A series of misfortunes fall upon the doctor

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent 
With Leonard Cash
 
Historian Leonard Cash concludes his series on the beloved Dr. Nathan E. Wells and his family in this week’s installment of “History on Main” where we learn of his many misfortunes. 
In an article in Cash’s records from the Aug. 21, 1924, issue of the News Letter Journal, Wells and his family were enjoying a lunch break by the side of the road on their way to Hot Springs, South Dakota. After finishing up and heading back on the road, the doctor hit “a stone abutment causing the car to skid.” 
He wound up hitting a telephone pole, which resulted in his wife and son Elmore being “thrown thru the windshield.” Fortunately, he was able to stitch up his wife’s arm, which had been severely cut, and his son only had “a slight bruise on the forehead.” Hot Springs would have to wait for another time.  
The following year, Elmore found himself getting hurt again, reported an article from July 9, 1925. He broke his arm as he was stepping out of the car when he and his family were on their way to Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Wells put his arm in a cast, which was scheduled to come off in the near future. 
On May 17, 1928, it was reported that Elmore broke his right leg this time. It happened above the ankle when he was playing ball, but the article said that Elmore was “getting on as well as can be expected.” 
However, the tragedies didn’t end there. On Jan. 4, 1929, the doctor’s son passed away suddenly due to brain fever, according the Jan. 11, 1929, paper. Elmore was reported to be doing just fine until the fever suddenly swept over him, quickly taking his life at the young age of 16. At the funeral service, his friends served as his pall bearers. 
“The entire community extend to the bereaved father and mother their heartfelt sympathy,” the article says. “The beautiful floral offerings were much evidence of the esteem and love in which the lad was held by both the young and old of the community.”
In the summer of that same year, Wells’ mother-in-law passed away, reported an article from July 11, 1929. She had been sick for a time, but Wells’ wife was able to be “at the bedside of her mother for the past few months.” 
The next article in Cash’s records from Aug. 4, 1932, stated that a fire, presumably due to “a short circuit in the ignition system,” was started in the garage. Luckily, the fire department was able to manage it and put it out, but not before it destroyed both his garage and Buick coupe “beyond repair.” 
“The car had been placed in the garage but a short time before and when the blaze was discovered had enveloped the car and started to eat
its way through the roof,”
the article says. “It is understood the loss is partly covered by insurance.” 
Finally, after years of tragedy, something good was reported in the May 4, 1933, paper. Wells received some extra help. Dr. George Lovelace from St. Louis, Missouri, was joining the practice. He graduated from St. Louis University and
came with “extensive hospital experience.” Wells was thankful for the extra help provided by Lovelace because Wells was unable to give
full attention to his practice due to “impaired health.” 
An article from June 7, 1934, announced that Wells became the new president of the Newcastle Lions Club on July 1. The article additionally stated that the State Department of Commerce and Industry recommended “that a sign be erected on highway 85 at the top of the hill entering Newcastle calling attention of tourists to the view from that point,” where Laramie Peak and the Big Horn Mountains could both be seen under the right conditions. 
“The local marker is part of a statewide plan sponsored by the state department to mark outstanding scenic attractions in each county,” the article says. 
Cash said he’s not sure if the sign was ever erected, but it might possibly be part of the “black and yellow trail.”
“I bet that’s what they’re talking about,” Cash said.
The trail starts “right out of Chicago” and makes its way to Yellowstone after passing through parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The trail
has changed since then, but it still goes through those states, he said.
After clarifying that side issue, Cash jumped back to his records on Wells. In a report from July 5, 1934, Wells found himself in another car accident. This time, he was on his way to Buffalo, South Dakota, when he landed in the ditch. His back was “wrenched,” and he was “confined to his home for several days.” Those riding with him were a little more fortunate and were not seriously injured—just “badly shaken up.” 
On May 9, 1935, the paper reported some good news for the doctor. Dr. Earl Wheedon (or Whedon), chairman of the State Board of Health, announced that Wells had been appointed the county health officer, and he assumed his duties on May 1.
A couple of years later, Wells retired after practicing medicine in the county for 30 years as “one of the state’s oldest physicians,” according to the July 1, 1937, issue. Lovelace went back to Missouri to be the resident physician at the St. Louis General Hospital, and Dr. A.J. Benesh took over Wells’ practice. 
His reason for retirement was that he couldn’t handle the “work and worry” anymore, and upon his retirement, Wells canceled all the debts owed to him, which totaled $17,000. 
In an article titled “Local Retired Doctor Receives Distinction” from May 7, 1953, Wells received recognition for his years of service to the community. He was named Doctor of the Year to the Wyoming Medical Society at the Northeast Wyoming Auxiliary meeting. 
“All of Newcastle and Weston county joins together in extending congratulations to Dr. Wells for the honor bestowed upon him by the Auxiliary of the Wyoming Medical Society. His reward for the exceptional service rendered its people can never be repaid,” the article says.
The article noted that Wells had delivered a total of 827 babies into the world over
the course of his career in Weston County and even came out of retirement for a time during World War II because “he was so badly needed by the community.” 
Seven years later, on June 9, 1960, the paper announced the celebration of the 57th anniversary of Wells and his wife on June 3. All day, they received visits from community members who brought “flowers, gifts, and good wishes to the beloved doctor and his wife,” including a visit from Mrs. Wells’ cousin Mrs. F.E. Wass, who came from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Wass had been a guest at their wedding all those years ago. 
“It was a perfect day that 3rd day of June in 1903, when Miss Elizabeth Mabey became the bride of Dr. Nathan E. Wells,” the article says. “The bride was beautiful in a white gown made with a high tuckered neck band above a dropped yolk edged with rows of tiny ruffles.”
Her skirt held similar ruffles, and she wore a “wide brimmed flower trimmed hat.” After the wedding, Wells made plans with his wife to vacation in Washington, D.C., but after missing the train, the newlywed couple went to Niagara Falls instead. 
“The Wells’ felt that they have been very fortunate to have shared fifty seven years of genuine happiness and Newcastle residents wish them many years more here in the town they have helped so much to build,” the article says. 
Soon after, Wells suffered a stroke at the age of 82, according to an article from Jan. 25, 1962. He was in the Weston County Memorial Hospital and was said to be improving. However, he died two months later, and his funeral was held in
the McColley chapel, according to his obituary from March 15, 1962 (there is more information on this in part one of the series).
Over a decade later, his wife died at the same hospital on June 3, according to her obituary from the June 5, 1973, issue of the Rapid City Journal. She previously lived in the Manor but was moved to the hospital three years before her death after falling. 
The doctor’s wife was born on Oct. 8, 1877, to Elizabeth and George Mabey. She was a charter member of Newcastle Chapter No. 30, Order of the Easter Star, serving as both an associate matron and past matron. In 1966, she earned her 50-year pin. She was also a member of the Pythian Sisters.
At Elizabeth Wells’ funeral on June 5 at the Episcopal church, Mrs. Stanley Freeman played the organ and the pall bearers were Mike Koski, Al Zanoni, Albert Perino, Karl Thoeming, Thomas Whitley and Bill Kirkpatrick.
To show their gratitude to the service of this country doctor, a memorial was set up at the hospital, according to the doctor’s memoir “Only a Country Doctor.” 
“A room in the new Weston County Memorial Hospital was furnished by his friends in memory of Dr. Wells. A photograph of him by Mabel Brown hangs in the waiting room,” the memoir says. 
That concludes Cash’s series on Dr. Wells. Anyone wanting to know more can read his memoir, which is available at the Weston County Library.