Edmund W. Wells
Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913

Among the men who have made the history of Arizona and who 
have in a large measure contributed toward advancement and 
progress in this state is Hon. Edmond W. Wells.  He has been 
for many years a resident here and while a lawyer by 
profession, has been one of the leaders in the mining 
industry, the cattle business, the development of financial 
institutions and also has played a foremost role in 
governmental affairs.  During territorial days he held 
some of the highest political offices under presidential 
appointment.  He is one of the pioneers of the state and 
his influence upon public affairs has been of paramount 
importance.

Judge Wells was born in Lancaster Ohio, February 14, 1846 
a son of Edmond W. and Mary J. (Arnold) Wells.  The family 
moved to Iowa in 1852, where the father was engaged in 
mercantile pursuits and where the mother passed away.  
The former, with our subject made his way to Denver in 
1862 and they arrived in Prescott Arizona in 1864.  E.W. 
Wells Sr., subsequently returned to Iowa where he made 
his home for some time, but passed away in Prescott 
while visiting his son.

Judge Wells was educated in Iowa and Colorado.  After 
coming to Prescott he read law under Chief Justice Turner 
and was admitted to the Arizona bar in 1875 and to practice 
before the supreme court in 1876.  He was actively engaged 
in his profession in Prescott until 1890, becoming one of 
the foremost lawyers of the state.

Since 1890 Judge Wells has largely devoted his time to 
business, becoming prominent in the financial world as 
president of the Bank of Arizona which office he now 
holds.  For the past forty years he has been more or 
less actively connected with mining and has promoted a 
number of most prosperous mining enterprises.  He has 
also derived a gratifying income from the cattle 
business, in which he has been extensively engaged 
for a number of years.  In fact it was in connection 
with this industry that he made his financial start.  
He is interested in several banks in Prescott and 
Phoenix.

The Bank of Arizona of Prescott was organized in 1877 by 
Sol Lewis who became president and Martin W. Kales cashier.  
In 1882, Hugo Richards, E.W. Wells and W.E. Hazeltine bought 
an interest in the bank.  Mr. Richards became president in 
1888.  W.E. Hazeltine who had been connected with the bank 
since March 31, 1882, was cashier, and remained in that 
position until December 31, 1896 when he resigned and was 
succeeded by M.B. Hazeltine.  In 1912 the latter became 
vice president and Charles A. Pete was made cashier.  
Mr. Richards died in 1911 and Judge Wells was made 
president. He has since given a good deal of attention 
to the management and business of this institution and 
has proved to be an able financier. The bank has always 
been located on the corner of Cortez and Gurley Streets 
where it was housed in the first brick building in 
Prescott.  The present handsome building was erected 
in 1900. 

Judge Wells is of the republican persuasion.  In the 
'60's he served for seven years as clerk of the district 
court and has since that time been more or less connected 
with the government.  For two terms he was district 
attorney.  In 1887 Judge Wells, Cameron King and Benjamin 
Goodrich were appointed code commissioners to codify the 
Arizona laws.

In 1869 Judge Wells married Miss Rose G. Baughart, a native 
of Canada and a daughter of George Baughart, an Arizona 
pioneer of 1866.  The father was a prominent cattleman and 
rancher.  Judge and Mrs. Wells had six children, of whom one 
has passed away.



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