Biography

"Born at Cambridge, Washington County, N.Y., son of Daniel Wells, graduated at Cambridge Academy and devoted his life to politics and journalism.  In 1840 Governor Seward appointed him surrogate of Westchester county, and in 1848 he was appointed warden of Sing Sing prison by David D. Spencer, Isaac N. Comstock and John B. Gedney, the first inspectors under the constitution of 1847. In the fall of 1848 he was himself elected to Gedney’s place in the board. Hew was editor of the Weekly Times, Haverstraw, Rockland County, four years; of the Hudson River Chronicle, Sing Sing, three year; and of the Daily Times, Troy, three years. As a journalist he possessed much force and facility, but his headstrong disposition carried him into frequent situations from which he was forced to retreat. As usual with men of his combative temperament – for he was happiest in a controversy – he had warm friends and bitter enemies. In 1829 he married Mary Collins, of Bloomfield, N.J. and they had two children, one of whom, Mary Elizabeth, was born January 3, 1838, and died August 7, 1848. Margaret, the oldest daughter, married Horace Stone, a St. Loui s merchant, and died in 1881, leaving one son, Hamilton Stone. Mr. Wells died at Sing Sing December 21, 1857, and is buried in Dale Cemetery, beside his youngest daughter and his wife. The latter survived him fifteen years, dying October 21, 1872."