Born 13 Apr. 1857 in Salt Lake City.[1] Daughter of Daniel H. Wells and Louisa Free.[2] Attended the Territorial Teachers’ Normal Institute, 1875.[3] Attended Deseret University; graduated with a degree in English language and literature, 1879.[4] Active member and president of the Cleofan, a literary club, 1893–1906.[5] Taught kindergarten in Salt Lake City, 1895.[6] Attended a reception for Democratic women prior to the Utah constitutional convention, 20 Aug. 1895.[7] Served on the inaugural committee for the Kindergarten Association of Utah, 1896.[8] Signed a resolution supporting Utah troops serving in the Spanish-American War, 1898.[9] Charter member of the Salt Lake chapter of the American Red Cross, 1898.[10] Instructor for the Kindergarten Normal course at Latter-day Saints’ University, 1902.[11] Historian, corresponding secretary, and organizer of Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1906–1921.[12] Custodian of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum, 1920–1938; the rose garden was planted in her honor.[13] Died 17 Mar. 1941 in Salt Lake City.[14]
[1] “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. G, 31 Oct. 1868–11 Nov. 1872, p. 339, line 11, Emeline Young Wells, 9 Sept. 1872, microfilm 1239501, DGS 7751472 (restricted access), FHL. EBW, Diary, 13 Apr. 1892. “Utah Death Registers, 1847–1966,” p. 424, image 187/576 (1941), Emeline Young Wells; citing series 21866, from Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Utah State Archives and Records Service, Salt Lake City. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 14 Nov. 2019), Emeline Young Wells (KWVR-9T7).
[2] “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. G, 31 Oct. 1868–11 Nov. 1872, p. 339, line 11, Emeline Young Wells, 9 Sept. 1872, microfilm 1239501, DGS 7751472 (restricted access), FHL.
[3] “Normal School,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 4 Aug. 1875, 4.
[4] Holiness to the Lord! Third Annual Catalogue of the Officers and Students of the University of Deseret for the Academic Year 1870–1871 (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1871), 19. “Deseret University,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 4 June 1879, 277.
[5] “In the Social Realm,” Salt Lake Herald, 29 Oct. 1893, 3. “Women’s Clubs in Utah,” Salt Lake Herald, 26 Dec. 1897, 19. “Work of the Women’s Clubs,” Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Apr. 1901, 18. “Club Chat,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 2 Apr. 1904, 23. “In the Polite World,” Salt Lake Telegram, 10 Aug. 1905, 5. “Daily News of Society,” Salt Lake Herald, 28 Mar. 1906, 4.
[6] “Miss Wells Kindergarten,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 27 Apr. 1895, 2.
[7] “Reception at Mrs. Armstrong’s,” Salt Lake Herald, 29 Aug. 1895, 9.
[8] “Rules and Regulations of the Utah Kindergarten Association,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 July 1896, 5.
[9] “Remember the Boys in Blue,” Salt Lake Herald, 24 May 1898, 8.
[10] “Red Cross Society,” Salt Lake Herald, 26 May 1898, 8. “S.L. Red Cross Will Honor 12,” Salt Lake Telegram, 9 Jan. 1935, 9.
[11] The Gold and Blue: LDS Students’ Year Book, 1902 (Publication place and publisher unidentified, [1902]), 12.
[12] “To Wear Oldtime Garb at Reunion,” Inter-Mountain Republican (Salt Lake City), 24 June 1906, 19. “Band Together to Keep Fresh Memory of Pioneers of Utah,” Inter-Mountain Republican, 25 July 1907, 2. “Daughters of Pioneers Meet,” Salt Lake Telegram, 12 Mar. 1922, 3.
[13] “Most Interesting Job in World: Custodian of Pioneer Exhibit Predicts Busy Tourist Season,” Salt Lake Telegram, 10 Mar. 1937, 4. “Gold Star Unit Holds Memory Park Services,” Salt Lake Telegram, 28 Mar. 1938, 11.
[14] “Utah Death Registers, 1847–1966,” p. 424, image 187/576 (1941), Emeline Young Wells; citing series 21866, from Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Utah State Archives and Records Service, Salt Lake City. “Miss Emeline Young Wells, Church Worker, Dies at 83,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 17 Mar. 1941, 5.