The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-04
MAJoR A.
This Highly Esteemed Gentleman Is
TIE Be Congratulated Today-Iti Is HIS
7Oth Birthday - Once Entertained
JefYD Davis and Judah p. BENJAMIN.

That highly esteemed gentleman and
Major A. WE'LL, will be the object OF
congratulations today. Today is his
10th birthday. IL we violate no proprie-
ty in saying so. and IL we do happen
70 give the Majors age away we make
amends by saying The Messenger joins
his host Of friends in congratulating
him and wishing him many happy re-
turns.
Major WE'LL has been 2 citizen OF
wilmington almost continuously for So
years n he has been so prominently
identified with the business and railroad
interests of our city that IL will not
be amiss to say something about him
beyond reminding his friends that this
is his birthday. He was born October
l. 1881, in Lambsheim. Rheinfalz, Ba-
varia, and came TO America So years
ago, arriving in Philadelphia in April
1S4S. He remained al Philadelphia I'M
til July "A, 1S4S. when he accepted a
position as salesman with Messrs. s.
& d. Teller, then CT Wilmington, row
Of Philadelphia. On January LIST 1S49,
he came 70 Wilmington to represent
that firm in one of its branc houses
locatedf at Wilmington in charge OF
Mr.. Jacob Lyon who was a partner OF
the Tellers. He remained with that
firm until 1853 when he embarked in
the dry goods and clothing business on
his own ccoUnt. In 1855 he associated
himself with S. Anathan under the firm
name Of WE'LL & Anathan and they did
a large business in general merchan-
disc in Wilmington until 1865 when the
firm was dissolved by the death OF
MIR. Anathan.
Whe nthe war for southern indepen-
dence broke out Major WE'LL joined the
company raised by the late Colonel
John J. Hedrick to fight for the south
ern cause, but in 1862 he was sent to
Charlotte as purchasing agent for the
confederacy in the medical department,
his business being to purchase medi-
cal n hospital supplies, He remained
at Charlotte in that capacity until the
surrender. While in that city he had
the honor of entertaining the Hen.
Judah p. Benjamin, secretary OF state
Of the confederate states of America,
and his action towards and h~ospitable
entertainment of President Jefferson
Davis and his family in their fight
south is history too well known
to be repeated, as it can be read fully
in Mrs. Davis memoirs Of her distin-
guished husband.
In May 1865, Major WE'LL was ap-
pointed by Gov ernor Holder as one Of
the aldermen of Charlotte, which ap-
pointment he declined. but the citizens
of that town insisted Upon his acceI l.
nee Of the trust and he yielded to their
wishes. With the other aldermen ne
assisted in framing the charter and by
laws Of Charlotte, and if We mistake
not, they are now in force in that city.
In October 1865 Major WE'LL resigned as
alderman and entered into the mercan-
tile business in Charlotte and Whining
ton, and owing to the unsettled condi-
ton of affairs during the reconstruct
ton period he removed with his family
to Philadelphia, doing the purchasing
of goods in the eastern markets for his
establishments. In 1867 he entered
the wholesale clothing business at
Philadelphia; meanwhile confirming
his business south. He moved his
family back to Wilmington in 1869 and
remained in business till 1879 when he
gave up business and accepted a posi-
ton a. soliciting agent with the At
lantic Coast Lire, which position he
has held up to the present time, over
ing a railroad service since of twenty
two years.
Mrs. WE'LL, after a long and serious
illness. and who was a lady very high
ly esteemed in Wilmington, die in
1885. His son, the lamented Sol c.
WE'LL, who was admitted to the bar
in Wilmington and afterwards mad a
big reputation at the bar in New Yorl:
and was elected to the general assem-
bly, Of that state before he was q ear
in that city, died several years ago..
Major WE'LL is a gentleman OF the
kindliest heart and the most unaffected
courtesy. and during his long residence
here he has at no period so possessed
the esteem and confidence of the peo-
pie of Wilmington in a greater degr=f
than he now does. May many more
years of usefulness and good health
| fall m hic lnf