History of Corning, (Adams County) Iowa United States of America

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Arthur Lee Wells, a prominent attorney of Corning, Adams county, is a native of the state of New York.

His father, Anson Wells, was born in Madison county, N. Y., in the year 1809, and was a farmer. In 1833 he was married to Caroline M. Young, who was also a native of that county. In 1841 the young couple moved to Cattaraugus county, settled on a new farm in the pine and hemlock forests of that then wild region, and entered upon the slow, laborious work of clearing up the heavily-wooded land. Mrs. Wells was a devoted wife and mother, and early taught her children to adhere to truth and pure lives, and sought to awaken and stimulate in their minds a love of books and a desire for knowledge. She was descended from Scotch and English ancestors, one of whom came to America before the revolutionary war, settling at Martha's Vineyard. One of her brothers, Horace C. Young, was for two terms a member of each house of the New York legislature; another brother, Eugene, was a prominent physician in Illinois; and her youngest brother, William C., was major of the Eighth Wisconsin volunteers in the late war. Mrs. Wells died in 1866.

Arthur L. Wells was born November 7, 1838, in Madison county, N. Y., and was brought up on his father's farm, spending his summer in all the various kinds of labor necessary in farm life. There were forests to clear off, brush to burn, and stumps to work among for many years. During the winter months he attended the country district school. By hard study he acquired sufficient education to become a teacher, and, in the winter of 1857, taught his first school in the country village of Eddyville. He returned to farm work in the summer and taught school again in the two succeeding winters. In the spring of 1860 he entered the preparatory department of Hillsdale college in Michigan. For the next five years he managed, by manual labor of various kinds and teaching school in the winters, to earn enough to pay his way through the whole college course. In June, 1866, he graduated in the classical course with a class of nineteen, with the highest honors. One year his standing was the highest in the college, with an attendance of 350 students. He was a member of the Alpha Kappa Phi Literary society, the leading one of the college. He entered the Albany law school after leaving college, and graduated in the class of 1867. He then came to Iowa, and traveled on foot from the terminus of the railroad at Chariton to Quincy, in Adams county. He taught a department of the public school during the winter, and at the spring term of the district court was admitted to the bar. He was twice elected recorder of the county, and served as treasurer a full term and also to fill a vacancy of a portion of a preceding term. When the county seat was located at Corning, in 1872, Mr. Wells removed to that place, and was three times chosen its mayor. In 1876 he entered into partnership with Hon. F. M. Davis in the practice of law, and is still a member of the firm. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has for seventeen years held the office of treasurer of Instruction lodge at Corning. His ancestors on the father and mother's sides were whigs in politics, and afterwards republicans, and Mr. Wells has always been a republican. He has served as chairman of the republican county committee several times, and has been a member of the judicial and congressional committees. He at one time owned a half interest in the Adams County Gazette, and for two years was its editor. On the 15th of March, 1871, Mr. Wells was united in marriage with Miss Lucina Register, daughter of Dr. J. H. Register, of Quincy, formerly from Muskingum county, Ohio. They moved to Adams county, Iowa, in 1859. Mrs. Wells is a prominent member and officer of the Eastern Star, being worthy matron of her chapter, Emblem No. 64; is president of the Ladies' Cemetery association; member of the board of trustees of the public library; secretary of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church of Iowa, and a member of the Presbyterian church. She is a scholarly woman, active in church, society, literary and charitable work, and a helpful and devoted wife and mother. Two children have been born to them. Carrie died in infancy. Arthur R. was born December 1, 1873; attended the public schools in Corning and several terms at the Corning academy, and finally graduated at Princeton college in the classical course with such standing as entitled him to deliver an oration at commencement exercises. He attended the law department of the State university, and was admitted to the bar upon examination before the supreme court, and in 1896 entered upon practice at Corning. He is rapidly rising to a high standing in his profession.

Mr. Wells acquired a taste for farming in early life, and after coming out onto the Iowa prairies had a strong desire to own a farm. After a time he was able to purchase 160 acres in Adams county, and has since enjoyed the pleasure of planning and carrying on its improvements from year to year. He is an exceptionally close reader and student, finding much of his gratification in literature.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

History of Corning, (Adams County) Iowa

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