Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-03-28

I 80 AVN INV WIN NNf hfNNtNA7 1870"
lie Joined the Church aud gave II hi
full faith aud support. He was hap
tiled August o, 1919.
Six weeks later tho battle Of Nanvo'
occurred. General Wells was practi
cally the leading spirit In this gallant
defense Of the city. Col. johnson wa
taken sick and Lieut.. Col. Cutler a.
suned The command. Brother Well'
was his ai,ls. aud on his white charger
was prominent target for the enemy.
bullets. ~. house also was fired upon
repcatedly. He escaped unhnrmed,
and during tue three days siege was a
tower Of strength 10 the men who were
fighting for home aud family.
When the city was evacuated he
was one Of the last TO leave, and being
fired upon by the euumy's cannon
after crossing the river into Iowa, ne
sent one Of the balls with bis compli.
ments 10 the Governor Of that state, a.
specimen Of Illinois respect for IT,
obligations. One Of the terms Of the
treaty between the Saints and the
mob wa that the former should cross
into Iowa unmolestod aud have their
arms returned 10 them.
Brother Wells rode day aud night In
one horse buggy 10 reach the main
body OF the cxllcd "Motmons,"
that teams might he Immediately
sent back for the remnant that
had been expelled from Nanvoo. Amer
settling up his Affairs In Illinois, he
started for the West and came TO Utah
In isis, acting ms aido-dc-cnmp to
President Brigham Young ON the
second journey Of the pioneers.
When Salt Lake City was laid out
Brother Wells drew a lot In the Eighth
Ward. But President Young desiring
his near presence, he moved 10 the
East side Of the Eagle Gate, and
subsequently 10 the land east Of tho
DrsEHEr NEWS office, whore he oc'
cupicd the small adobe houses still
standing there, ana whctc most of his
children were born, and In one Of
which Sister Emmeiine II. Wells now
publishes the B'omaHs Exponent.
Brother Wells took an active part Ia
the organization Of the provisional
state Of Desere,, aud was elected to the
nrst Legislative Council and appoint.
ell as State Attorney, and was also
elected Major General Of the Nauvoo
Legion. the state militin, by the Gen.
eral Assembly May 20, 1870.
ON the eth Of March 1859,
he received the rank Of Lieutenant
General ofthe Legion, aud was commits
stoned 10 that office by Governor Brig.
ham Young March !, 1855. ON the
passage Of the territorial militia law
providing for the election Of general
officers. he was reelected Lieutenant
General April O, 1851. In the Indian
troubles that arose IN Utah County
and afterwards In Sanpctc County,
General Wells took the field In person,
routing the savages Mt Provo, Battle
Creek and Payson, aud saving the
Sanpctc aud Sewer settlements from
the disasters that subsequently threat.
cnsd them.
These Indian campaigns were con.
Quoted with great military skin and
success. aud cost great deal Of money;
men. munitions aud provisions having
10 lie largely furnished from Salt Lake
City aud the north. A claim for over
n million dollars against the Unitel
States remains 10 this day unpaid,
though made out In due aud detailed
'orm, Ia the same manner rs the
Oregon claim which was settled long
ago.
General Wells was In command Of the
Echo Canyon expedition and con.
iucted II with signal skin, under the
direction OF Governor Brigham Young,
without shedding zone drop Of blood"
His fearless character, cool head and
executive talent were here exhibited
In n manner that won for him UNI
aiding renown among the "Mormon"
people.
Hon. ID. II. Wells was n member Of
he Legislative Council In tho Terri.
oriai Assembly for many terms, and
n all tho conventions that framed
for Utah's Statehood ex-
sept the last. His clear perception Of
egal points and strong regard for con.
duutional principles rendered him u
adviser and able leg islator.
ON the 9Th Of January, 1851, Brother
Wells was appointed Second Counselor
o President Brigham Young, filling
he vacancy oocasionsd by the death
Il President Jedediah NJ. Grant. Bro.
her Wells had been ordained an
A postle and with Presidents
Young aud Heber G.
iimball he visited the saints
throughout the Territory, aided In locRt.
ng AMI organizing many settlements,
md gave counsel In relation To the
Ifihirs OF the Church. lie was also
he Superintendent OF Public Works,
that position until 1854. In
lac absence Of President Young he
vas frequently left In charge OF aiiairs,
ND was looked to for advice In Import.
mt mntter-,
On the 2sh Of October, ISL, Presi'
lent Wells was arrested on a trumprd