Wells, Daniel H. (Daniel Hanmer), 1814-1891
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 28 Collections and/or Records:
Hancock County (Ill.) Circuit Court legal documents
Collection contains about 750 documents relating to some 250 actions arising in justice of the peace or circuit courts in Hancock County, Illinois. Also includes a letter from David Martin concerning part of the collection and indexes to court cases involving Joseph Smith Jr. and the autographs of those who martyred Smith.
Hancock County (Ill.) search warrant
On May 7, 1843 a plow and clevis were stolen from William Law. Wells, as justice of the peace in Hancock County, sent Constable Lewis Robison to search Jacob Potts' and one Davison's property for the plow. On May 17, Robison signed the search warrant showing he had recovered the plow, arrested Potts and Davison and had expended $1.75.
Ansil Perse Harmon letter of introduction
Printed and signed letter of introduction for Ansil P. Harmon who was going on a mission for the Mormon Church.
Oliver Boardman Huntington autobiography
Handwritten unsigned, autobiographical account believed to have been written by Huntington. The author writes of being called by Brigham Young and Daniel H. Wells to go with an expedition to Carson Valley and tell the Mormons there to return to Utah to meet the United States army, known as "Johnston's Army" in 1857. Huntington gives and account of this expedition and mentions those who participated in it.
Daniel H. Wells indenture
Handwritten indenture dated 24 May 1842 between Wells and Wilson Law relating to a sale of land in Nauvoo, Illinois.
W. P. Lyon receipt
Handwritten receipt signed in Nauvoo, Illinois for payment of a note against Aaron Holder. Also includes photographs of present day restored Lyon drugstore in Nauvoo.
Mauray Bromsen Associates manuscripts list
Typewritten list of manuscripts available for purchase from Mauray Bromsen Associates. The item presents a list of deeds of conveyance from Daniel H. Wells, mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, to Emeline A. Young, Henry W. DeSpain, and Brigham Young, from 1873 to 1875.
Utah Militia orders
Handwritten and signed Utah Militia orders covering the period 1852-1866. All documents were written by or to David Moore (1819- ). Items concern resignations, courts martial, supply matters, and general administration.
Mormon Church in Hawaii
Photocopies of correspondence, reports, histories, petitions, resolutions, and miscellaneous items relating to the Mormon Church in Hawaii. Most of the materials are associated with missionary work, and most date from the nineteenth century. A few items are in the Hawaiian language. One letter was written by the Mormon prophet, Brigham Young (1801-1877), and several letters are addressed to Daniel H. Wells, the Mormon apostle.
Priesthood blessing upon Lucy P. Russel
A blessing given by Joseph F. Smith to Lucy P. Russel, with Daniel H. Wells assisting, setting her apart for calling as a midwife in Utah. Smith was the 2nd Counselor in the Mormon Church's First Presidencey at the time of the blessing.
Additional filters:
- Type
- Collection 27
- Archival Object 1
- Subject
- Letters 12
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 8
- Politics, Government, and Law 6
- Certificates 4
- Immigration and American Expansion 4
- Nauvoo (Ill.) -- History 4
- Church Government 3
- Civil Procedure and Courts 3
- Correspondence 3
- Histories (Literary works) 3
- Material Types 3
- Military 3
- Missions and Missionaries 3
- Photographs 3
- Utah -- History 3
- Diaries 2
- Expeditions and Adventure 2
- Genealogies 2
- Home and Family 2
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Presidents -- Correspondence 2
- Latter Day Saints -- Illinois -- Nauvoo -- History 2
- Military orders 2
- Pioneers 2
- Religion 2
- Saint George (Utah) -- History 2
- Salt Lake City (Utah) 2
- Salt Lake City (Utah) -- History 2
- Social Life and Customs 2
- Women -- Suffrage -- Utah 2
- Account books 1
- Agreements 1
- Arizona -- History 1
- Autobiographies 1
- Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce 1
- California -- History 1
- Church officers -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Correspondence 1
- Deeds 1
- Drafts (Documents) 1
- Echo Canyon (Utah) 1
- Engravings 1
- Genealogy 1
- Hancock County (Ill.) -- History 1
- Hawaii -- History 1
- Illustrations 1
- Indians of North America -- Arizona 1
- Indians of North America -- Land tenure -- Utah -- History -- Sources 1
- Land tenure -- Utah -- Salt Lake City -- History -- Sources 1
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Apostles 1
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Illinois -- Nauvoo -- History 1
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- Hawaii 1
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- History 1
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Presidents 1
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Presidents -- History 1
- Latter Day Saint families -- Utah 1
- Latter Day Saint missionaries -- England -- Portraits 1
- Latter Day Saint pioneers 1
- Latter Day Saint pioneers -- History 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- Utah -- History 1
- Latter Day Saints -- Arizona -- History 1
- Latter Day Saints -- Hawaii -- History 1
- Latter Day Saints -- Nevada -- History -- Sources 1
- Latter Day Saints -- Utah -- Saint George -- History 1
- Latter Day Saints -- Utah -- Salt Lake City -- History 1
- Legal instruments 1
- Lists 1
- Mayors -- Utah -- Salt Lake City -- History 1
- Medicine and Health 1
- Midwives -- Utah -- History -- Sources 1
- Military administration -- Utah -- History -- Sources 1
- Mothers -- Nevada -- History 1
- Nauvoo (Ill.) 1
- Nauvoo (Ill.) -- History -- 19th century 1
- Ogden (Utah) 1
- Petitions 1
- Photocopies 1
- Portraits 1
- Postal service -- United States -- History -- Sources 1
- Provo (Utah) 1
- Receipts (Acknowledgments) 1
- Reports 1
- Retail trade 1
- Science, Technology, and Health 1
- Snowflake (Ariz.) -- History 1
- Temple work (Latter Day Saint doctrine) -- History -- Sources 1
- Utah -- Emigration and immigration -- History 1
- Utah -- History -- 19th century 1
- Utah -- Politics and government 1
- Warrants (Law) 1
- Women painters -- Utah 1
- Women poets 1 + ∧ less