Erastus Wells

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Erastus Wells

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 1st & 2nd district
In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873 March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881
Preceded by	William A. Pile Gustavus A. Finkelnburg Nathan Cole
Succeeded by	Edwin O. Stanard Nathan Cole Thomas Allen

Born	December 2, 1823 Sackets Harbor, New York, USA
Died	October 2, 1893 St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Isabella Bowman Henry Wells
Profession	Politician, Businessman

Erastus Wells (December 2, 1823 – October 2, 1893) was a nineteenth century politician and businessman from Missouri. He was the father of St. Louis Mayor Rolla Wells.

Born in Sackets Harbor, New York, Wells attended public schools as a child. He moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1842 where he established the first omnibus line in St. Louis and inaugurated the first street railroad company. He was a member of the St. Louis board of aldermen from 1853 to 1867, was president of the Missouri Railroad Company from 1859 to 1883 and was elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1868, serving from 1869 to 1877, being unsuccessful for reelection in 1876. Wells was elected back to the House of Representatives in 1878, serving again from 1879 to 1881, not being a candidate for renomination in 1880, and was president of the Laclede Gas Light Company from 1880 to 1883. He died in St. Louis, Missouri on October 2, 1893 and was interned in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.

[edit] External links

Erastus Wells at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Erastus Wells at Find A Grave

Preceded by William A. Pile	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 1st congressional district March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873	Succeeded by Edwin O. Stanard
Preceded by Gustavus A. Finkelnburg	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877	Succeeded by Nathan Cole
Preceded by Nathan Cole	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881	Succeeded by Thomas Allen