John Sullivan Wells (1803 - 1860)
Born at Durham (NH); died at Exeter (NH).
Lawyer; state and national legislator.
Portrait by A. Hartwell.

Wells (1803 - 1860) was born at Durham (NH). He attended Pembroke Academy (Derry, NH), then read law with Hon. William Mattocks of Danville (VT). He was admitted to the Bar in 1828, and for seven years (1828 - 1835) practiced law at Guildhall (VT). Wells then moved to Bangor (ME), but practiced law there for less than one year. He moved to Lancaster (NH) in 1836, and practiced law there for a decade (1836 - 1846).

At Lancaster Wells developed a reputation as an able lawyer and advocate. He served as Coos County Solicitor (1838 -47), and as a State Representative (1839, 1840, 1841; Speaker of the House, 1841).

In 1847 Wells moved to Exeter (NH), hoping his chances for higher political office would be enhanced by the move to Rockingham County. The move was a mistake. Although Wells was appointed State Attorney General (1847), and elected President of the State Senate (1851, 1852), Wells told the author of the History of Coos County (1888) that the move had been bad for his career (Ibid., p. 213). In 1855 Wells filled out an unexpired U.S. Senate term for deceased U. S. Senator Moses Norris, but the time in Washington was less than three months (January 16 - March 3, 1855). Wells was not then supported for a full Senate term by his political party, and his political career ended.

Reference: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, 1774 - 1989 (1989); History of Coos County (1972 facsimile edition of the 1888 edition).