James Madison Wells founded a village called Wells circa 1882. When the Abbeville Southern Railroad laid tracks through the town in 1893, its name changed to Wells Station, and the post office was built in 1894. Wells Station incorporated as Newville in 1903. Newville became prosperous, with merchants, banks, lodges, doctors, churches, a Newville High School, a Rosenwald High School, societies, a newspaper, a depot, sawmills, cotton gins, mule stables, and other elements of a developing town. Its slow decline began after the Great Depression because of farm mechanization and loss of commerce. The pioneer men and women of Wells and Newville were farmers, housewives, laborers, tradesmen, and entrepreneurs seeking a better life, and these risk takers forged a new village and town. Among the pioneering families and individuals were James M. Wells, T. J. Bond, Moses M. Bond, Henry L. Brackin, John Griffin, H. C. Price, Joe Whiddon, Jim Griffin, Dr. Carl T. Jones, Dr. Littleton T. Hutto, James W. Capps, Bud Coley, Abner Jackson, Dr. A. L. Whigham, Lawrence Cotton, Eddie Kirkland, Joe McClendon, John W. Whiddon, Joseph S. Kirkland, William Kirkland, and others.