Melvin Dickinson Wells

31 July 1861–10 September 1941

Born 31 July 1861 in Salt Lake City.[1] Son of Daniel H. Wells and Louisa Free.[2] Attended public schools and the University of Deseret.[3] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by George Naylor, summer 1875; rebaptized May 1892.[4] Employed by Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution, by 1885.[5] Served a mission to Great Britain with his parents, Jan.–Nov. 1885.[6] Employed by Cooperative Wagon and Machine Company; served as secretary and treasurer of the board of directors, Aug. 1887.[7] Married Ann Elizabeth Young, 22 June 1892, in Logan, Cache Co., Utah Territory.[8] Employed by Consolidated Wagon and Machine Company, serving as secretary, treasure, and director, by Jan. 1900.[9] Appointed as a member of the Ensign Stake high council, 2 Apr. 1904.[10] Personal secretary to President Heber J. Grant, 1920–1923.[11] Died 10 Sept. 1941 in Salt Lake City.[12]

 

[1] “Endowments of the Living, 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 1884–1889, p. 330, line 11874, Melvin Dickinson Wells, 22 June 1892, microfilm 178052 (restricted access), FHL. Missionary Department Missionary Registers, 1860–1959, vol. B, 25 Apr. 1860–27 Apr. 1894, p. 80, CR 301 22, image 81/148, CHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 10 Sept. 2019), Melvin Dickinson Wells (KWCB-JN4). 

[2] “Endowments of the Living, 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 1884–1889, p. 330, line 11874, Melvin Dickinson Wells, 22 June 1892, microfilm 178052 (restricted access), FHL. Missionary Department Missionary Registers, 1860–1959, vol. B, 25 Apr. 1860–27 Apr. 1894, p. 80, CR 301 22, image 81/148, CHL.

[3] Branch Genealogical Libraries, Biographical Record of Salt Lake City and Vicinity: Containing Biographies of Well Know Citizens of the Past and Present, p. 470, Melvin D. Wells, microfilm 6031591, image 553/762, FHL.

[4] “Endowments of the Living, 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 1884–1889, p. 330, line 11874, Melvin Dickinson Wells, 22 June 1892, microfilm 178052 (restricted access), FHL. Missionary Department Missionary Registers, 1860–1959, vol. B, 25 Apr. 1860–27 Apr. 1894, p. 80, CR 301 22, image 81/148, CHL.

[5] Branch Genealogical Libraries, Biographical Record of Salt Lake City and Vicinity: Containing Biographies of Well Know Citizens of the Past and Present, p. 470, Melvin D. Wells, microfilm 6031591, image 553/762, FHL.

[6] Missionary Department Missionary Registers, 1860–1959, vol. B, 25 Apr. 1860–27 Apr. 1894, p. 80, CR 301 22, image 81/148, CHL. Louisa F. Wells, Letter, Salt Lake City, UT, to John Taylor, 24 Jan. 1885, First Presidency Missionary Calls and Recommendations, CR 1 168, CHL.

[7] Branch Genealogical Libraries, Biographical Record of Salt Lake City and Vicinity: Containing Biographies of Well Know Citizens of the Past and Present, p. 470, Melvin D. Wells, microfilm 6031591, image 553/762, FHL.

[8] “Sealings of Living Couples, 1884–1957,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logan Temple, vol. A, 1884–1900, p. 308, line 5527, Melvin Dickinson Wells and Ann Elizabeth Young, 22 June 1892, microfilm 178135 (restricted access), FHL. Cache Co., UT, County Clerk, Marriage Records, 1887–1966, p. 512, Melvin D. Wells, microfilm 430301, DGS 4540805, image 514/613, FHL.

[9] Branch Genealogical Libraries, Biographical Record of Salt Lake City and Vicinity: Containing Biographies of Well Know Citizens of the Past and Present, p. 470, Melvin D. Wells, microfilm 6031591, image 553/762, FHL. “Stockholders’ Meeting,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 2 Jan. 1900, 7. “Notice to Stockholders,” Deseret Evening News, 22 Apr. 1901, 7. “Business Notes,” Deseret Evening News, 3 Apr. 1903, 2.

[10] “Officers of the Ensign Stake,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 2 Apr. 1904, 5.

[11] “Melvin D. Wells Dies Following Long Illness,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 10 Sept. 1941, 13. Heber Jeddy Grant, The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880–1945, Abridged (Salt Lake City: Privately Published, 2010), 323.

[12] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov, accessed 11 Sept. 2019); Utah Department of Health Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death Certificates, series 81448, file no. 1364/1474/420 (1941), Melvin Dickinson Wells. “Melvin D. Wells Dies Following Long Illness,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 10 Sept. 1941, 13.