Daniel Hanmer Wells (October 27, 1814 – March 24, 1891) was an American religious leader and politician. He was an

apostle An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary. The word is derived from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", itself derived from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to se ...

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

(LDS Church) and the 3rd mayor of Salt Lake City.

Biography

Early life

Wells was born in

Trenton, New York Trenton (called ''Ose-te-a-da-que'', "''in the bone''" by the Haudenosaunee) is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 4,297 at the 2020 census. History The first settlement was developed in 1793 by Gerrit Boon in ...

, a member of the sixth generation of his family in America. His original immigrant ancestor was

Thomas Welles Thomas Welles (14 January 1660) is the only person in Connecticut's history to hold all four top offices: governor, deputy governor, treasurer, and secretary. He was Commissioner of the United Colonies in 1649. Thomas Welles served a total of ni ...

(1594–1660), who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635 and was the only man in Connecticut's history to hold all four top offices: governor, deputy governor, treasurer, and secretary. Wells was also a descendant of

John Webster John Webster (c. 1578 – c. 1632) was an English Jacobean dramatist best known for his tragedies '' The White Devil'' and ''The Duchess of Malfi'', which are often seen as masterpieces of the early 17th-century English stage. His life and car ...

, fifth

Governor of Connecticut The governor of Connecticut is the head of government of Connecticut, and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. state, state's Connecticut Military Department, military forces. The Governor (United States), governor has a duty to enforce state laws, ...

. A few years after the death of his father in 1826, Daniel H. Wells left New York with his mother Catherine Chapin Wells and his younger sister Catherine C. Wells and moved to Illinois. Wells arrived in

Hancock County, Illinois Hancock County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it has a population of 17,620. Its county seat is Carthage, Illinois, Carthage, and its largest city is H ...

, in 1835. He lived in Commerce, Illinois—later renamed Nauvoo—and was a major landowner and justice of the peace there for several years prior to the arrival of large numbers of Latter Day Saints in 1839.

Relationship with the Latter-day Saints

Although not a member of the Latter-day Saints, Wells was considered by opponents of the church to be a " Jack Mormon", a term originally applied to non-members who were friendly to or defended the Latter Day Saints. In Nauvoo, he served on the city council and as a judge. Mobs invaded Nauvoo after the assassination of church founder

Joseph Smith Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious and political leader and the founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. Publishing the Book of Mormon at the age of 24, Smith attracted tens of thou ...

; Wells defended the city and fought as a

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

of the

Nauvoo Legion The Nauvoo Legion was a state-authorized Latter-day Saints Militias and Military Units, militia of Nauvoo, Illinois, United States from February 4, 1841 until January 29, 1845. Its main function was the defense of Nauvoo and surrounding Latte ...

, and also provided shelter for evacuees. Wells was not

baptized Baptism (from ) is a Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely, traditionally three ...

into the LDS Church until August 9, 1846. He emigrated to the

Salt Lake Valley Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City, Utah, Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably Murray, Utah, Murray, Sandy, Uta ...

with the

Mormon pioneers The Mormon pioneers were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), also known as Latter-day Saints, who Human migration, migrated beginning in the mid-1840s until the late-1860s across the United States from the ...

in 1848. He was elected Attorney General of

State of Deseret The State of Deseret (modern pronunciation , contemporaneously , as recorded in the Deseret alphabet spelling 𐐔𐐯𐑅𐐨𐑉𐐯𐐻) was a proposed U.S. state, state of the United States promoted by leaders of the Church of Jesus Chri ...

in 1849. When Jedediah M. Grant died in 1856, Wells was ordained an apostle of the LDS Church and set apart as Second Counselor to

Brigham Young Brigham Young ( ; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until h ...

in the

First Presidency Among many churches in the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency (also known as the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is the highest presiding or governing body. Present-day denominations of the movement led by a First Presidency ...

of the church. Although serving as an apostle, Wells was never sustained as a member of the

Quorum of Twelve Apostles In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve (also known as the Council of the Twelve, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Council of the Twelve Apostles, or the Twelve) is one of the governing bodies (or Quorum (Latter Day Saints), ...

. Upon Young's death in 1877, Wells was sustained as a Counselor to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a position he held until his death. On behalf of Brigham Young, Wells dedicated the St. George Temple on April 6, 1877. From 1888 to 1891, he was the first

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

of the

Manti Utah Temple The Manti Utah Temple (formerly the Manti Temple) is the fifth constructed Temple (LDS Church), temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple construction was completed in 1888. Located in the city of Manti, Utah, it was ...

. From 1848 until 1863, Wells was superintendent of public works for the LDS Church and presided over the continuing construction of the

Salt Lake Temple The Salt Lake Temple is a Temple (LDS Church), temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. At , it is the Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sa ...

(completed 1893) and the

Salt Lake Tabernacle The Salt Lake Tabernacle, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle, is located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, in the U.S. state of Utah. The Tabernacle was built from 1863 to 1875 to house meetings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-d ...

