WELLS, Alvin Thayer 1828 - 1907

WELLS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 6/4/2006 at 21:31:10

"The Fairfield Journal"
Monday, November 4, 1907
Page 2, Columns 2 & 3

DIED SUNDAY AFTERNOON
A. T. WELLS, for Years Prominent Cilizen (sic) of Fairfield Passes Away.

A. T. WELLS passed peacefully over the river of death Sunday afternoon shortly after twelve o'clock at his home on West Washington street after a few weeks of failing health.

Alvin Thayer WELLS was born in Erie County, Pa., December 26, 1828. His early life was such as to bring out all the determination and self reliance in him. His was not an easy boyhood, but the lessons of industry and frugality which he learned were important factors in the success of his after life.

He was forced to share in the arduous labors of clearing a timbered farm and his early education was acquired in the district schools. He spent two years in the Kingsville Academy and his business training was received in a mercantile establishment.

In 1850, at the age of twenty-two years, Mr. WELLS started for California going down the Ohio and up the Mississippi rivers to old Fort Carney where he met a party of five and together they started to cross the plains with mule teams. After a journey of one hundred and eleven days they reached Placerville and during the next two years Mr. WELLS engaged in mining where he prospered.

In 1853 he went to Illinois where for a few months he was a salesman in his brother's drug store. The following year he came to this city and opened up a drug store and operated it for over four years after which he sold out and joined his brother in Chicago where they were engaged in the manufacture of some patent medicine. After a year's partnership his brother died and Mr. WELLS continued the business alone for two years when he moved back to this city.

In 1862 Mr. WELLS was made Librarian of the Fairfield Library and it was in that capacity that the people of Jefferson county learned to know him and to admire him. "Father" WELLS occupied a warm place in the hearts of all the patrons of this institution. For a number of years he served faithfully as Treasurer of the Fairfield Library association.

His was a most remarkable memory for although the Library contained over 11000 volumes during his administration, he could place his hand immediately upon any book called for without consulting the catalogue. He occupied the position of Librarian until 1893 (sic - 1896).

In October 1860, Mr. WELLS went to Johnstown, Pa., to claim as his bride, Miss Martha L. MATHEWS, whose parents Mr. and Mrs. John MATHEWS, came to this county in 1855 and remained for three years.

It was during the residence of the MATHEWS family here that Mr. WELLS formed the acquaintance of the daughter and their friendship ripened into love and their marriage followed. To them were born five children, two of whom with their mother have already preceded Mr. WELLS to the other land.

Mr. WELLS had been a member of the I. O. O. F. for over fifty years, holding his membership at the time of his death in Jefferson Lodge No. 4, of this city.

Of him might truly be said "He was a self made man and his success in life was due entirely to his industry, enterprise and good management."

He is survived by three children, Miss Mary E., who is at home, William M., of this city and Thomas S. of Burlington. The funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at ten o'clock from the residence. Jefferson Lodge No. 4 I. O. O. F., will attend the funeral in a body and have charge of the services at the cemetry (sic).

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
November 6, 1907
Page 6, Column 4

He Was Pioneer Librarian.

A. T. WELLS, who had charge of the Jefferson County library and the Fairfield Free Public library, its successor, from 1862 to 1896, died at his home in this city Sunday at noon. He had been in ill health for some time past. Mr. WELLS was not only one of the first librarians in Iowa, but continuous service for thirty-four years gave him a unique distinction in the state. He was not a man of letters, but he had an intimacy with books which few people in the community could equal. His books were his pride in the days of his activity, and he was painstaking to a degree in his care of them. When he took charge of the Jefferson County library in 1862 he had nothing to guide him except his own good judgment. He laid his own plans and carried them into execution, and he had much to do with making the Fairfield library one of the institutions of the state.

Alvin Thayer WELLS was born in Erie county, Penn., December 26th, 1828. He grew to manhood there, received an academic education and had some training as a business man. He spent a year or two in California about 1850, came to Illinois in 1853 and to Fairfield in 1854. He was engaged in the drug business here for several years, his store occupying a site near the southwest corner of the square. Mr. WELLS was married to Martha L. MATTHEWS (sic - MATHEWS), who died September 2d, 1905 (sic - August 30th, 1905). They were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living -- W. M. and Mary E. of this city and Thomas S. of Burlington. Mr. WELLS was a republican in politics, casting his first presidential vote for Fremont in 1856, and had been an Odd Fellow for more than fifty years. He was always a man of work, his word was unimpeachable, his honesty unquestioned. Beneath the rugged exterior which he often presented there was a kindly heart and a fairness and sense of justice which few men know. Funeral services were held at the home yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. Rev. W. F. Jones conducted the religious exercises and the body was interred with the rites of Odd Fellowship.

The trustees of the Free Public library have adopted these resolutions:
The members of the present directory of the Fairfield Free Public Library, with the deepest regret, learn of the death of our long time friend and fellow townsman, A. T. WELLS.

From 1864 to 1896, he was the librarian of the Jefferson County library. It was during this period that the perpetuity of the library was assured, and this fact is due supremely to the efficiency of his librarianship. Most of his time he worked without pay. In addition to his services as librarian, he gave much of and sometimes all of his time, as well as donating the labor and skill of his mechanical trade, as there was the recurring demand for new shelving, for new book and museum cases and for the like. And to him alone belongs the credit for the perfect system and the perfect safety with which the library's possessions were transferred from the old quarters into the new and the present substantial building.

His courage and oftimes heroism displayed in instantly accredited leadership in the days of voluntary firemen, his exemplary membership of a favorite secret order and his general integrity of trade and citizenship will be remembered ever by those who thus knew him.

But the permanency of his life's work remains ultimately in posterity's free use and in the community's free ownership of the once Jefferson County and now the city of Fairfield's Free Public library.

Resolved: That the foregoing be made a matter of permanent record and that a copy be furnished for publication.

November 5th. 1907.

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

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Lot Old.P.263. Wife Martha died in 1905 and is buried with him.