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Wells, Daniel H. (Daniel Hanmer), 1814-1891

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1814 - 1891

Biography

Daniel H. Wells (1814–1891) was an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the third mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah Territory.

Daniel Hanmer Wells was born in Trenton, New York, on October 27, 1814, to Daniel Wells and Catherine Chapin. He and his family moved to Illinois after the death of his father in 1826, and arrived in Hancock County, Illinois in 1835. While in Illinois, Wells married Eliza Rebecca Robison in 1837, and they had one son.

Wells became a major landowner and justice of the peace in Commerce, Illinois, prior to the arrival of a large number of Latter-day Saints in 1839. Although not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until 1846, Wells defended the Church against its opponents and was a great friend of the Church and its leaders. In 1848 he emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley with other pioneers. His wife, Eliza, refused to join him, and later they were divorced. Between 1849 and 1852, Wells married six additional wives: Louisa Free, with whom he had eight children; Martha Givens Harris, with whom he had seven children; Lydia Ann Alley, with whom he had six children; Susan Hannah Alley, with whom he had four children; Hannah Corilla Free, with whom he had eight children; and Emmeline Blanche Woodward Harris Whitney, with whom he had three children. Louisa Free, Hannah Free, and Emmeline Whitney were all previously married and divorced or widowed. Each had one or more children whom Wells adopted and reared as his own. Emmeline B. Wells would become the fifth General Relief Society president in 1910, and was a advocate for women's suffrage.

Wells was active in both ecclesiastical and civic roles. From 1848 to 1863, Wells was superintendent of public works for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and presided over the construction of the Salt Lake Temple and Tabernacle. In 1849 Wells was elected Attorney General of the State of Deseret. He was ordained an apostle of the Church in 1856 upon the death of Jedidiah M. Grant, and set apart as Second Counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency. Wells was never sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, although he served as a Counselor to the Quorum upon Young's death in 1877. In 1866 he was elected mayor of Salt Lake City, and re-elected in both 1872 and 1874. Wells served twice as president of the European Mission of the Church, first in 1864-1865 and again in 1884-1887.

Daniel H. Wells died in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 24, 1891 at the age of 76.

Citation:
Wikipedia, via WWW, Feb. 11, 2019 (Daniel Hanmer Wells. b. in Trenton, New York, on October 27, 1814, to Daniel Wells and Catherine Chapin; moved to Illinois after the death of his father in 1826; arrived in Hancock County, Illinois in 1835; married Eliza Rebecca Robison in 1837, and they had one son; became a major landowner and justice of the peace in Commerce, Illinois; not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until 1846; defended the Church against its opponents and was a great friend of the Church and its leaders; in 1848 emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley; wife, Eliza, refused to join him, and later they were divorced; between 1849 and 1852, married six additional wives: Louisa Free, with whom he had eight children; Martha Givens Harris, with whom he had seven children; Lydia Ann Alley, with whom he had six children; Susan Hannah Alley, with whom he had four children; Hannah Corilla Free, with whom he had eight children; and Emmeline Blanche Woodward Harris Whitney, with whom he had three children; Louisa Free, Hannah Free, and Emmeline Whitney were all previously married and divorced or widowed; each had one or more children whom Wells adopted and reared as his own; Emmeline B. Wells would become the fifth General Relief Society president in 1910, and was a advocate for women's suffrage; from 1848 to 1863, was superintendent of public works for the Church and presided over the construction of the Salt Lake Temple and Tabernacle; in 1849 elected Attorney General of the State of Deseret; was ordained an apostle of the Church in 1856 upon the death of Jedidiah M. Grant, and set apart as Second Counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency; never sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, although he served as a Counselor to the Quorum upon Young's death in 1877; in 1866 he was elected mayor of Salt Lake City, and re-elected in both 1872 and 1874; served twice as president of the European Mission of the Church, first in 1864-1865 and again in 1884-1887; d. in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1891 at the age of 76)

Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia, 1901:vol. 1, p. 62 ("Wells, Daniel Hanmer"; "Daniel H."; b. 27 October 1814, Trenton, New York) p. 65-66 (d. 24 March 1891, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Lewis Robison correspondence, 1857 Apr.-Aug.("Mr D H Wells")

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Collection on Utah Expedition

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2379
Scope and Contents

The collection contains the original and typescript of "The Echo Canon War," probably written by William Stowell, and a typed document regarding the Weber Military District and the Utah War, beginning with Chapter 3 [no author].

Dates: 1857-1858

Joseph Fish typescripts of histories and diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2010
Scope and Contents The Fish diaries cover his life from the 1840s to 1926. His histories of Arizona and his series on Pioneers of the Southwest and Rocky Mountain Region cover aspects of western history from 1500-1905. The Joseph Fish typescripts include: "The Diaries of Joseph Fish," Fish's "History of the Eastern Arizona Stake of Zion and the Establishment of the Snowflake Stake," a "History of Arizona Territory," volumes 4-7 of "Pioneers of the Southwest and Rocky Mountain Region," and "History of...
Dates: 1902-1970

Daniel H. Wells indenture

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233283420]
Identifier: Vault MSS 43
Scope and Contents

Handwritten indenture dated 24 May 1842 between Wells and Wilson Law relating to a sale of land in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Dates: 1842 May 24

Daniel H. Wells papers

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239135541]
Identifier: MSS 9637
Scope and Contents Two photocopies of original handwritten letters written by Daniel H. Wells. Typed transcripts of both letters are also included. The first letter was written on September 26, 1848, from Salt Lake City by Daniel Wells to "dear brother." He discusses sending his two yoke of oxen to a camp in addition to assistance from others. The second letter was written on April 26th, 1852, and is titled "Special Order No. 1" and is signed by Lieutenant General D. H. Wells, James Ferguson, Adjutant General....
Dates: 1848-1852

Filtered By

  • Subject: Pioneers X

Additional filters:

Subject
Histories (Literary works) 2
Immigration and American Expansion 2
Letters 2
Pioneers 2
Arizona -- History 1