This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SCWBAIB/4324 Message Board Post: Langdon ND 1888 - 1988 Centennial Book Roy Miles Wells Biography - pg 471 Roy Miles Wells was born in Grinnell, Iowa October 15, 1888 and came to North Dakota smuggled in a boxcar with his family in 1903, settling on a farm near Hannah. Roy took a short course in steam and gas tractor mechanics at NDAC in 1905 and traveled around to farms working as engineer for steam tractors. In 1913 he moved to Langdon and worked in the Sparling Garage. Roy enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1917 and served in England in WWI servicing airplanes. Discharged in 1919, he came back to work in Arthur Sparling's garage. January 1, 1920 Roy married Hester Sparling (the Boss' daughter). That spring Roy and Stanley Schneider bought the business, calling it "Automotive Service," selling and servicing Overland Cars ($595, FOB Standard Sedan) and other makes. In 1931 the carbon monixide fumes became too much for Roy's lungs and he sold the business to G. McDivitt. In 1936 Roy again bought his father-in-law's business, The Sparling Mill, renaming it Wells Supply Co. Roy in ! turn sold the mill to his son Bob in 1949. He worked as a partsman for Ray Lebrun, the I.H. dealer. Roy and Claude Skinner, who started the Langdon Airport, bought a plane, gave lessons and made passenger trips. After Claude was killed propping an airplane, Roy's enthusiasm for flying slowed. When Bob came back from his stint as a Navy aviator in 1946, he and Bob owned several planes together and he did quite a lot of flying. On his 72nd birthday he decided thatit was time to give up flying. Roy was on the City Commission, Captain in the CAP, Legion Commander, and active in the Masonic Bodies. In his early years he envisioned a musical career as a violinist. Hester, born April 10, 1899 at Marshall, MN to Arthur and Nellie Sparling, graduated fra LHS and attended UND for two years. She was on the Board of Directors for the County Far Assocn for many years judged homemaking exhibits at other fairs. In 1958 Hester became State Field Worker for the Sister Kenny Foundation. She was an active member of the Methodist Church and Eastern Star. Always involved with the Republican Party, Hester held many county offices, was on the State Central Committee, was a presidential elector in 1952 and attended many national meetings. In the early '30's she was county supervisor for the FERA. In 1935 she was appointed direct supervisor for the WPA and the family moved to fargo for two years. Many of her writings and poems have been published. Hester was listed for many years in "Who's Who of American Women." In 1966 Hester and Roy retired to Grinnell where Roy died in 1967. Hester was in demand for her demonstrations on quilt-making. She died Mar! ch 2, 1982. They had three children: Audrey Mahoney Will of Dayton, Ohio was born Oct 22, 1920 and graduated fra LHS and NDSU and became a dietitian. She married Dr J.H. Mahoney and lived in Devils Lake about 35 years. They had six children. Robert P. Wells. Dr. Donald Wells, born Dec 27, 1939, attended Jamestown College and UND Medical School. He is now a psychiatrist in Rochester, NY and has three children. -- recorded 6/85 **NOTE: I am no relation to this family. I am only a researcher. I do not live in North Dakota - but I do own the book: Langdon ND 1888-1988 Centennial