Daniel Hanmer Wells (1814-1891)
27 Oct. 1814–24 Mar. 1891. Farmer, teacher, ferry operator, lumber merchant, manager of nail factory, politician. Born in Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Daniel Wells and Catherine Chapin. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, ca. 1832. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1834. Married Eliza Rebecca Robison, 9 Mar. 1837, in Hancock Co. Served as justice of the peace, 1840–1844, in Hancock Co. From 1841 to 1844, served as alderman, school warden, regent of University of Nauvoo, and commissary general in Nauvoo Legion. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Almon W. Babbitt, 9 Aug. 1846, in Nauvoo. Leading participant in Battle of Nauvoo, 1846. Migrated to Salt Lake City in Brigham Young pioneer company, 1848. Attorney general for provisional state of Deseret, 1849. Member of legislative council, 1851. Ordained an apostle and appointed second counselor in First Presidency by Brigham Young, 4 Jan. 1857, in Salt Lake City. President of territorial legislative council, 1858–1863. Presided over European mission, 1864–1865, 1885–1887. Appointed counselor to Quorum of the Twelve, 6 Oct. 1877. Died in Salt Lake City.
Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.