(completed 1867). When Wells was no longer in the position, the operation of the church's public works program was placed under the supervision of the Presiding Bishopric. In 1866, Wells was elected mayor of Salt Lake City as a member of the newly formed People's Party; he was re-elected in both 1872 and 1874. In 1871, he was arrested by U.S. marshals on charges related to

polygamy Polygamy (from Late Greek , "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marriage, marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, it is called polygyny. When a woman is married to more tha ...

. Wells served twice as

of the European Mission of the LDS Church, first in 1864–65 and again in 1884–87.

Extermination order against Timpanogos

On January 31, 1850, Wells drafted orders for Captain George D. Grant to exterminate the

Timpanogos The Timpanogos (Timpanog, Utahs or Utah Indians) are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited a large part of central Utah, in particular, the area from Utah Lake east to the Uinta Mountains and south into present-day Sanpete County. Most Tim ...

, known as Special Order No. 2. The decision was the result of a meeting with Isaac Higbee,

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

of Fort Utah, together with the

and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Higbee reported conflict between the pioneers and the Timpanogos, and it was unanimously decided the only way to keep Fort Utah would be to exterminate the Timpanogos. The initial detachment commenced battle on February 8, 1850, under Captain Grant. However, after hearing reports of poor attitude of the settlers in working with Grants's troops,

asked Wells to lead a detachment. On February 11, Wells arrived and split the army into two. One contingent followed the trail of some Timpanogos who had fled up Rock Canyon. Wells led the other contingent south towards Spanish Fork river. He divided them into smaller parties and searched the southern valley for native peoples to kill. On February 14, at Table Rock near the southeastern shore of Utah lake, one of the smaller hunting parties captured a band of Utes. Lieutenant Gunnison of the Stansbury Expedition reported that the Mormons promised to be friendly to the Timpanogos men, but then lined up the men to be executed in front of their families. Some attempted to flee across the frozen lake, but the Mormons ran after them on horseback and shot them. At least eleven Ute men were killed. In total, one militia man and an estimated 102 Timpanogos were killed.

Civil War

Wells worked with Brigham Young to form the Lot Smith Cavalry Company. Wells also commanded the Utah Territorial Militia during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

and the Morrisite War .

Personal life

Wells married Eliza Rebecca Robison in 1837 and with her had one son, Albert Emory Wells. His wife refused to accompany Wells to Utah in 1848 and later divorced him. Between 1849 and 1852, Wells married six additional wives: Louisa Free, with whom he had eight children; Martha Givens Harris, with whom he had seven children; Lydia Ann Alley, with whom he had six children; Susan Hannah Alley, with whom he had four children; Hannah Corilla Free, with whom he had eight children; and Emmeline Blanche Woodward, with whom he had three children. Louisa Free, Hannah Free, and Emmeline Woodward were all previously married and divorced or widowed. Each had one or more children whom Wells adopted and reared as his own. In 1852, Wells married his seventh wife, future

Relief Society The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States, and has more than 7 million members in over 1 ...

