The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-11-27
Capt. Thomas E. Welles
Dies in Cambridge
Continued From Page One.j

and several years was mayor of Pen
sacola for two years beginning in June
1903. For the past seventeen years,
he has l9een the Escambia County
member of the democratic state eSecu-
tive committee, and his death leaves
a vacancy in that position.
In the civic and industrial develop.
ment of the city and section, Capt.
welles was also a leader. He was
president of the Young Mems Business
League when that organization was
big factor in Pensacola's business life,
and he served two terms as president
of the Pensacola Interstate Fair Asso-
citation. At Athens, Ala, he served as
president Of the Fair Association.
The death of this prominent and
useful citizen removes not only a land
mark in Pensa cola, but one as well
who did more possibly than almost any
other citizen to develope the business
and industrial interests of the Deep
Water City.
NATIVE OF CONNECTICUT.
Capt. Welles was a native OF Con-
necticut and of English decent, tracing
his ancestry back to early colonial days
on both sides of the house. His grand
father was a. soldier in the revolution
airy war, and his mother was a direct
defendant Of Priscilla and John Alden.
The history of the Welles family is
one of great interest. 1t can be traced
back to the year 1914, when it was To-
Gated III the district OF Vaux in Nor
mandy, France, with branch in Pro-
vence The family was then known as
Baux or Vaux, BayeuN, and deValibus.
all the variations at that time meaning
the same thing.
In the seventeenth century, it is
related, not less than ten members of
the welles family came from
England 10 New England. The
most prominent of these was
Thomas, governor of Connecticut
in 1887, and for the next twenty two
years the foremost man Of that colony.
He had eight children who had numer-
Gus descendants. Between 1907 and
1858 Yale and Harvard graduated
twenty-five of the old governors des-
cendants.
Hugh, Joseph. Nathaniel, George,
Thomas and Richard welles, all of Els
sex county, England, came in the first
half Of the seventeenth century. There
was Williams. who came from Nor
folkshire, about 1885, Thomas, who
came from dorchester in 1712, and
John, who came from Ireland about
174o. It is noteworthy that all Of these
spelled the names Welles, thus indi-
eating a. common origin. Some Of
their descendants in America have
dropped the final "e'' and spell the
name Wells.
The father of Thomas E. welles was
Russell, born in 1922. The history Of
the Welles family states that he was a
son Of Edward, born in 1888, who was a
son of Wait. born 1924, who was a son
of Thomas, born 1857, who was a son
Of Joseph, grandson of Nathaniel, who
was first Of the family TO come to
America, as he landed in 1929.
In America the family furnished
several state governors, Lincoln's
secretary of the navy, Gideon Welles
Of Connecticut. and Davis A. Welles.
one of the greatest economists and
stratisticians the world has ever pro-
duced.
Thomas E. Welles was born in Mys-
tic, Conn, November "a, 1855, his par
ents being Russell and Fannie A.
.(Peab BODY WeI1es. His father owned
a splendid farm which he conducted
along with a granite quarry and also
successfully engaged in the practice
of law. The deceased received MS
education in the public schools or Con-
nectfcut When about twenty years or
age he came to Florida. at first making
his home at Key West, where for two
years he was engaged in various ca
pacities. In 1878, however, he moved
to Pensacola. where he has since made
his home and the headquarters Of his
numerous prosperous interests which
he was connected with
Capt welIes was married June "A,
1883. to Miss Carrie B. Cobb a daugh-
ter of James and Caroline Burton Cobb,
of Pensacola. To them was born three
children two OF whom. Frank e. and
Miss Ruth Welles survive.
The deceased was member or
number of fraternai organizations, III
which he had held high offices. He
was past grand supreme representa- :
tive of the Knights of Honor, and past
saehen OF the Improved Order Of Red