The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-05
CAME IN EARLY DAYS
HENRY TITUS wELLEs, A PIONEER
Of ST. ANTHONY, DEAD
Settled Mt the Falls of st. Anthony
in 1853, and Has Ever Since Been
an Active Worker in the History
Making of MinncapOIis-His De-
mise Due to Heart Disease.

II. 7. Welles, an old and well-known
citizen of Minneapolis, died at his
home. 1881 Hennepin avenue. last even
ing. He has been associated with all
the business interests of the city ever
since its inception, ard was one of the
earliest settlers at st. Anthony.
For some years Mr. Welles has been
rather an invalid, although until very
recently he has been able to manage
his property and attend to his business
A few days ago there were indications
of a weakening of the heart, and the
cause of death is aScribed to heart fail
ure.
In the death of Mr.. Welles another
notable actor in the history making
I of Minneapolis and the Northwest.
passes from sight. He was one of the
earliest citizens of the present city Of
Minneapolis, and few have done as
much for the material welfare of the
city.
He was born at Glastonbury, Hart
fcrd county, Conn, April 3, 1921. He
was of Puritan stock, and is a lineal
descendant of Gov. Thomas WeleS who
was one of the early governors of Con-
necticut. His early years We're spent
upon the paternal homestead. during
which time he was preparing himself
for college. In 1S43 he graduated from
Trinity college. Hartford. For ten
years following his graduation from
college, he remained upon the farm,
and then studied law, to the practice
of which he was admitted in 1916. At
the age of twenty-nine he was elected
to represent his town in the legislature,
as a Wing.
Having already married, he moved
to the territory of Minnesota In 1858,
and settled at st. Anthony, where he
at once engaged in active business. He
invested what money he had in the
lumber business. and began a saw mill
at st. Anthony falls He soon after
gave up the lumber business, and in
vested in real estate, and became part
owner of the claim staked out by Col.
John H. Stevens on the west side of
the river This property was the foun-
dation of little fortune.
Mr.. Welles was frequently chosen to
represent the peoples interests at
Washington. In 1S54-5 he co-operated
with Franklin Steele and DR.. A E.
Ames in reducing the military reserva-
ton and in opening the lands on the
west side of the river to settlement. He
was called to Washington the following
winter in company with Richard Chute
to assist Henry M. Rice in procuring
the passage of the land grant act of
that year.
Upon the incorporation of st. Anth-
Ony In 400 he was elected Its hrSt
mayor At the first Minneapolis town
election of 1858 he was chosen president
of the corporation, and the same year
he was made president of the school
board. While serving on the school
board, the salaries of all the teachers
being in arrears, their designations
were sent to the board. Mr. Welles
helped raise necessary funds and the
schools were continued. He was one of
the builders of the Nicollet houss.
which was completed in 1853 In 1860
the first serious attempt was made to
unite the villages of st. Anthony and
Minneapolis, and Mr.. Welles was ap-
pointed on a committee to draw a char
ter, but the effort failed on account Of
a name.
He was a candidate for governor of
the state on the Democratic ticket in
1868, but was defeated.
He was instrumental in the construc-
ton of the Minneapolis & Duluth and
the Minneapolis & st. Louis railroads,
of the later of which he was first presi-s
dent. AT the organization of the park
commission, Mr.. Welles was appointed
a member, but he soon resigned For
many years Mr.. Welles was president
Of the Northern National bank, Of
which he was at the time of his death
a director. The stability of that insti-
tuition was largely the result of his
careful mana cement