Bulkeley Wells facts for kids

Bulkeley Wells (born March 10, 1872 – died 1931), also known as Buckeley Wells, was an American businessman who worked in the mining industry. He was born in Chicago to Samuel Edgar Wells and Mary Agnes Bulkeley. Bulkeley Wells went to Roxbury Latin School and Harvard University.

He married Grace Livermore, who came from the wealthy family of Colonel Thomas L. Livermore. Later, he moved to Telluride, Colorado. There, he joined the leadership of the Telluride Mining Association. He also led the San Miguel County Citizens' Alliance (SMCCA). Wells held a special position as a deputy sheriff and was a captain in the Colorado National Guard. He was also a member of the Masons and the Elks. He became the president and manager of the Smuggler-Union Mining Company after the previous manager, Arthur L. Collins, passed away.

Wells and Labor Unions

Bulkeley Wells was known for not liking labor unions. Unions are groups of workers who join together to improve their working conditions and pay. Wells tried to make the leader of the Telluride Miners' Union, Vincent Saint John, look bad.

According to writer MaryJoy Martin, Wells came from a wealthy family. He believed that workers were not as important as he was. He strongly wanted to stop Vincent St. John, the union leader. Wells worked with others, including a detective named James McParland from the Pinkerton Agency. They also worked with the Colorado Mine Owners' Association. They tried to say that St. John was causing a lot of trouble. They even accused him of being involved in the disappearance of a mine guard named William J. Barney.

At the time, the police in Telluride did not know much about William Barney. They didn't know his age, if he was married, or where he came from. But they found some remains and made quick conclusions. Wells even put a skull in a shop window. He put a sign with it that blamed the Telluride Miners' Union for "Grewsome Work." However, there was a big surprise: William Julius Barney was not dead.

Later Life

Bulkeley Wells and his wife, Grace Livermore Wells, got divorced in 1918. Because of the divorce, Wells lost a lot of his money. He lost about $15 million that was tied up in mining businesses. He also lost the financial support he received from his wife's family.

Wells lost his large mining businesses and his investments in gas and oil. He gambled away the rest of his money. He died in 1931, almost completely out of money.

Images for kids

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  Bulkeley Wells. Photo from History of Colorado, edited by Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918).