Alfred Wells facts for kids

Alfred Wells (born May 27, 1814 – died July 18, 1867) was an important American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for New York. This means he was elected by people in New York to represent them in the United States Congress.

Alfred Wells: A Life in Politics

Early Life and Legal Career

Alfred Wells was born in Dagsboro, Delaware, on May 27, 1814. He grew up in Sussex County, Delaware. As a young man, he studied classic subjects like Greek and Latin. Later, he decided to become a lawyer. He studied law with two well-known lawyers, Charles Humphrey and David Woodcock.

In 1837, Alfred Wells officially became a lawyer. He then moved to Ithaca, New York, and started his own law practice there.

Fighting Slavery in Politics

Alfred Wells was very interested in politics. He was a member of the Democratic Party, but he was strongly against slavery. He believed slavery was wrong and worked to end it.

From 1839 to 1853, he was one of the owners of a newspaper called The Ithaca Journal and Advertiser. This newspaper supported the Democratic Party.

Wells took on important roles in his community. From 1845 to 1847, he was the District Attorney for Tompkins County, New York. This meant he was the main lawyer for the government in that county. After that, from 1847 to 1851, he served as a judge for the Tompkins County Court.

He continued his fight against slavery. In 1854, he joined a new political group called the Anti-Nebraska Party. This party was formed to stop slavery from spreading into new territories in the United States. He went to their meetings in Saratoga and Auburn.

Serving in Congress

Like many people in the Anti-Nebraska Party, Alfred Wells later joined the Republican Party. This happened before 1860. The Republican Party also strongly opposed slavery.

In 1858, Alfred Wells was elected to the 36th Congress. He represented New York's 27th Congressional District. He served in Congress from March 4, 1859, to March 3, 1861. During his time in Congress, he worked on national issues. In 1860, he tried to be chosen again to run for Congress, but he was not successful.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1862, Alfred Wells was given a new job by the government. He became a federal revenue assessor for the area that included Ithaca. His job was to collect taxes. These taxes were very important because they helped pay for the Union side during the American Civil War. He continued in this role until he passed away.

Alfred Wells died in Ithaca, New York, on July 18, 1867. He was buried in the City Cemetery in Ithaca.