WELLS, George A. - 1890 Bio (1831-1895)

WELLS, HASTINGS, HOLMES

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/4/2007 at 19:12:48

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 370-371

George A. WELLS, resident and managing partner of the private banking house of WELLS & Garrettson, has been engaged in that line of business in Fairfield, Iowa, since 1862. Long experience has familiarized him with that vocation in all its details, and he is now at the head of what is considered to be one of the safe and important moneyed institutions of Jefferson County.

Mr. WELLS was born in New Albany, Ind., on the 21st of June, 1831, and is of English descent, the family having been founded in America by Thomas WELLS, of England, who became one of the early settlers of the New England Colonies. His father, the Rev. Ashbel Shipley WELLS, was a native of Chittenden County, Vt., born in Jericho, and having arrived at mature years, wedded Sophia H. HASTINGS, a native of Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y., and a daughter of Seth HASTINGS, of the same place. They resided in the East until 1854, when, leaving their old home, they emigrated to the West and made a settlement in Fairfield, Iowa, where the deaths of both parents occurred. The mother departed this life in 1876, at the age of seventy-six years, and the father, who was a most exemplary man and was employed in missionary work in this State, was called to his reward in 1882, being eighty-four years of age at the time of his death.

We now take up the personal history of our subject, and it is with pleasure we present this sketch to the readers of the 'Album', who, we feel, will gladly receive this brief account of the life work of one of their most illustrious townsmen. His boyhood days were spent in his native city, where he attended the common schools, after which he prepared himself at the Academy at Lodi, Mich., for the sophomore year in college. He then took up the study of pharmacy, spending six years as a clerk in a drug store in Lima, Ind. Thinking to better his financial condition, he came West in 1856, and choosing Fairfield as a location, he embarked in the drug business in this city. His efforts were successful, and he continued operations in that line until 1862, when, having acquired some capital, he began banking, which business he has followed almost exclusively since. He established a private bank and continued operations under the name of the G. A. WELLS Bank until 1877, when he admitted to partnership Garrett A. Garettson, and the firm name was changed to its present form of WELLS & Garrettson, Mr. WELLS continuing the resident and managing partner. The working capital of the bank is $30,000, including surplus.

In October, 1855, in Indiana, Mr. WELLS was united in marriage with Miss Priscilla D. HOLMES, a native of Newark, Ohio, and a daughter of William HOLMES. Unto them were born six children, three sons and three daughters, but the former are now all deceased. Harry died at the age of ten years and Charles H. when two and a half years of age; then followed Fannie, Kate E. and Grace H., while Fred, who died at the age of one year, was the youngest.

Mr. WELLS was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, his father and grandfather having both been ministers in that denomination. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party and has served as a member of the City Council, but has never been a politician in the commonly accepted significance of the term, caring nothing for official distinction. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Clinton Lodge, No, 15, A. F. & A. M.; McCord Chapter, No. 5, K. T. Mr. WELLS has every reason to be proud of his success in life, having by earnest effort, the exercise of correct business principles and fair dealing with all men, won the prosperity which is but the just reward of the labors which he has put forth. He is highly regarded by those who know him, and the confidence placed in his bank is attested by a liberal patronage.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.