Settlers continued to come to Maughan's Fort after the evacuation caused by the threat of Johnston's Army. Those who stayed at the fort were mostly of English, Scottish, or Welch* descent with a few Irish among them. Someone could be found skilled at almost any vocation needed. Apostles Orson Hyde and Ezra T. Benson visited the Fort on 13 November 1859 to appoint William H. Maughan as bishop of the Wellsville Ward, a position he held for over forty years. At this time they changed the town's name from Maughan's Fort to Wellsville in honor of Daniel H. Wells, second counselor to President Brigham Young.

Peter Maughan was selected by the legislature on 8 January 1857 as the first probate judge of Cache County, having jurisdiction over estates, guardianship, divorce cases, and authority to enter lands in trust; however, he had no authority in criminal cases. Judge Maughan organized Cache County and chose to fix the site of the county seat at Maughan's Fort (Wellsville) where all business was conducted until 5 March 1860, at which time the county seat was moved to Logan. At that time the census showed Wellsville with 574 people and Logan with 533.

In 1857 Wellsville became School District No. 8, and a combination school and church building was erected with Francis W. Gunnell the first teacher. In 1881 a Presbyterian day school was opened and functioned until 1907 in an exceedingly strong Mormon town. Through the years, local schools have included elementary and junior high levels, and a Wellsville High School was in existence until 1915. At the present time, junior and senior high students are transported to other communities.