Henri E. Wells, son of Samuel and Emma (Rand) Wells, was born in Newark, Ohio, September 14, 1843. He acquired his education in the public schools, and when eighteen years old he enlisted at Moline, Illinois, in the Nineteenth Regiment Illinois Infantry, recruited for service in the civil war, and commanded by Colonel Turchin, a Russian. He served with ability in the quartermaster’s department, later was thrown on the battlefield and participated in the battles of Stone River and Nashville, Tennessee, and having received a severe wound in the first-named engagement necessitating the amputation of his arm, he was honorably discharged in 1863. Returning to Moline, Illinois, he engaged in business. He was elected town collector, and in 1869 was appointed postmaster at Moline by President Grant, serving in that capacity with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellowtownsmen until 1877. In the latter year he removed to Tampa, Florida, and purchasing an orange grove he conducted it successfully some nine years. Returning north in 1886, he established his residence in Geneva, New York, and retired permanently from business. In politics he is an Independent Republican. He attends the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Wells was married (first), June 14, 1871, in Binghamton, New York, to Miss Anna M. Crosby; she died April 3, 1888. He married (second) at Tampa, Florida, May 1, 1890, Miss Josephine A. Many. Children: 1. Lillian Anna, born June 21, 1872, in Moline, Illinois; graduated from the State Normal School at Brockport, New York, and since 1901 has been a missionary in Japan. 2. William Crosby, born August 4, 1873; is married and has two children: Henry and Florence. 3. Florence Lydia, born in Tampa, March 24, 1881 ; is also a graduate of the State Normal School at Brockport, and went as a missionary to Japan in 1906.