Louisiana Governor. He attended Connecticut's Alden Partridge Military Academy, St. Joseph's College in Kentucky, and Cincinnati Law School. In 1840 he was appointed Rapides Parish Sheriff. During the Civil War Wells was accused of being a Unionist and was detained by Confederate authorities. When the federal government regained control of Louisiana, Wells formed an Unconditional Union organization. In 1864 he was elected Lieutenant Governor as a Republican, gaining the support of radicals and moderates while opposing civil rights for blacks. Wells became Governor in 1865 when Michael Hahn resigned to accept election to the US Senate. In 1865 Wells won a full term running as the Democratic nominee. During his term former slaves gained the right to vote. Suffrage for blacks sparked civil unrest among Louisiana's whites. The commander of federal troops in Louisiana, General Phillip Sheridan, held Wells accountable and removed him from office in 1867. From 1876 to 1880 he was Chairman of the State Returning Board, responsible for certifying the results of statewide elections. Wells used this position to turn the results of the 1876 Presidential election in Louisiana to Rutherford Hayes, a key factor in Hayes' defeat of Samuel Tilden. After Hayes took office, Wells received a federal appointment as Surveyor of the Port of New Orleans. He held this office until 1880, afterwards retiring to his Pineville plantation.
Louisiana Governor. He attended Connecticut's Alden Partridge Military Academy, St. Joseph's College in Kentucky, and Cincinnati Law School. In 1840 he was appointed Rapides Parish Sheriff. During the Civil War Wells was accused of being a Unionist and was detained by Confederate authorities. When the federal government regained control of Louisiana, Wells formed an Unconditional Union organization. In 1864 he was elected Lieutenant Governor as a Republican, gaining the support of radicals and moderates while opposing civil rights for blacks. Wells became Governor in 1865 when Michael Hahn resigned to accept election to the US Senate. In 1865 Wells won a full term running as the Democratic nominee. During his term former slaves gained the right to vote. Suffrage for blacks sparked civil unrest among Louisiana's whites. The commander of federal troops in Louisiana, General Phillip Sheridan, held Wells accountable and removed him from office in 1867. From 1876 to 1880 he was Chairman of the State Returning Board, responsible for certifying the results of statewide elections. Wells used this position to turn the results of the 1876 Presidential election in Louisiana to Rutherford Hayes, a key factor in Hayes' defeat of Samuel Tilden. After Hayes took office, Wells received a federal appointment as Surveyor of the Port of New Orleans. He held this office until 1880, afterwards retiring to his Pineville plantation.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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