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Also see [Railway Officials in America 1906]
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Henry B. Wells was born in Hartwick, Otsego County, N. Y., February 4, 1829. His parents, Worden and Julia (Baker)
Wells, were natives of Rhode Island, and reared a family of nine children, six boys and three girls. The elder
Wells in early life followed the vocation of a saddler and harness-maker, but later became an extensive manufacturer
of lasts and boot trees; he was successful in his business operations, and was possessed of many admirable traits
of character. He was an Abolitionist of the old school, and a man of decided opinions in everything. In 1835, he
came to Michigan with his family, and settled in the town of Charleston, Kalamazoo County, where he still resides.
Henry was at this time six years of age; he received such advantages for education as were afforded by the log
schoolhouse of the early days, and remained at home until the death of his mother, which occurred when he was fourteen
years of age, when he went to live with a man by the name of Tubbs, with whom he remained two years, when he commenced
life as a farm hand, working during the summer and attending the district school in winter. In 1848, he came to
Cass County, and the following year made his first investment in land in Wayne Township, where he has since resided.
He has identified himself prominently with the best interests of his township, and has occupied many positions
of trust and responsibility. In 1860, he was elected Supervisor, and continued to serve his fellow townsmen in
that capacity until 1866, when he was elected to the Representative branch of the Legislature, which position he
filled with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, who recognized in him an able
exponent of Republican principles. For fifteen years he was a resident of Dowagiao, where for a short time he was
engaged in merchandising. In company with Mr. Z. Jarvis, he built the present grain elevator, and for several years
was extensively engaged in the produce business.
In 1854, he was married to Miss Phebe E., daughter of Cary Carr, of Wayne. Mrs. Wells is a native of Yates County,
N. Y., where she was born in the town of Barrington October 9, 1837; four children have been born to them, two
of whom are living; Alice, wife of H. B. Tuttle, of Michigan City, Ind., and Elbert C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wells
are consistent members of the Congregational Church of Dowagiae, and among the representative families of Wayne,.
they hold a prominent position.
From:
History of Cass Couny, Michigan
With Illistrations and Biographical Sketches
of some of it's Prominent Men and Pioneers.
Waterman, Watkins & Co., Chicago 1882.
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