Rolla Wells
Rolla Wells | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of theFederal Reserve Bank of St. Louis | |
| In office October 28, 1914 – February 5, 1919 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | David Biggs |
| Treasurer of theDemocratic National Committee | |
| In office August 6, 1912 – June 17, 1916 | |
| Preceded by | Herman Ridder |
| Succeeded by | Wilbur W. Marsh |
| 30thMayor of St. Louis | |
| In office April 9, 1901 – April 13, 1909 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Ziegenhein |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Kreismann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1, 1856 St. Louis,Missouri,U.S. |
| Died | November 30, 1944(aged 88) St. Louis,Missouri,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Washington University in St. Louis Princeton University |
Rolla Wells(June 1, 1856 – November 30, 1944), also called "Rollo", was an American politician. He served two terms as Mayor ofSt. Louis, Missouri,was named an officer of theDemocratic National Committeein the 1912Wilsoncampaign,[1]and served as Governor of the St. Louis branch of theFederal Reserve Bank.
Biography
[edit]Born inSt. Louis, Missouri,on June 1, 1856, in St. Louis Missouri toErastus Wellsand Isabella Bowman Henry Wells.[2]His father Erastus was a representative from Missouri.[2]He was educated atWashington University in St. LouisandPrinceton University,and later in life received honorary MA degrees from both institutions.
His name first appears in print in the on October 9, 1892, edition ofNew York Times,where he is described as the "President of the Fair Association" for St. Louis. In the March 18, 1893, edition, he is quoted as the "President of the Jockey Club" of St. Louis; and the July 16, 1896, edition includes the statement "Rolla Wells, President of the Jefferson Club, resigned last night, announcing that he could not support the Chicago platform" (the "Chicago platform" referring toWilliam Jennings Bryan).
On April 1, 1901, theNew York Timesreported that "One of the hardest fought municipal campaigns in the history of St Louis closed to-night" and that the candidates were "Rolla Wells, Democratic; George W. Parker, Republican; Chauncey I. Filley, Good Government; Lee Meriwether, Public Ownership;Leon Greenbaum,Social-Democrat, andLewis C. Fry,Socialist-Labor. "
Wells was Mayor of St. Louis for eight years, during which time theWorld's Fairand theOlympicswere held there. Some of his major accomplishment included overseeing the construction of a new city hall in 1903, the paving of many city streets, and—in 1904—making the city's drinking water run clear for the first time.[3]In 1912, GovernorWoodrow Wilson,Democraticcandidate forPresident,named Wells treasurer of theDemocratic National Committee,where he served untilWilbur W. Marshwas appointed in 1916.[4][5]
Around 1914 to 1916, Wells was named Governor of theFederal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.He held the position until 1919, when he was named Receiver for the United Railways of St. Louis.[6]
He died on November 30, 1944, and was buried atBellefontaine Cemetery.
Family life
[edit]His first wife, Jennie Howard Parker, died in 1917. He later wed Mrs. Carlotta Clark Church, widow of Alonzo Church, on November 18, 1923, in St. Louis.[6]
References
[edit]- ^New York Times,August 7, 1912.
- ^ab"Erastus Wells".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-10-16.Retrieved2010-12-16.
- ^Shepley, Carol Ferring.Movers and Shakers, Scalawags and Suffragettes: Tales from Bellefontaine Cemetery.Missouri History Museum: St. Louis, 2008.
- ^"Wilson WIll Hear Officially of His Nomination Today".The Lexington Herald.Vol. 41, no. 220.Associated Press.August 7, 1912. p. 1.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 8,2023– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Martin, George (June 17, 1916)."Six Hours Fight Goes to Wilson".The Evening Republican.United Press.p. 1.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 8,2023– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^abNew York Times,November 19, 1923, page 15.
Publications
[edit]- Episodes of My Life(1933)
Further reading
[edit]- "Crowds Saw Inauguration".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.10 April 1901. p. 7.
- "Kreismann Takes Seat As Mayor; He and Wells Weep".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.13 April 1909. p. 7.
External links
[edit]- Rolla Wellsat the St. Louis Public Library: St. Louis Mayors website.
- Rolla Wells, Mayor of St. LouisThe World Today Magazine 1906
