HENRY WELLS, banker, Cairo, was born in Rising Sun, Ind., on the 12th of March, 1850. Jacob Wells, father of Henry Wells, was a native of Corinth, Vt., but principally reared and educated in the State of New York; he was born in 1815. Having arrived at manhood, he went to Indiana, where, in 1837, he married Miss Fannie S. Shaw, a daughter of Lloyd and Ellen Shaw, and a native of Taunton, Mass., where, in 1813, she was born. Henry Wells is the fifth of a family of sis children born to these parents; but two of whom are now living, there being one daughter, Emily, who is the wife of Charles J. Noyes, a statesman of Massachusetts. Mr. Wells pursued the ordinary common school course at Rising Sun, Ind., after which he continued his studies at the Haverhill High School, of Massachusetts, and in the Brown University of Providence, R. I., and in 1866 entered the Harvard University, taking the complete classical course, receiving the degree conferred by that institution in 1870. The two years following his graduation, he was associated with his father in a general mercantile business in Rising Sun, at which time he assisted in the organizing of the National Bank of that place, becoming one of its Directors. After the death of his father, which occurred on July 5, 1872, he decided to close up the business interests in Rising Sun, and seek a banking location, and for this purpose; in 1875, started to Florida. He, however, located in Cairo, Ill., where he assisted in the organization of the Alexander County Bank, and under the first organization was made Vice President. It was re-organized in the same year, and Mr. Wells was made the Cashier, which position he still occupies. He was married in Rising Sun on May 25, 1872, to Miss Emma C. Morse, daughter of George W. and Mary Morse — the father a native of Ohio, born March 19, 1821, and at present a resident of Cairo; the mother was born July 5, 1823, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and died in Cairo on the 24th of October, 1880. Mrs. Wells was born in Rising Sun, Ind. Their family consists of two sons — James C. and Harry M. Wells. Mr. Wells is a member of the Masonic order, and of the I. O. O. F. Family residence on the corner of West Twenty-fourth street and Holbrook avenue, Cairo, Ill.
Extracted 31 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 49.
| Cape Girardeau MO |
Union | |
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Pulaski | |
| Scott MO | Mississippi MO | Ballard KY |
