Gershom Britain Finley Wells
Born 19 Nov. 1864 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, while his father was president of the European mission.[1] Son of Daniel Hanmer Wells and Hannah Corilla Free. [2] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by his father, 4 Sept. 1873.[3] Attended the University of Deseret, 1870–1871.[4] Served a mission in England, Germany, and Switzerland, 1886–1888.[5] Married first Ellen (Nelly) Leaver Sheets, 23 Sept. 1891, in Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah Territory.[6] Private secretary for his brother Heber M. Wells, the first governor of Utah, 1896–1901.[7] Wife died; married second Maude Freeze, 1 Feb. 1906, in Salt Lake City.[8] Collections manager for the Utah Independent Telephone Company, insurance broker, and cemetery clerk and sexton.[9] Died 21 May 1944 in Salt Lake City.[10]
[1] “Endowments of the Living, 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 21 May 1884–10 May 1899, p. 113, line 4061, Gershom Britain Finley Wells, 15 Oct. 1886, microfilm 178052, DGS 4342223 (restricted access), FHL. “Daniel Hamner Wells,” Missionary Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/chd/individual/daniel-hanmer-wells-1814?lang=eng&timelineTabs=allTabs, accessed 15 Sept. 2020). “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 10 June 2019), Gershom Britain Finley Wells (KW6M-7F1).
[2] “Endowments of the Living, 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 21 May 1884–10 May 1899, p. 113, line 4061, Gershom Britain Finley Wells, 15 Oct. 1886, microfilm 178052, DGS 4342223 (restricted access), FHL. Junius F. Wells, “The Wells Family Genealogy,” Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine 6, no. 1 (Jan. 1895): 11. EBW, Diary, 24–25 Mar. 1891.
[3] “Gershom Britain Wells,” Missionary Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/individual/gershom-britain-finley-wells-1864?lang=eng, accessed 10 June 2019). “Endowments of the Living, 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 21 May 1884–10 May 1899, p. 113, line 4061, Gershom Britain Finley Wells, 15 Oct. 1886, microfilm 178052, DGS 4342223 (restricted access), FHL.
[4] University of Deseret Third Annual Catalogue of the Officers and Students, Academical Year 1870–1871 (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Office, 1871), 15.
[5] “Gershom Britain Wells,” Missionary Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/individual/gershom-britain-finley-wells-1864?lang=eng, accessed 10 June 2019). “From Germany,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 10 Oct. 1888, 4. EBW, Diary, 23 June 1887 and 2 Oct. 1888.
[6] “Sealings for the Living, 1888–1956,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Manti Temple, vol. A, p. 75, line 1343, Gershom Britain Finley Wells and Ellen (Nellie) Leaver Sheets, 23 Sept. 1891, microfilm 170490, DGS 4033450 (restricted access), FHL. Sanpete Co., UT, County Clerk, Marriage Records, 1888–1966, Gershom B. F. Wells and Nelly Sheets, 23 Sept. 1891, microfilm 481123, DGS 4624219, image 89/292, FHL. EBW, Diary, 30 Sept. 1891.
[7] 1900 U.S. Census, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, ED 38, p. 8B, Gershom B. Wells. Salt Lake City Directory, 1898 (Salt Lake City: R. L. Polk, 1898), 782. Salt Lake City Directory, 1899 (Salt Lake City: R. L. Polk, 1899), 868. Salt Lake City Directory, 1900 (Salt Lake City: R. L. Polk, 1900), 747. “Evans Bill Now Dead,” Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Mar. 1901, 8. EBW, Diary, 14 Dec. 1900; 15, 22, 24 Feb. 1901.
[8] “Sealings of the Living, 1893–1956,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake Temple, vol. B, 4 Oct. 1905–23 Jan. 1913, p. 19, line 339, Gershom Britain Finley Wells and Maude Freeze, 1 Feb. 1906, microfilm 186207, DGS 5266110 (restricted access), FHL. Salt Lake Co., UT, County Clerk, Marriages, 1887–1965, Gershom B. Wells and Maude Freeze, 1 Feb. 1906, microfilm 429063, DGS 4705939, image 658/895, FHL.
[9] Salt Lake City Directory, 1905 (Salt Lake City: R. L. Polk, 1905), 981. Salt Lake City Directory, 1911 (Salt Lake City: R. L. Polk, 1911), 1063. Salt Lake City Directory, 1926 (Salt Lake City: R. L. Polk, 1926), 1063. Salt Lake City Directory, 1936 (Salt Lake City: R. L. Polk, 1936), 902. “Utah Pioneers Book Publishing Company,” Salt Lake Herald, 4 Apr. 1913, 3. 1920 U.S. Census, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, ED 139, p. 1B, Gershom B. Wells. 1930 U.S. Census, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, ED 18-65, p. 8B, Gershom B. Wells. 1940 U.S. Census, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, ED 30-120, p. 6A, Gershom B. Wells.
[10] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov, accessed 17 June 2019), Utah Department of Health, Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death Certificates, Series 81448, file no. 879/1044 (1944), Gershom Brittan Wells. “Son of Early S.L. Mayor Dies at 79,” Salt Lake Tribune, 22 May 1944, 13.