at that time.
Lamoille, Newsdealer, Hyde Park, VT 18 May 1869
Another newspaper clipping from July 27, 1869 that gives a glimpse of Cyrus's life - The railroad was apparently coming to Waterville, and Cyrus was renovating an large factory which furnished water power for the town. He intended to start manufacturing flannels as soon as the times allowed it. - So apparently Cyrus was still involved in cloth manufacturing 20 years later. In 1870 Census
the family is still living in Waterville although Marion and William are not listed as living with Cyrus and Susan anymore.
Burlington Weekly Free Press 22 March 1878
In the 1880 Census records
we find Cyrus & Susan are living in Kinsley, Edwards, Kansas with their son Byron and his wife Sarah. Cyrus' occupation is listed as Coal Mining. He must have been on the move, as he was also listed in the 1880 census 
as a Mine Broker, living by himself in Los Cerillos, Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Remember at this time New Mexico is a territory, not a state.) August 24, 1888 Cyrus Wells was elected postmaster in Turquesa, New Mexico until May 12 1899. 
Cyrus is mentioned in the St. Johnsbury Vt, Caledonian paper, even though he has moved away. 3 April 1890.
His wife Susan Garvin Wells, daughter of Thomas Garvin and Abigail Warren, dies July 15th, 1891 after a long illness. Their daughter Helen Wells Wilson nursed her mother through that illness and continued to live there after her mother passed away.
Helen and her father Cyrus are in the 1900 census
living in Cerrillos, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Cyrus is listed once again as a manufacturer, widowed, born December of 1817, and says he immigrated in 1859. Cyrus died shortly thereafter on Oct 30th, 1901. Cyrus & Susan are buried in unmarked graves in Los Cerrilos.
Albuquerque Citizen, New Mexico, 9 Nov 1901.
I am the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Cyrus Wells. If you are a relative or have more to add to his story, please feel free to contact me. I am always looking to learn more about the life of my ancestors.
Sources for the above include:
US Federal Census Records
Canadian Census Records
Vermont, Michigan, and Quebec Vital records
Anglican Church Records of Frelighsburg, Quebec
The descendants of James Garvin
NH Forests and Clearings
Roster of Vermont Volunteers during the War of the Rebellion
The records of Clifford Ryea Jr, Linda Mayberry, and Nancy Garvin
