Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-03-09
COL. SAMUEL B. WELLS.
Death of Prominent Native of windham
County.

Dcbth OA - GEOInln6uC Nhtlv0 VI "AuuhhAA
County.
Last Sunday at Wilmington, Mass,
funeral services were held over the re-
mains of Col. Samuel B. Wells, for many
years an official in the national house of
representatives and well remembered
Windham county man, having formerly
resided at Athens and at Brattleboro.
Col. Wells death, which occurred Febru-
ary 26. at Richmond, Va, where he has
resided for the past five years, was the
result of a severe cold contracted about
month ago. The funeral services at
the home of his son-iI-law, G. E. Hud-
son, at Wilmington, were conducted by
Rev. G. E. Harmon of the Congregation
al church and Rev. L. O. Powers, for
merlv of Athens and lifelong friend of
Col. Wells. The interment was at Brat
tlehoro.
Col. Wells was born in Athens, April
10, 1920. and was educated at the Nor
wich Military college. After leaving
college he studied law in the offices Of
Justices Kellogg and Bradley of Vermont,
at W. stminster. Early in life he became
identified with the state militia of Yer
mont and rose to the rank Of colonel.
During the gold fever days he went to
California, remaining there two years.
After his return from the gold fields he
served in the Vermont legislature several
terms, as representative from Athens.
La 1862 he was appointed an officer of the
house of representatives at Washington
and probably one of the most interesting
of his many experiences in that capacity
was at the time when it was thought
Washington was in danger of invasion by
the rebel army and he was selected, as
the most trustworthy officer, to guard
the United States capitol. During one
night of particular anxiety Col. Wells
walked about the capitol all night armed
with pair of revolvers.
4 war times, while in Washington, he
spent much of bis spare time in the hos
pitals and through his kindly offices car
~ taa9ed and dyint. soldier. Cal. Wells
Heid Office in the national house of rep
Eresentatives for IA years, during LincOln's
Johnson's, Grants and part Of Hayes ad-
ministrations, and in addition served as
the clerk of the committee on patents for
six years.
He was great friend of ssTad'' Lin
coin, the presidents favorite son, and
was on intimate terms with such men as
Senators Foote, Wilson, Sumner, Colli-
mer, Davis, and Sec etary Chase; indeed,
he knew and was known by all of the
great men of the time. During the i'm
parchment of johnson, Col. Wells was
elected from among all the officers of
congress to take charge of the senate
chamber, for he was man who could be
trusted, as the men who conducted that
trial had learned.
Col. Wells once saved the life of Sena-
tor Dawes of Massachusetts In New York
city. Very early one wintry morning,
many years ago, while on the way from
the ferry to the Astor house the senator
tainted and fell. Col. Wells, who was
also on his way to hotel from the ferry
rushed to his assistance and carried him
to the hotel. The senator was very
grateful, and always insisted that Col.
Wells had saved his life.
Col. Wells was q man who was univer-
sally esteemed. He made many warm,
loyal friends and he kept them all. He
was man of strict integrity, of genial,
charitable nature, and his life from his
boyhood was absolutely correct and up
right. He was man, too, of broad
ideas and original thought and above all
Christian gentleman of the noblest
type. He leaves two children, Lucien E.
Wells, who has lived with his father at
Richmond during the past five years, and
daughter, Mary, wife of Charles E..
Hudson of Wilmington, Mass. Col.
Wells was valued contributor to
The TINES when the paper was under
Mr.. SWANS management. G. NJ. D.