Daniel H. Wells papers, 1833-1891

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wells, Daniel H. (Daniel Hanmer), 1814-1891
Title
Daniel H. Wells papers
Dates
1833-1891 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 box, (.25 linear foot)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 302
Summary
This one-box collection contains the papers of Daniel H. Wells spanning the period of 1833 to 1891. His papers consist of fifty-seven letters of correspondence (1833-1891), a Nauvoo Legion receipt (1858), and two handwritten poems (1857). Of particular interest in this collection is an August 6, 1846 handwritten letter/report to Wells discussing the status of the Battle of Nauvoo.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Daniel Hanmer Wells was born October 27, 1814 in Trenton, New York the son of Daniel Wells and Catherine Chapin. During Wells’ youth he received a sound education due to his families’ prosperous financial situation, his father having served numerous terms as governor of Connecticut. In 1826 Wells’ father died unexpectedly and the family moved to a remote village later known as Commerce, Illinois. During the 1830s Wells was elected constable and later justice of the peace of Commerce.

In 1839 when members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began settling in Commerce after fleeing from Missouri, Wells sold his personal land at a discounted price to the more financially destitute Latter-day Saints refugees. Shortly thereafter Joseph Smith, the leader and founder of the LDS Church, became personally acquainted with and strongly attached to Wells even though Wells was not a member of the LDS faith. This relationship later lent support to Wells’ successful election to city alderman and city councilman of Nauvoo, Illinois, the city that served as the LDS Church's headquarters during the early 1840s. Wells was also selected as a regent of the University of Nauvoo and sustained as a brigadier-general of the Nauvoo Legion.

After the murder of Joseph Smith in June 1844 and an expulsion order was issued against the Latter-day Saint population of Nauvoo, Wells made the decision to join the LDS Church and was baptized in 1846. As a brigadier-general of the Nauvoo Legion, Wells oversaw and participated in the Battle of Nauvoo. From 1846 to 1847 Wells remained in the Nauvoo area attempting to negotiate financial compensation on behalf of exiled Latter-day Saints.

In 1848 Wells arrived in the Utah Territory and began working toward the organization of the State of Deseret. He was elected to the first legislative council, appointed state attorney, and was elected major-general of the Utah Territory based Nauvoo Legion in 1849 (in 1852 he was promoted to lieutenant-general). In 1857, as lieutenant-general of the Legion, Wells personally participated in the LDS Church's campaign against local Native American Indians. During Utah War Wells commanded the Legion and directed military affairs and organized preparations surrounding the arrival of Johnston's Army.

On January 4, 1857 Wells was sustained as Brigham Young's second councilor, the third highest position in the LDS Church. In 1864 Wells was sent to Great Britain to preside over the LDS Church's European missions, where he remained for one year. In 1866 Wells returned to the Utah Territory and was elected mayor of Salt Lake City, a position he held until 1874.

In 1871 Wells was arrested for being an accessory in the murder of Robert Yates, a murder that occurred in 1857 at the mouth of Echo Canyon. Bill Hickman eventually confessed to killing Yates, but Wells was the official commanding officer of the military operation which resulted in the death of Yates. However, after a year of deliberation charges were dismissed.

From 1868 to 1884 Wells presided and worked in the Salt Lake City Endowment House, administering LDS ordinances and performing plural marriages. In 1879 he was jailed for failing to disclose information regarding the various polygamist marriages he had performed. He spent a few months in jail and paid a $100 fine before being released.

From 1884 to 1887 Wells lived in Europe to oversee the labors of the LDS Church's missionary program. During this time he resided in Great Britain, but also visited Germany, Switzerland, France, and the Scandinavian countries. In 1888 he returned to Utah and was made president of the Manti Temple, a position he held until his death. Wells died in Salt Lake City on March 27, 1891.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This one-box collection contains the papers of Daniel H. Wells spanning the period of 1833 to 1891. His papers consist of fifty-seven letters of correspondence (1833-1891), a Nauvoo Legion receipt (1858), and handwritten two poems (1857). Wells’ correspondence has been separated into outgoing (1 letter) and incoming (54 letters) and organized alphabetically by the last name of the sender. Wells’ incoming correspondence is from friends and family and discusses numerous topics, including life in Nauvoo during the 1840s, the Battle of Nauvoo, politics in Illinois and Utah, polygamy, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, life in early Salt Lake City, Utah economics, Native American relations with Mormons, and other similar topics. Of particular interest is an August 6, 1846 handwritten letter/report (found in Fd 10) to Wells discussing the status of the Battle of Nauvoo. The letter discusses Mormon troop positions, ‘mob’ actions, and a small firefight that had recently occurred. Two of the letters found in this collection consists of incoming correspondence to Hannah Wells (1853 and 1856). The handwritten poems (found in Fd 13) are entitled "The Father's Lament" and "The Mother's Lament" and were penned by Sophia Jannette Hooper in 1857 in response to the death of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Free's child.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Daniel H. Wells Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Daniel H. Wells Papers USU_COLL MSS 302, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 302, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged topcially.

Processing Note

Processed in April of 2006

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information is unknown.

Bibliography

Source:
Jensen, Andrew, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia Publishers Press, 1971, Vol. 1, pp 62-66 (see Special Collections call # 289.392 J453L 1971 v. 1)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Outgoing correspondence
(1 letter)
1889
1 2 Incoming correspondence, Chaplin, Rulon (uncle)
(3 letters)
1852-1860
1 3 Incoming correspondence, Wells, Catherine
(2 letters)
1861
1 4 Incoming correspondence, Wells, Dessa, (daughter)
(2 letters)
1862
1 5 Incoming correspondence, Wells, Pamela
(5 letters)
1846-1850
1 6 Incoming correspondence, Woods, C. C.
(11 letters)
1850-1862
1 7 Incoming correspondence, Woods, C. C.,
(9 letters)
1846-1850
1 8 Incoming correspondence, Woods, James W.
(4 letters)
1848-1850
1 9 Incoming correspondence, Incoming correspondence, A-Z
(17 letters)
1833-1892
1 10 Handwritten letter/report on present status of the Battle of Nauvoo 1846 August 6
1 11 Incoming correspondence of Hannah Wells, from J.A. Free
(2 letters)
1853 - 1856
1 12 Receipt of $75.00 for William H. Kimball from L. Robinson, Quartermaster of the Nauvoo Legion 1858
1 13 "The Father's Lament" and "The Mother's Lament," handwritten poems by Sophia Jannette Hooper
(written in response to the death of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Free's child)
1857

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Mormon Church--History.
  • Mormons--Illinois--History.
  • Mormons--Utah--History

Personal Names

  • Wells, Daniel H. (Daniel Hanmer), 1814-1891
  • Young, Brigham, 1801-1877

Corporate Names

  • Nauvoo Legion.

Geographical Names

  • Commerce (Ill.)--History.
  • Nauvoo (Ill.)--History.