Son of John Stoddard II and Sarah (Woodward) Stoddard of Coventryville, New York
Grandson of Lieut. John and Mary (Atwood) Stoddard of Watertown, Connecticut
Great-grandson of Eliakim and Joannah (Curtiss) Stoddard of Woodbury, Connecticut

Married Eunice Benedict, daughter of Eliakim Benedict and Ruth Anna Beebe, on October 18, 1826 at Coventry, Chenango County, New York.
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Note: In the "Genealogy of Benedicts in America," Benedict, Henry, 1870, p. 321-323, it is printed that Ruth Anna Beebe , daughter of David Beebe (1781-1868), married Eliakim Benedict (1778-1839), and that their daughter, Eunice, born September 15, 1807, married Capt. Wells Stoddard on October 18, 1826. It is not known if, how or when Wells served and received the rank of captain. He was too young to fight in the War of 1812. Perhaps he served in the New York militia?
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It is also interesting to note that Wells' sister Polly married Daniel Benedict, the brother of his wife Eunice, after Polly's first husband, Sylvester Stevens, died on October 3, 1812.
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Wells and Eunice left for Ohio circa 1834, or at least sometime between the birth of Sarah Abigail in Covenrty, New York in March 1833 and the birth of Emily Jane in Sandusky, Ohio in October 1835. What transpired during the 15 years they were in Ohio is not known except to say that it appears from the childrens' births there that they stayed in Erie County between Sandusky and Huron along the shores of Lake Erie.

Wells and Eunice migrated from Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio to Marion, Linn County, Iowa in 1850. Their daughter Emily, who was 15 years old at the time, later told her granddaughter, Helen Arduser , the daughter of George and Dollie May (Bailey) Arduser, a little about the trip. The family traveled in a covered wagon across half of Ohio and across the northern portion of the States of Indiana and Illinois. She remembered that they first crossed a railroad track and then crossed the Mississippi River at Dubuque on the ice. Since they were farmers, they probably drove their livestock along to their new home in Marion township. Wells purchased land which he and his older sons farmed.

In the old times, this moving west required procuring of several ox teams and several wagons, which had to be covered, with one with furniture, food supplies and the tools, and another fixed up a little better for a family home for up to six weeks pilgrimage. The livestock were all driven and soon learned to follow the caravan. About twelve miles a day were made 傭ut sometimes less. There was camping out every night and this would have been a thoroughly enjoyable experience - at least for the young,

Wells did not receive his land for free, but had to purchase it. He was one of the earliest settlers in the Linn County area.

In the 1850 U.S. Census for Linn County, Iowa, taken August 20, 1850, Wells Stoddard and his family are represented. All nine children are listed. Wells and Eunice's youngest son, Elijah Willard, was born a little over five weeks later after the census was taken.

Children of Wells and Eunice Stoddard:

1. Mary Aletha (1827-1864). Born Coventry, NY
2. Eliakim (1829-1897). Born Coventry, NY
3. Andrew (1831-1863). Born Coventry, NY. Served in Company B, 35th Regiment Iowa Volunteers Infantry during the Civil War. Died of illness at Bear Creek, MS Oct. 7, 1863. Served with the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Divion, 15th Army Corps under the overall command of Major General William Tecumseh Sherman. Andrew was present at the siege of Vickburg from May 8 until July 4, 1863. Major General Sherman was grandson of Taylor and Elizabeth (Stoddard) Sherman. Elizabeth Stoddard was the daughter of Israel Stoddard and the grand-daughter of Eliakim Stoddard.
4. Sarah Abigail (1833-1855). Born Coventry, NY. m. Amos Roberts Sept. 25, 1850. Died Nov. 13, 1855 at Prattsville, Vinton Co., Ohio. No death record or burial record found.
5. Emily Jane (1835-1925). Born Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio
6. Mary Eunice (1837-1918). Born in Erie County, Ohio
7. Wells Stoddard (1840-1928). Born Huron twp., Erie County, Ohio
8. John Wesley (1843-1896). Born Erie County, Ohio. Served in Company A, 18th Regiment Iowa Volunteers in the Civil War.
9. Myra (1848-1872). Born Erie County, Ohio
10. Elijah Willard (1850-1836). Born Marion twp., Linn County, Iowa. Died 1936 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.