DeWitt Clinton Wellen

Son of a shoemaker, in 1860 he was 16 years old, and lived with his parents and siblings in Weston, Lewis County, VA. He enlisted at Laurel Hill as a Private in Company I, 31st Virginia Infantry on 17 June 1861.

He was captured in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862.

He was paroled at Sharpsburg on 21 September and returned to duty, date not given. He was captured again, at Winchester, VA on 20 July 1864 and held in Wheeling until transferred to Camp Chase, OH on 28 July. He was sent to City Point, VA for exchange on 2 March 1865 and paroled on 15 March 1865, with no later military record.

By 1870 and to at least 1900 he was a farmer back in Weston. By 1910 and to 1920 he lived in the Salt Lick District, Braxton County, WV. He was a resident of the Confederate Soldier's Home in Richmond, VA at the time of his death at age 85 in 1930.

His service from Ashcraft1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 via fold3. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1920. His gravesite is on Findagrave, source also of an excellent late-life photograph of him.

He married Louranah Groves (1848-1904) in December 1868, and they had 2 children, Fannie and Hubert. He married again, Elvira Stalnaker (1846-1919) in October 1905. Some genealogists say he also married Louranah's sister Frances "Fanny" Groves (1836-1870), but it's not clear where she might fit in.

05/20/1844; Staunton, VA

05/02/1930; Richmond, VA; burial in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA