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 8 Collections and/or Records:
First Presidency circular
The folder contains a printed circular addressed "To the Bishop and the Board of the United Order in Your Ward." The item requests that food and tools be sent to St. George, Utah to assist in the construction of the Mormon temple there. The item was endorsed by Brigham Young, George A. Smith, and Daniel H. Wells.
Robert D. Foster agreement with James Rhodeback
Handwritten and printed statement of land ownership between Robert D. and Sarah Foster and James Rhodeback dated 11 Dec. 1842. The item was signed by Daniel H. Wells, a Mormon Church leader.
Group portrait of Mormon missionaries in England
Cabinet portrait of ten men believed to have been Mormon missionaries serving in England around 1886. In the center of the photographs is Daniel H. Wells, apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From the position of Wells in the center of the portrait, it may be assumed he was serving as mission president at that time. Wells was president of the British Mission of the Church from 1885 to 1887.
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.
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.
Daniel H. Wells temple records
This collection consists of books recording the temple work completed for the ancestors of Wells. They include listings of the Wells, Welles, Chapin, Kellog, and numerous other families. The materials show individuals' names, birth and death dates, the temple ordinances performed, and by whom and when these temple rites were conducted. Some of the names are of persons living as early as the Middle Ages.
Brigham Young letter
Handwritten and signed letter, dated September 12, 1857, and addressed to Philo Taylor Farnsworth, Mormon bishop in Beaver, Utah. Young writes to Farnsworth about the declaration of martial law. The item was also signed by Daniel H. Wells. Also included is a printed typescript and facsimile of the item made in 1963.
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