Daniel Wells, Jr., (July 16, 1808March 18, 1902) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

railroad businessman, Democratic politician, and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

pioneer. He served two terms in the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

(1853–1857), representing

Biography

Born in West Waterville, Massachusetts (now

Oakland, Maine Oakland is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, Kennebec County in the U.S. state of Maine. The population was 6,230 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Oakland is 4 miles (6 km) west of Waterville, Maine, Waterville and approximatel ...

), Wells attended the public schools and became a teacher. Wells engaged in the mercantile business at

Palmyra, Maine Palmyra is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,924 at the 2020 census. History Palmyra was incorporated in 1807. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which ...

. He then moved to

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

, in 1838 and engaged in banking and lumbering pursuits. He was appointed probate judge of Milwaukee in 1838. He served as member of the Wisconsin Territorial Council 1838-1840. Wells was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Thirty-third and

Thirty-fourth Congress The 34th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from March 4, 1855, ...

es (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1857). He represented

Wisconsin's 1st congressional district Wisconsin's 1st congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in southeastern Wisconsin, covering Kenosha County, Racine County, and most of Walworth County, as well as portions of Rock Count ...

. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State (Thirty-third Congress). Wells was not a candidate for renomination in 1856. He engaged in the development of railroads serving as: a director of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad in 1865 and 1866 and president of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad, the Southern Minnesota Railroad, and the St. Paul & Minnesota Valley Railroad. Wells died in

, March 18, 1902 and was interred in Forest Home Cemetery.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, Daniel Jr. 1808 births 1902 deaths People from Oakland, Maine Politicians from Milwaukee Members of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature Businesspeople from Maine Businesspeople from Milwaukee Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin 19th-century American politicians People from Palmyra, Maine 19th-century American businesspeople