Pueblo County Biographies

Pueblo County, Colorado
EDWARD W. WELLS

Contributed by Karen Mitchell.

Edward W. Wells is superintendent of the Colorado Free Employment Agency at Pueblo, in which connection he is doing an important work in bringing together those who need assistants and those who need positions in the business world. Cities are fast coming to realize the importance of such work as a preventive of vagrancy and a factor in the promotion of that industry which makes for substantial and honorable citizenship and manhood. Mr. Wells is a native of Pomeroy, Kansas. He was born April 5, 1873, a son of William and Alice (Cullison) Wells, and the family removed to Pueblo on the 22d of September, 1875. The father was employed as a sawyer in a sawmill here from that date until 1881. He continued to make his home in Pueblo until his death, which occurred in October. 1884, and his wife has also passed away. Edward W. Wells pursued his education in the public schools and the Central high school of Pueblo and afterward took up the study of stenography, being employed in that way for a short time. He then turned to mechanical pursuits, becoming a machinist, after which he engaged in railroad work and later as fireman and engineer on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad for eight years. He afterward resumed work at the machinist's trade, then became a clerk in Fred Mullett's cigar store, and subsequently was called to public office, being made deputy county clerk, a position which he filled for five and a half years. He afterward spent two years in the city engineer's department. On the 20th of January, 1917, he was appointed to the position of superintendent of the Colorado Free Employment Agency for a two years' term and is making an excellent record in this position. He has closely studied conditions and his work is proving highly satisfactory. This is a state position, his appointment coming from Denver. On May 1, 1918, he was also made an examiner of the United States Free Employment service, which is run on a cooperative plan. The office is a tangible evidence of the fact that the state is closely studying sociological and economic conditions and putting forth every effort for individual and public benefit. On the 10th of June, 1893, Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss May O. George, of Pueblo, and they have a son, Frederic C. The parents are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Wells is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Junior Order of United American Workmen, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen and the Order of Railway Engineers, and is a member of the Southern Colorado Pioneers Association. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party, which finds in him a stanch advocate. He stands for all the progressive forces of the community and is interested in everything that is a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. History Of Colorado Illustrated Volume III Chicago The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1918

to the Pueblo County Index Page.