Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-04-24
DEATH OF WILLIAM WELLS


Mr. William Henry Wells OF New York died at
his home IN that city al noou Friday last. Mr.
Wells native Of brattieburo. born here ~
year ago. on the Wrll-known Wells homestead
no" Owned 10y the Vermont asylum. and occupied
a. the SUMNER Retreat. His grandfather was the,
Rev william Wells. man uf yrnerated memory
ia the early days of this village and no was th.
FIRST pastor 20 preach the gospel in the old church
standing on the common He had laI7s- family
Of children. of whom El--nrzer living on the old
/ homestead Hlr-ady spoken o. Was the father of
/ W llihm Henry Wells, and Of two brothers. bpth
older than he, John G. and Charles. William
/ Henry Wells remained in Brattrboro until about
the age OF u years, hetng for a time clerk in the
store of the late Gardner G. Hall A littl,. later
lac went 10 Danvillr III WHERE h,. engaged In
trade A. mef liant, and did su,teSSful bslsin.ss
pne feature Of this the buying Of goods which,
hr carried by the nat buats Of that time down the
mississippi river 10 New Orleans where they were
sold, or exchanged for other commodities Mr.
/ Wells used 10 accompany his cargo-s on th,.s..
| trlPA, ana many interesting stories were told by
| MN OF the sights and ss-nts witnessed ON such
J occasions.
II vas while living in Illinois that Mr. Wells
| formed the acquaintance OF Abraham ljncoln
which rtI'ened into n warm, personal fri.udship
4 anu which continued until the death of the mar.
/ w PRESIDENT Mr. Wells possessed a good libra
y at that time, which was freely made. tis.. of la
Mr. Lincoln. During the canvass which preceded
Mr. LincOlus iirst election To- the presidency Mr.
Wells ~as lrrs-ni ia New York city al on, Of his
, aauiesSts' ~ We cuursF of which Mr.. Lincoln
turned 70 Mr. Wells and publicly referred to the
! strung friendship existing iS-tWes-u Them
About the year $50 Mr. Wells pave m his b,,si
ness IN Illinois and returned 70 the East This VA,
/ not long after the FIRE which on NAV - 1879 de-
stIoyed the house occupied by Mrs. Freme
SISTER OF ms father, and two other sisters and
standing Just hey ond the Wells homestead In
lhis hIr MIS- Fremr lost her life and the shock
] was one from which kl-nezrr Wells never recov-
/ erred hs death following IN the cuurs.- of a wear
/ son after his rrturn to the East Mr. Wells mar
snln4 tins 1jne lI amy Tracy OF Utica After
| aork, where their home always afterwari was
| ht. Wells never afterward engaged in active
/ business, but found employnep in looking after
ms own affair and in caring for the M yef I,tnts
~ strictly private way, Of a wide circle Of r,-la
/ ~. , aliu "lheT friends. He was a man OF sound
Judgment ~ all business Affairs far-siaht.,i with
I regard 10 judiciuus investments and imnli'ltN
| trusted ty all who had connection with him The.
income IRON his own estate enabled him to CRAFTY
his tastes for literature travel and th,. 0t6sr ,
Sulainns oi cultivated gentleman His love
10, bratlrboro, his birthplace aud early home.
Nas remarkably strong amt was shown In mann
| ways. Mess the family were abroad no sumner
Pass+i without portion Of II being % ut here
Aitef tht establishment Of the BrDEs fi,., lil,rsr,
le gave Sl0OJ for the pur,has,. OF standnrI 49,
Or that institution, and his gift last year OF the
! Dea.'lW hhn unique drinking fountain at the
! Junction OF Asylum and North Main streets Is
FRESH 10 the minds Of all, and will long stand -
| monument TO his affection for Brattlet0rn anJ ~
Il ,.bsrf 'ss 'l9 anu public spirit HIS private
I recipients " '"'S 1" ti'eH
The death OF his wife took plai,- som. thr,,. or
| fi eaIn ago one daughter was boru L. them
! Julia Chester Wells. " no SURVIVES her fstb-'
inr hond b'-i w,,-n them has been one of unusual
hila.y ana Affection, and their ur, otiul 10 each
V V,hSsI mas o--h mutual. During the mast wear Mir
Wells has b--rn IA gradually failing hrait6 nam
nrai, useuSe, aud the bs-stow I'd u;,op hin, la
! tle uaukhiri Has bs-n a sulac- for both The
TT~S was brought Co brattlri,oro FOR burial nn
lues,lAy hriri s-rvIcr bring held ia the 1 nita
IiAl Shufcii on arrival al O'Clock This s..tyi,,
Mah ultlhsly conducted by Rev VIM l. Jenkins
ul beIhsldston Mass, a former pastor aud a
personal Trend Of Mr.. Wells The burial wns IN,
the family lot M Prospect hill cemetery
'tIhl integrity OF the l,u...l ind
aIue ulshHf, a rare self-poisr, and quick aud
leaui sympathy. were the characteristics l.,
Nnlci ihr surviving relatives and immediate
IrrLlH 81 w. Wells viii long remrInh-r him