VOL. XII.

No. 7.

Born October 27, 1814.

DANIEL HANMER WELLS, born at Trenton, Oneida County, New York, was the only son of Daniel Wells and Catherine Chapin, who was his second wife, and by whom he also had a daughter, Catherine Chapin Wells. By his first marriage-with Honor Francis -Daniel Wells was the father of five other daughters, Abbie, Eliza, Lucy Ann, Frances and Pamela, all of whom are dead.

Daniel Wells was born at Weathersfield, Connecticut, and was descended through Joshua, Joseph, Robert and John from Thomas Wells, the first American progenitor, who settled at Hartford in 1660, and became the fourth governor of Connecticut, and was several times elected alternately to the office of governor and lieutenant-governor of that colony.

Catherine Chapin was the daughter of David Chapin, a Revolutionary soldier and connected with one of the oldest and most distinguished New England families. He served under the immediate command of Washington and during the greater part of the War of Independence. He died at the great age of ninety-six and is buried at Havanna, New York.

When Daniel H. Wells was twelve years old his father died and he was made to feel the responsibility of providing for his mother and younger sister, his half-sisters being either married or provided for. He worked on a farm, and because of his large stature and strength of limb, did a man's work, while receiving a boy's pay. At the age of eighteen he settled with the administrators of his father's estate, by which he and his sister

Died March 24, 1891.

were entitled to a little means, and moved with her and his mother to Marietta, Ohio, but finding the land there undesirable, and his winter's experience as a school teacher unattractive, the next spring he pushed on to Illinois, settling near Commerce, Hancock County, then a small village, but afterwards noted as the beautiful city of Nauvoo.

By his industry here he soon had a small house built, and land cleared for a farm. He thus laid the foundation for a home and put himself in a position of thrift that led to prosperity and independence. He earned a livelihood for his mother and sister until they each married, and he married himself. His accumulation of land, of which his fortune in Illinois consisted, was very rapid, and he was a successful farmer. His passion for fruit raising always led him to set out an orchard the first thing. His home in Illinois and every home he ever made, was always surrounded with an orchard, as soon as it was possible to raise the fruit trees.

Before he was of age, Daniel H. Wells was elected to positions of trust and responsibility, having made a reputation for sober industry and substantial interest in the people and country. He was first elected constable, then justice of the peace, and was an officer in the first militia organization of Hancock County. He was a Whig in politics and figured prominently in the political conventions of the period. He was an ardent champion of universal liberty, and a foe to oppression in every form. He was highly esteemed by the people of all parties and creeds, and frequently acted as arbitrator

organization of the provisional State of Deseret, and was elected to the first Legislative Council and appointed as State Attorney, and was also elected Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion, the State militia, by the General Assembly May 26, 1849. On the 27th of March, 1852, he received the rank of LieutenantGeneral of the Legion, and was commissioned to that office by Governor Brigham Young March 7, 1855. On the passage of the territorial militia law providing for the election of general officers, he was re-elected LieutenantGeneral, April 6, 1857. In the Indian troubles that arose in Utah County and afterwards in Sanpete County, General Wells took the field in person, routing the savages at Provo, Battle Creek and Payson, and saving the Sanpete and Sevier settlements from the disasters that subsequently threatened them.

These Indian campaigns were conducted with great military skill and success, and cost a great deal of money; men, munitions and provisions having to be largely furnished from Salt Lake City and the North. A claim for over a million dollars against the United States remains to this day unpaid, though made out in due and detailed form, in the same manner as the Oregon claim which was settled many years ago.

General Wells was in command of the Echo Canyon expedition, and conducted it with signal skill, under the direction of Governor Brigham Young, without shedding "one drop of blood." His fearless character, cool head and executive talent, were here exhibited in a manner that won for him unfading renown among the Mormon people.

His military career was full of exciting incidents, from the Battle of Nauvoo until the disbandment of the Nauvoo Legion. His contention with Governor Shaffer for the rights of the Legion, when some of its officers were arrested for carrying arms in a celebration of the Fourth of July, is well remembered.

In civil life Honorable Daniel H. Wells was a conspicuous official from the organization of the provisional State of Deseret until the end of his last term as

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a Salt Lake City Councilor, 1882. was a member of the Legislative Council in the Territorial Assembly for many terms, and of all the conventions that framed constitutions for Utah's Statehood except the last. His clear perception of legal points and strong regard for constitutional principles, rendered him a valuable adviser and able legislator.

