Dr. George Wells (1843-1918)
House, AA, 1870, 1872
Senate, AA, 1880, 1882
Anne Arundel County Court Clerk, 1895-1918
MSA SC 3520-1933
Biography:
Born on December 4, 1843, Dr. George Wells was the first of three sons of George and Catherine Eliza Harwood Wells. His father was a prominent business, civic, and political leader in Annapolis, serving as President of Farmer's Bank, President of the Maryland Senate, and helping to found the Methodist Episcopal Church in the city.1 Further proving that so many of these Clerks are connected ,Wells, Sr. was elected in place of Sprigg Harwood in 1865 who resigned his Senate seat to concentrate on the controversy surrounding his election to the position of Clerk of the Court for Anne Arundel County.2
Dr. Wells attended St. John's College and then went on to study medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. He graduated from there in 1867, and after a stay in France for nearly a year, Wells returned to Annapolis to work as a physician.3 Such a positive reputation allowed him to continue to serve the public as Clerk of the Court for 23 years. In 1869 he ran for a seat on the Annapolis City Council and won. A year after that he moved onto state-level politics as he was a elected to the House of Delegates. He served there for several years and in 1880 became a State Senator. The politically ambitious Wells took his experience to the next level, serving as a delegate at the 1884 National Democratic Convention which nominated Grover Cleveland as its party's presidential candidate. Wells was a forceful party leader in Maryland, serving as the Anne Arundel representative to the State Democratic Central Committee, and took that enthusiasm to the national level with participation in this convention.4 In 1887 Wells was unanimously supported for the position of County Treasurer.5 He made another attempt at national politics during his 1894 run for a seat in the United States Congress against Charles E. Coffin, but was unsuccessful.6
The last office to which Wells was elected was Clerk of the Court for Anne Arundel County. He was first elected to this position in 1895 after John C Bannon left the office. This 1895 election was contested by Wells' opponent Washington G. Tucker for several reasons. Tucker argued that there were discrepancies between the sample and actual ballots which confused voters. He also argued that Republicans were denied entrance to the counting of the votes among other election violations. The House of Delegates declared that Wells was not duly elected and ordered a new election. Changes occurred in election laws, however, so the ordered election could not occur.7
In the next general election, in 1897, Wells sought the Clerk's position again. Wells struggled to get his name on the ballot for this election, however as political enemies argued that he should not be included, for there was no vacancy to fill. They believed that since he was elected in 1895, his full six-year term should have begun then. He argued that he was elected only to serve the remaining years of Bannon's term and that there was indeed a vacancy to be filled which should be decided by the next regular general election, scheduled for 1897. The election did take place and Wells' opponent was none other than Washington G. Tucker.8 Wells was successful, defeating Tucker 3517 votes to 3401.9 Wells was re-elected in 1903, 1909, and 1915, serving until his death in 1918. In his obituary, the Evening Capital notes his appointment of J. Robert Moss, a great political enemy, to the bench to illustrate Wells' character and desire to serve his position as best he can even if it means appointing those with whom he disagrees.10
Wells died on September 29, 1918 from a combination of disease complications from which he had been suffering for several years. The service took place at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Annapolis and he was buried in the St. Anne's Cemetery. He was still serving as Clerk when he passed away. Having no wife nor any children, he left his entire estate to four nieces of his and made his nephew the executor.11 At the time of his death, his personal property was valued at $1561.43 and his real estate was valued at $17,195. He owned several lots in Annapolis on the following streets: Charles St., South St., Market St., Conduit St., Franklin St. (2), and South St. His home was on Charles St. and he owned another house on Market St. Wells also owned a farm in the second election district of Anne Arundel County.12
Throughout his entire political career, Wells worked tirelessly as a Democratic party leader - at the local, state and national levels. His efforts allowed Democrats a continuing influence in the law-making for Anne Arundel County in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. According to the Evening Capital, he was a very capable public official who was held in the "highest esteem by all classes, political and social". He was a most charitable individual, helping both white and colored alike.13 Such a positive reputation allowed him to continue to serve the public as Clerk of the Court for 23 years.
Born - December 4, 1843
Family - first of three sons born
to George Wells and Catherine Eliza Harwood Wells; his father was a prominent
business, civic, and political leader in Annapolis - for example he served
as president of Famers' Bank and president of the MD Senate.1
*His father was elected in place of Sprigg Harwood in 1865 who resigned
his seat to concentrate on the contraversy surrounding his election to
the position of Clerk of the Court for Anne Arundel County.2
Education - St. John's College; studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, graduating from there in 1867.
Occupation - Physician
Married - remained a bachelor all his life
Childern - none
Political Highlights -
1869, Alderman - Elected to Annapolis City Council after returning from nearly a year abroad in France.
1870, House of Delegates
1880-82, Maryland Senator
1884 - delegate to National Democratic Convention which nominated Grover Cleveland as candidate for the presidency; Wells was a forceful party leader in Maryland, serving as the AA representative to State Democratic Central Committee, and took that enthusiasm to the national level with participation in this convention.4
1887, County Treasurer - unanimously elected5
1894 - unsuccessful run for U.S. Congress seat, defeated by Charles E. Coffin (PG)6
1895, Clerk of the Court for Anne Arundel County -
Summer 1917 - appointed J. Robert Moss, a great
political enemy, to the Bench7
Miscellaneous Political Notes - According to both Warfield and the Evening Capital Wells was quite well-respected by Annapolitans and residents of Anne Arundel County. He was a very able public servant who was held in the "highest esteem by all classes, political and social". He was a most charitable individual, helping both white and colored alike.8 Such a positive reputation allowed him to continue to serve the public as Clerk of the Court for 23 years.
Death - died September 29, 1918 from complications of a combination of diseases from which he had been suffering for serveral years; still serving as Clerk when he passed away; no wife or children, so he left his entire estate to four nieces of his and made his nephew the executor9; at time of death, his personal property was valued at $1561.43 and his real estate was valued at $17, 195; lots: Charles St., South St., Market St., Conduit St., Franklin St (2), and South St.; dwellings - Charles St., Market St.; farm: sencond election district of AA10
List of Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Clerks
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|