James L. Wells
Encyclopedia
James Lee Wells was an American businessman and politician. He became known as Father of The Bronx which title was officially conferred on him by the Bronx Board of Trade in May 1921.
in New York City
.
He graduated from Columbia College
in 1865, and became a real estate broker and auctioneer.
He was a member from New York County of the New York State Assembly
in 1879, 1880 and 1892. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen of New York City
from 1881 to 1883. In June 1895, he was appointed by Mayor William L. Strong
a Commissioner of Taxes and Assessments to fill the unexpired term of John Whalen until 1899. Mayor Seth Low
appointed him President of the Tax Commission.
He was the Republican and Citizens Union
candidate for borough president of The Bronx
in 1901, but was defeated. He was a delegate to the 1912
, 1920
and 1924 Republican National Convention
s.
He was New York State Treasurer
for three terms from 1915 to 1920, elected in 1914, 1916 and 1918.
He was President of the North Side Board of Trade, a director of the Twenty-third Ward Bank, a trustee of the Dollar Savings Bank, and President of the Real Estate Auctioneers' Association of New York City.
His daughter Edith Wells married Rev. Charles C. Harriman, Rector of St. Ann's Church in The Bronx, in 1908, and died three years later aged 23.
He died at his home at 277, Alexander Av., in the Bronx.
Life
He was born, and lived, in West Farms which was then a town in Westchester County. In 1874, West Farms was part of the Bronx District which was annexed by New York County and became the 23rd and 24th Wards. Since 1898, West Farms is a neighborhood in the Borough of The BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He graduated from Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1865, and became a real estate broker and auctioneer.
He was a member from New York County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1879, 1880 and 1892. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen of New York City
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
from 1881 to 1883. In June 1895, he was appointed by Mayor William L. Strong
William L. Strong
William Lafayette Strong was the Mayor of New York from 1895 to 1897. He was the last mayor of New York before the Consolidation of the City of New York on January 1, 1898.-Biography:...
a Commissioner of Taxes and Assessments to fill the unexpired term of John Whalen until 1899. Mayor Seth Low
Seth Low
Seth Low , born in Brooklyn, New York, was an American educator and political figure who served as mayor of Brooklyn, as President of Columbia University, as diplomatic representative of the United States, and as Mayor of New York City...
appointed him President of the Tax Commission.
He was the Republican and Citizens Union
Citizens Union
Citizens Union is one of the United States' first good government groups. Founded in 1897 as a political party, the group was reconstituted in 1908 as a non-partisan member organization with the broad mission of serving "as a watchdog for the public interest and an advocate for the common...
candidate for borough president of The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
in 1901, but was defeated. He was a delegate to the 1912
1912 Republican National Convention
The 1912 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held at the Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, from June 18 to June 22, 1912. The party nominated William Howard Taft from Ohio for re-election as President of the United States and James S...
, 1920
1920 Republican National Convention
The 1920 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States nominated Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding for President and Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge for Vice President...
and 1924 Republican National Convention
1924 Republican National Convention
The 1924 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Cleveland, Ohio at the Public Auditorium from June 10 to June 12. For this convention the method of allocating delegates changed in order to reduce the overrepresentation of the South...
s.
He was New York State Treasurer
New York State Treasurer
The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed by the...
for three terms from 1915 to 1920, elected in 1914, 1916 and 1918.
He was President of the North Side Board of Trade, a director of the Twenty-third Ward Bank, a trustee of the Dollar Savings Bank, and President of the Real Estate Auctioneers' Association of New York City.
His daughter Edith Wells married Rev. Charles C. Harriman, Rector of St. Ann's Church in The Bronx, in 1908, and died three years later aged 23.
He died at his home at 277, Alexander Av., in the Bronx.
Source
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/wells.html Political Graveyard (double entry)
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C06E1DF1E39E033A25750C1A9609C94649ED7CF Appointed Tax Commissioner, in NYT on June 13, 1895
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9806E0DB1130E132A25751C0A9669D946097D6CF Nominated for Borough Pres., in NYT on October 2, 1901
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F04E3DE103EE333A25756C2A9649D946097D6CF Retired as Pres of NSBoT, and appointed Pres of Tax Comm., in NYT on December 25, 1901
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9907EEDA1E31E233A25757C1A9649D946096D6CF Death notice of his daughter Edith, in NYT on December 14, 1911
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9900E1DE1F3FEE3ABC4851DFB366838A639EDE "Father of the Bronx", in NYT on May 20, 1921