Wells, James "Bully"
Territorial House 1849 (District 1); Territorial House 1851 (District 1); Territorial House 1853 (District 4)
Party when first elected: Democratic
Counties Served:
Ramsey, Wabasha, Washington
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
??/??/1804 (uncertain)
Birth Place:
, New Jersey
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
8/18/1864
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Bully
City of Residence (when first elected):
Lake City
Occupation (when first elected):
Trader, Lake Pepin
EDUCATION
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Armed Forces (Fort Snelling, Soldier, 15 years);
18?? to 18??
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Jane Graham (married September 12, 1836)
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was listed as being 46 years old in the 1850 census, so he must have been born around 1804.
His city of residence was listed as Lake Pepin, Minnesota.
His party affiliation was taken from The History of Minnesota: from the French Explorations to the Present Time, 1873. In there it states that on October 20, 1849 the first Minnesota Democratic Party convention was held. He was listed as one of the Vice-Presidents.
He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota Territorial House of Representatives in the 1851 election. He contested the election of Fordyce S. Richards on issues related to the validity of election precincts. The members of the Territorial House of Representatives determined that Fordyce S. Richards was entitled to the seat.
Body: Territorial House
District: 04
Elected: 10/12/1852
Residence: Lake City
Term of Office: 1/5/1853 to 1/3/1854
Counties Represented:
Ramsey, Wabasha, Washington
Occupation: Trader, Lake Pepin
Party:
Democratic
Party Notes: His party affiliation was taken from The History of Minnesota: from the French Explorations to the Present Time, 1873. In there it states that on October 20, 1849 the first Minnesota Democratic Party convention was held. He was listed as one of the Vice-Presidents.
Committees:
-
Estates and Escheats
-
Militia (Chair)
-
Printing
Session Notes:
His city of residence was listed as Lake Pepin, Minnesota.
Body: Territorial House
District: 01
Elected: 9/2/1850
Residence: Lake City
Term of Office: 1/1/1851 to 1/6/1852
Counties Represented:
Wabasha, Washington
Occupation: Trader, Lake Pepin
Party:
Democratic
Party Notes: His party affiliation was taken from The History of Minnesota: from the French Explorations to the Present Time, 1873. In there it states that on October 20, 1849 the first Minnesota Democratic Party convention was held. He was listed as one of the Vice-Presidents.
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Manufactures
-
Militia (Chair)
Session Notes:
His city of residence was listed as Lake Pepin, Minnesota.
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Body: Territorial House
District: 01
Elected: 8/1/1849
Residence: Lake City
Term of Office: 9/3/1849 to 12/31/1850
Counties Represented:
Wabasha, Washington
Occupation: Trader, Lake Pepin
Party:
Democratic
Party Notes: His party affiliation was taken from The History of Minnesota: from the French Explorations to the Present Time, 1873. In there it states that on October 20, 1849 the first Minnesota Democratic Party convention was held. He was listed as one of the Vice-Presidents.
Session Notes:
His city of residence was listed as Lake Pepin, Minnesota. His 1849 election was contested by Harley D. White. Wells won the election with a 33 to 29 vote total. However, White claimed six of Wells' votes were cast by people who weren't legal residents of the Territory. The House members ended up with a tie vote on the resolution to deny Wells the seat; so he retained it.
Articles & Books About
"Frontier News," The Mankato Weekly Record, September 3, 1864, p. 3.
Wells v. Richards, Majority and Minority Report, Contested Election. Minnesota Journal of the Territorial House, Appendix, 1852, p. 251-255.
White v. Wells, Contested Election. Minnesota Journal of the Territorial House, September 18, 20, and 21, 1849 and Appendix, p. 41, 48, 50-52, 228-241.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.