Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Wells, Harvey October 10, 1879 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 8, 2009, 12:59 am

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     HARVEY WELLS.  In real estate and insurance circles of Portland, Harvey 
Wells is an outstanding figure, and his activities in the field of public 
service have won for him state wide prominence. A native of Emporia, Kansas, 
he was born October 10, 1879, and his parents were J. L. and Elizabeth 
(Hammond) Wells, of whom the latter passed away in 1883. In 1885 J. L. Wells 
migrated to Oregon, settling in Portland, and here engaged in the real estate 
business until his death in 1926.

     At the age of six years Harvey Wells came to the Rose city with his 
father and in its public schools he pursued his studies. During 1893-94 he 
attended the United Brethren College at Philomath, Oregon, and for four years 
thereafter was employed in his father's office. At the outbreak of the Spanish-
American war in 1898 he enlisted in the United States Army and served for 
sixteen months. After his honorable discharge Mr. Wells spent some time in San 
Francisco, California, devoting his attention to the fire insurance business, 
and in 1902 returned to Portland. He became special agent for several fire 
insurance companies and acted as state agent for Oregon. In that important 
position Mr. Wells displayed exceptional ability, which led to his appointment 
as insurance commissioner of Oregon by Governor Whitcombe on January 8, 1915. 
His term of service covered four years and eight months and during that time 
the insurance laws of Oregon were revised under his supervision. In 1917 he 
drafted the state law governing fire marshals and was largely instrumental in 
securing its passage. He was Oregon's first fire marshal and creditably filled 
the office for two and a half years. In 1917 the state real estate department 
was created and Mr. Wells was appointed real estate commissioner for Oregon. 
He served for about two years and four months, discharging his duties with 
customary efficiency and conscientiousness, and after tendering his 
resignation returned to Portland, where he has since maintained an insurance 
and real estate office. Mr. Wells writes insurance of all kinds, giving to his 
clients the advice of an expert, and his opinion in regard to real estate 
investments is based upon an intimate knowledge of the subject. His business 
has assumed extensive proportions and is conducted under the style of Harvey 
Wells & Company, of which he is the president.

     In 1905 Mr. Wells married Miss Daisy C. Smith, a native of Portland and a 
daughter of Charles and Roberta (Harris) Smith, who came to the city with the 
pioneers of 1867. Mr. Smith established a large business as a dealer in 
hardware, also conducting a cold storage business, and later went to 
California, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have 
one child, Roberta, who is a student at the University of Oregon.

     Mr. Wells is a member of Portland Lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M., is a 
thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and served on the divan of Al Kader 
Temple, Mystic Shrine, for twelve years. He is also a member of the local 
board of governors of the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children. His 
affiliation with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks dates from 1900 and 
in the same year he became connected with Multnomah Camp, No. 77, of the 
Woodmen of the World, of which he has since been a member. He takes a keen 
interest in fraternal affairs and also belongs to the United Artisans and the 
Knights of The Maccabees. Mr. Wells is likewise a member of the Portland 
Chamber of Commerce, Alderwood Country Club, the Lions Club, and the Spanish-
American War Veterans Association, of which he has been state department 
manager. In politics he is a republican and for seven years has been a civil 
service commissioner. Mr. Wells is a member of the Methodist church and shapes 
his conduct by its teachings.  His loyalty, patriotism and public spirit have 
been expressed by actual achievements and his worth as a man and a citizen is 
uniformly conceded. 



Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 659-660

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