| 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 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 2, 1823 Sackets Harbor, New York, USA |
| Died | October 2, 1893 (aged 69) St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | 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 interred in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |