Biography of James V. Wells

	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1898. Page 308.

	Scan and OCR by Joy Fisher, 1997. This file may be copied for non-profit 
	purposes. All other rights reserved. 

JAMES V. WELLS, one of the leading general merchants of Gary, Deuel 
county, was born January 2, 1832, in Erie county, New York. His parents, 
James and Sible Wells, were natives of Massachusetts. His father was 
born December 23, 3, 1797, and died March 18, 1884 He was a minister for 
upward of forty years. Our subject's mother was born July 4, 1798, and 
died in 1843. When our subject was an infant his parents removed to Erie 
county, Pennsylvania, and ten years later to Calhoun county, Michigan, 
where he was educated. He spent the greater part of his early life there 
upon his father's farm, and at the age of eighteen learned the tinner's 
trade. In the fall of 1855 he went to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and 
there engaged in the hardware business, which he continued until 1878. 
In June of that year he removed to South Dakota and settled in Gary, 
Deuel county, where he established his present general merchandise 
business. He also built and operated for four years a hotel known as the 
"Wells House," the principal hostelry of Gary for a number of years. 
This hotel was kept open until 1892. After leasing this property, Mr. 
Wells devoted his entire attention to his business, and to a farm which 
he owns in section 9, adjoining the village. He has a fine residence 
upon this farm, and many other excellent improvements, and makes a 
specialty of sheep raising. Mr. Wells enjoys the distinction of having 
established the first general store in Deuel county, and also of having 
been its first county treasurer. He is politically a Republican, and has 
always taken a prominent part in local affairs. He was formerly a member 
of Black River lodge, No. 74, A. F. & A. M., and is now connected with 
the Gary lodge of the same order.

	On the 18th of September, 1852, Mr. Wells was married at Marshall, 
Michigan, to Miss Armina Leclair, who was born in Erie county, New York. 
Mrs. Wells is a member of the Universalist church and the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union, being superintendent of press work for that 
organization in Gary. She is an active worker in the local Presbyterian 
church. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have no children of their own, but have 
adopted two sons, Frank E. and Henry J., the latter being at present a 
partner in his father's business.