Wells, L. A.

WELLS, BENEFIEL, KOHLER, LEWIS, MANNING

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/24/2009 at 08:54:41

Wells, L. A.

Good intellectual training, thorough professional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the Qualities and attributes essential to success have made L. A. Wells, of Newton, Jasper county, eminent as an attorney-at-law, and he stands today among the enterprising men of this profession in central Iowa, figuring prominently for some time in the affairs of his locality, although yet young in years.

Mr. Wells was born October 31, 1879, in Crawford County, Iowa, and he is the son of N. A. and Emma J. (Benefiel) Wells, the father a native of Vermont and the mother of Davenport, Iowa. N. A. Wells was for many years a well known stock buyer, having come to Jasper County twenty-six years ago, moving from Crawford County, this state. He was a successful businessman and was prominent in political affairs and he was representative from Jasper County in 1897, filling this important office with much credit to himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all his constituents. He is at present living in Wadena County, Minnesota, where he moved about seven years ago. His wife died March 20, 1898. There were five children in their family, named as follows: W. B., of the United States Navy, was with Rear Admiral Schley, on the famous cruiser "Brooklyn" at the great naval battle of Santiago during the Spanish-American War. He is now on detached duty at the Annapolis Naval Academy, and is writing text-books on marine engineering and naval construction; he is a graduate of the academy at Annapolis, and stands very high in naval circles: S. H. Wells is on a ranch in Wyoming; Mrs. Edith Kohler lives on a farm twelve miles south of Newton; Mrs. Mattie Lewis lives in Oklahoma.

L. A. Wells, of this review, came to Jasper County with his parents when a child and he was reared on a farm five miles south of Newton and when old enough he assisted with the various duties about the place attending the neighboring schools during the winter months. He was always an ardent student and he made a splendid record while attending the high school at Newton, from which he was graduated in 1898, and the University of Iowa, having graduated from the law department of the latter in 1901, after which he began practice at once in Newton, and was very successful from the first, his practice having continued to grow steadily to the present time, being regarded as a very cautious, energetic and safe advocate and an earnest and logical exponent before a jury.

During the Spanish-American War in 1898, just as he was finishing high school, Mr. Wells gave vent to his patriotic impulses by enlisting in Company F, Fiftieth Iowa Infantry, and was stationed at Jacksonville, Florida, for six months, from April to November.

On April 18, 1902, Mr. Wells was married to Mary J. Manning, daughter of Richard Manning, a prominent citizen of Newton, Iowa, in which city Mrs. Wells was born, reared and educated and where, owing to her genial nature, she has always been a favorite in the best social circles. This union has been graced by the birth of two daughters, Hortense, seven years old, and Esther, five years old.

Politically, Mr. Wells is a Republican and he has long supported every laudable movement looking to the betterment of his county and state, and he has the confidence and respect of all who know him, his career so far having been characterized by lofty purpose and honest precept. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 587.