While Mayor of Salt Lake City, from 1866 to 1876, he conducted a judicial warfare against prostitution, liquor selling and gambling, which involved the exercise of great tact and wisdom, and led him into scenes of stubborn conflict with the Federal judiciary, often of the most exciting nature. He was by reason of his position called upon to defend himself and people continually in a most relentless determination of the Federal officials and carpet-bag politicians to break up the influence and power of the Mormon people.

On the 28th of October, 1871, Mayor Wells was arrested on a trumped up charge of being accessory to the murder of Richard Yates at the mouth of Echo Canyon in 1857. The notorious Bill Hickman confessed to having done the deed, but was induced to implicate General Wells, alleging that the occurrence took place while he was in charge of the Echo Canyon Expedition. He was sent to Fort Douglas for safe keeping, where he received the most courteous treatment from Gen. Morrow, who regarded the whole proceeding as an outrage. However, on Monday, the 31st, being brought before Judge McKean, application was made that he be admitted to bail. His attorneys advised him that such an application would be in vain, but his confidence was complete that he would be successful, and he insisted that the attempt should be made. In spite of the claim of the prosecution that this was a charge of murder in the first degree, Judge McKean took into consideration all the circumstances, including the fact that the defendant was Mayor of the city, and to the surprise of the entire community he accepted bail in the sum of fifty thousand dollars-the prosecution demanding half a million-and the pris

oner was released. The whole charge, of course, fell to the ground as there was not the slightest foundation for it in fact. At the general election on August 3rd, 1874, when a delegate to Congress was to be elected, R. N. Baskin had been nominated as the "Liberal" candidate, in opposition to Hon. Geo. Q. Cannon, and the U. S. Marshal, General Maxwell, attempted to take control of the election. No trouble occurred except at the Fifth Precinct, the polling place for which was at the City Hall. Here a large number of armed deputy marshals with a mob of "Liberals" interfered with the police in their efforts to preserve the peace. Some arrests being made by the police, they were in turn arrested by deputy marshals, and excitement ran high. Mayor Wells was on the spot and endeavored to keep down the tumult. He was set upon by the mob, brutally struck and his coat nearly torn from his back. The police came to his rescue, the mob was forced back, and the Mayor appeared on the balcony, and amid cries of "Shoot him! shoot him!" he read the riot act and commanded the police to disperse the crowd. This was done at the expense of some broken heads, but was effectual, and the Mayor and police held their places and vindicated the law. He was, next morning, arrested and put under four thousand dollars bonds The Chief of Police and several of his officers were also arrested, but the whole matter dropped and it was everywhere acknowledged that the city officials simply did their duty, and that Mayor Wells had exhibited fearless determination, maintained the dignity of his office and prevented the serious conflict desired by those who provoked the disturbance, to be used for political purposes.

was

In politics Daniel H. Wells was a Republican from the time of the organization of the party. He took earnest interest in national politics in which he was thoroughly versed, and was ever ready to maintain his views, though never a bitter or contentious partizan. He was a firm friend and supporter of education, was one of the first regents of the University of Deseret, and from 1869 to

1878, its Chancellor. During this period the University was established as a high school of the best grade, and put in the way to attain its present prominence and reputation as an educational establishment.

Chancellor Wells considered that a good education was the best legacy he could bequeath to his children. He was also a great reader, an ardent admirer of the drama, which was his chief amusement, and a promoter of music, science and art.

Daniel H. Wells was always so much engaged in public affairs that his private business was made a secondary consideration. He, however, was a pioneer explorer of timber and coal and developed the first coal mines in Summit county and operated for many years the lumber mills in Big Cottonwood. He also managed the successful manufacture of nails, and in 1872 established the gas works of Salt Lake City, to the success of which he pledged his entire property. The valuable real estate which he acquired and held as long as it was possible for him to (without the assistance needed to carry the gas works and other enterprises in their infancy) showed his judgment in the selection of property. The management of his private affairs by which he extricated himself from obligations reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars and left his estate free from debt, under circumstances the most adverse throughout the later years of his life, is the best testimony of his capacity for business, when his time and talents were not absorbed in public affairs. He was always a large employer of men and thousands can testify of his generous treatment of those who worked for him. It was a pleasure to him to aid the poor in getting homes for themselves and families. While Superintendent of Public Works, an office held for many years before 1864, his counsel and help put many in the way of winning such independence.

In the Church President Wells held the offices of Elder, High Priest, and Apostle. On the fourth of January, 1857, he was appointed second counselor to President Brigham Young, filling the vacancy occasioned by the death of President