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    Wells, James "Bully"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    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.

    Total Days Served: 1220

    SESSIONS SERVED

    4th Territorial Legislative Session (1853)

      Session Details
    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.

    2nd Territorial Legislative Session (1851)

      Session Details
    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

    1st Territorial Legislative Session (1849)

      Session Details
    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.
    Committees:
    • Militia
    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.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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.



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