Erastus Wells

Erastus Wells (December 2, 1823 – October 2, 1893) was a 19th-century politician and businessman from Missouri. Wells was born in Jefferson County, New York, and was the only son of Otis Wells, a descendant of Hugh Welles, an early colonist of Wethersfield, Connecticut. Otis Wells was a farmer and died when Erastus was only fourteen. Erastus was the grandson of Ethelinda Otis and a relation of John Otis, who helped found the town of Hingham, Massachusetts in 1635. Other notable relatives include James Otis, a successful lawyer, Harrison Gray Otis, a statesman and orator, Samuel A. Otis, one of the framers of the constitution of Massachusetts, and George Otis, a clergyman and author. Wells married Isabella Bowman Henry, daughter of Captain John Henry of Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1850. Isabella and Erastus Wells were the parents of three children, including former St. Louis Mayor Rolla Wells. Wells' first wife died in 1877 and he was later remarried to Eleanor P. Bell of St. Louis in 1879. Professional career Wells lived on a farm and attended district schools from ages 12 to 16. At 16, Wells left the farm and moved to Watertown, New York, later moving on to Lockport, New York. He moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in September, 1843. After being inspired by the omnibuses he observed in New York, he established the first omnibus line in St. Louis with the help of Calvin Case, a prominent resident of St. Louis. The omnibus was the first of its kind west of the Mississippi. In 1850, Wells and Case partnered with Robert O'Blennus and Lawrence Matthews on the bus lines. One of the most profitable lines for the business was a coach to Belleville, Illinois. Erastus Wells was a passenger on the Pacific Railroad excursion train that crashed through the temporary bridge over the Gasconade River on November 1, 1855, the Gasconade Bridge train disaster. He was uninjured but his partner, Calvin Case, was killed in the accident. After the success of the bus lines, Wells helped in organizing another transportation venture, the Missouri Railway Company, and served as its president until 1881. The first Missouri Railway Company car operated on July 4, 1859. Evidence of Wells' changing profession can be seen in the St. Louis City Directories, in which he is listed as omnibus proprietor in 1859 and as pres. Mo. R.R. Co. in 1864. Wells eventually sold his interest in the Railway Company, but moved on to many other prominent positions.