My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL W. WELLS, President of the Smith Charities of Northampton, Mass., is widely known in this part of Hampshire County as an able financier, a man of stanch integrity, and an esteemed and valued citizen. He was born on his present homestead in Hatfield, April 17, 1842, being a son of Elisha Wells, whose birth occurred at the same place, April 29, 1797.

The founder of the Wells family of Hatfield was Thomas Wells, who was born in England about 1620, and after reaching manhood came to this country, locating first at Wethersfield, Conn. According to the History of Hadley, his mother, the widow Frances Wells, married Thomas Coleman, and removed from Wethersfield to Hadley with her family, which included Thomas and his brother John Wells, in 1660. Thomas Wells died in 1676. He was the father of Thomas, Jr., whose son Ebenezer was born in Hadley, July 20, 1669. Ebenezer’s son Joshua was born in Hatfield, August 31, 1695, and died in Greenfield, April 1, 1768. The next in line, Elisha, son of Joshua, was born July 23, 1731, and lived until October 5, 1792. His son, Amasa Wells, who became the father of a second Elisha, was born September 23, 1762, and died in Hatfield, the place of his nativity, June 12, 1816.

Amasa Wells was one of the substantial farmers of Hatfield; and through his marriage with Eunice White, a daughter of Daniel White, of Hatfield, two families of prominence became connected. The White family were long conspicuous in military circles, some of its members having been officers in the State militia for three generations. A Daniel and a John Wells were among the soldiers of the Revolutionary army, and were killed at Crown Point. The present homestead of Mr. Daniel W. Wells was the original land granted in 1660 to John White, the immigrant ancestor of Eunice White. It descended in the White family down to Daniel White, Eunice’s father, and at length fell into the possession of his grandson, Elisha Wells, second. Amasa Wells and his wife reared five children: Horace; Cephas; Barnabas; Hannah, who married Joseph Smith; and Elisha. He lived a little past middle age; and his widow survived him, dying in Conway at the age of sixty-two years, although her home was in Hatfield until the year of her decease.

Elisha Wells, son of Amasa and Eunice (White) Wells, was one of the most prosperous agriculturists of the town, and was a citizen of influence. He was a Democrat in politics, and represented his district in the legislature in 1848. On January 14, 1823, he married Louisa Field, a daughter of Daniel and Tabitha (Clark) Field, of Conway, and of their six children that grew to maturity three are now living, namely: Hannah S.; Daniel W., with whom the sister makes her home; and Joseph S., his twin brother, who is now a steward at Mount Holyoke College at South Hadley. The father lived a long, useful life of nearly fourscore years, dying in 1873; and the mother, who survived him, died August 1, 1878, aged seventy -five years. Both were attendants of the Congregational church and liberal contributors toward its support, Mrs. Wells being a member of the church.

Daniel W. Wells, being the youngest child of the household circle, cared for his parents in their last years, and has made the homestead on which he was born his permanent abiding-place. During the late Civil War Mr. Wells enlisted in Company K, Fifty-second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, going out as a nine months’ man, under General Banks. On his return he engaged in general farming, tobacco being his staple crop. He has been identified with the leading enterprises and industries of his native town, and holds a high position among its honest and law-abiding citizens. He is a man of excellent judgment and ability in business affairs, and has often been called upon to act as administrator of different estates. For seventeen years he has been one of the Directors of the First National Bank of Northampton, for six years a Trustee of the Smith Charities, and for five years has ably filled the position of president of the board. He is a firm adherent of the Democratic party, and has served in the State legislature two years, 1883 and 1884.

On October 19, 1875, Mr. Wells was united in marriage with Hannah A. Belden, a daughter of Deacon Reuben H. Belden, of Hatfield. This union has been brightened by the birth of two children: Reuben F., born in 1881; and Louisa B., born in 1884. A portrait* of Mr. Wells is placed on a preceding page.

*Editor's note: Portrait was included in the original printed book.