General President Emmeline B. Wells. They had three daughters. Marriages and Children: File:ElizaRebeccaRobison.png, Eliza Rebecca Robison File:LouisaFree.png, Louisa Free File:MarthaGHarris.png, Martha G. Harris File:LydiaAnnAlley.png, Lydia Ann Alley File:SusanHAlley.png, Susan H. Alley File:HannahCFree.png, Hannah C. Free File:EmmalineBWoodward.png, Emmaline B. Woodward * March 12, 1837, in Nauvoo, Illinois to Eliza Rebecca Robison (January 4, 1820, in Cincinnati, OH – August 2, 1905, in Alma, MI); divorced May 1848 # Albert Emory Wells (March 28, 1839, in Nauvoo, IL – January 26, 1916, in Belding, MI) # John Brigham Wells (February 25, 1846, in Nauvoo, IL – February 25, 1846, in Nauvoo, IL) *February 15, 1849, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Louisa Free (August 9, 1824, in Fayetteville, IL – June 18, 1886, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Daniel Hanmer Wells Jr. (November 24, 1849, in Salt Lake City, UT – September 19, 1926, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Frances Louisa Wells (March 13, 1852, in Salt Lake City, UT – March 5, 1944, in Salt Lake City, UT) # Rulon Seymour Wells (July 7, 1854, in Salt Lake City, UT – May 7, 1941, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Emeline Young Wells (April 13, 1857, in Salt Lake City, UT – March 17, 1941, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Eliza Free Lyde Wells (October 3, 1859, in Salt Lake City, UT – December 2, 1940, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Clara Ellen Wells (October 23, 1862, in Salt Lake City, UT – April 30, 1946, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Melvin Dickinson Wells (July 31, 1867, in Salt Lake City, UT – September 11, 1941, in Salt Lake City, UT) *September 20, 1849, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Martha Givens Harris (March 27, 1832, in Lebanon, TN – May 12, 1908, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Emily Harris Wells (April 22, 1857, in Salt Lake City, UT – May 25, 1908, in Salt Lake City, UT) # Heber Manning Wells (August 11, 1859, in Salt Lake City, UT – March 12, 1938, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Joseph Smith Wells (May 25, 1862, in Salt Lake City, UT – October 18, 1916, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Herman Chapman Wells (February 13, 1867, in Salt Lake City, UT – September 8, 1868, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Edna Margaret Wells (July 5, 1869, in Salt Lake City, UT – July 5, 1935, in Salt Lake City, UT) # Briant Harris Wells (December 5, 1871, in Salt Lake City, UT – June 10, 1949, in Long Beach, CA) *April 4, 1852, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Lydia Ann Alley (January 1, 1828, in Lynn, MA – August 6, 1909, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Catherine Alley Wells (March 28, 1853, in Salt Lake City, UT – November 10, 1922, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Mary Minerva Wells (December 10, 1854, in Salt Lake City, UT – January 25, 1935, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Lucy Ann Wells (December 4, 1858, in Salt Lake City, UT – October 23, 1859, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Louis Robinson Wells (December 21, 1862, in Salt Lake City, UT – November 23, 1952, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Wilford Woodruff Wells (June 21, 1868, in Salt Lake City, UT – October 10, 1868, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Arthur Deming Wells (September 1, 1871, in Salt Lake City, UT – December 1, 1871, in Salt Lake City, UT) *April 18, 1852, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Susan Hannah Alley (May 3, 1830, in Lynn, MA – May 5, 1924, in Salt Lake City, UT; sister of Lydia above) #Susan Annette Wells (November 28, 1857, in Salt Lake City, UT – November 21, 1929, in Salt Lake City, UT) #George Alley Wells (December 18, 1859, in Salt Lake City, UT – July 24, 1872, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Stephen Franklin Wells (June 25, 1867, in Salt Lake City, UT – July 23, 1958) #Charles Henry Wells (August 28, 1870, in Salt Lake City, UT – December 31, 1944, in Salt Lake City, UT) *August 6, 1852, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Hannah Corilla Free (June 9, 1829, in Belleville, IL – March 6, 1913, in Salt Lake City, UT; sister of Louisa above) #Abbie Corilla Wells (September 20, 1852, in Salt Lake City, UT – September 25, 1930, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Junius Free Wells (June 1, 1854, in Salt Lake City, UT – April 15, 1930, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Luna Pamela Wells (August 24, 1856, in Salt Lake City, UT – November 4, 1857, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Brigham Wells (April 14, 1859, in Salt Lake City, UT – October 26, 1863, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Preston Strait Wells (May 11, 1861, in Salt Lake City, UT – June 4, 1861, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Ephraim Willard Wells (September 17, 1863, in Salt Lake City, UT – October 18, 1863, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Gershom Britain Finley Wells (November 19, 1864, in Lancashire, England – May 21, 1944, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Victor Pennington Wells (May 18, 1868, in Salt Lake City, UT – January 3, 1927, in Lancaster, PA) *October 18, 1852, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Emmeline Blanche Woodward (February 29, 1828, in Petersham, MA – April 25, 1921, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Emma Whitney Wells (September 10, 1853, in Salt Lake City, UT – April 8, 1878, in Salt Lake City, UT) # Elizabeth Wells Cannon (Elizabeth Ann "Annie" Wells) (December 7, 1859, in Salt Lake City, UT – September 2, 1942, in Salt Lake City, UT) #Louisa Martha "Louie" Wells (August 27, 1862, in Salt Lake City, UT – May 16, 1887, in Salt Lake City, UT) *November 14, 1871, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Hannah Tupper (March 23, 1823, in Parishville, NY – December 15, 1893, in Loa, UT) Wells died in Salt Lake City at the age of 76 and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery. Wells's son by his wife Martha G. Harris, Heber Manning Wells, was the first governor of the state of

Utah Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...

, serving from 1896 to 1905. File:118_MSS_P_24_B2_F1.jpg, Wells around 1862 File:Emmeline B. Wells.JPG, Wife Emmeline B. Wells Image:DanielHWellsGrave.jpg, Daniel H. Wells's grave marker Image:DanielHWellsGravePlaque.jpg, Detail from plaque of Daniel H. Wells's grave marker Image:DanielHWellsGrave2.jpg, Daniel H. Wells's grave marker

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, Daniel H. 1814 births 1891 deaths American general authorities (LDS Church) Apostles (LDS Church) Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery Converts to Mormonism Counselors in the First Presidency (LDS Church) Latter Day Saints from Illinois Latter Day Saints from Utah Mayors of Salt Lake City Members of the Utah Territorial Legislature Mission presidents (LDS Church) Mormon pioneers Mormonism and violence Nauvoo Legion Native American genocide perpetrators Nauvoo, Illinois city council members People from Trenton, New York People of the Utah War People's Party (Utah) politicians Temple presidents and matrons (LDS Church)