T. Tileston Wells

Thomas Tileston Wells (September 12, 1865 – April 23, 1946) was an American attorney and the Romanian Consul General. He also was a leader in French, Serbian, and Romanian relief efforts during World War I. He was highly decorated by European countries, including receiving a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur from France. Early life Wells was the child of Grace (nḗe Tileston) and John Wells, a merchant. Wells was born at his maternal grandmother Tileston's house at 2 East 14th Street in Manhattan, New York. His paternal grandfather was a successful lawyer, Thomas L. Wells. His paternal grandmother, Julia Beach Lawrence, was the daughter of the largest landowner in New York and an East India merchant. After his father died in 1871 when Wells was six years old, the family lived at Sommariva, his mother's home in New Brunswick, New Jersey, overlooking the Raritan River. However, they also spent several years abroad, including living in Romania. When they returned to America and he was enrolled in Columbia University, they also had a house at 56 West 17th Street in New York City. While he was in law school, the family moved to 12 West 19th Street which was better suited for his sisters' coming out party. in 1890, his mother purchased a house at 52 East 25th Street where Wells lived until his marriage. The family also spent summers in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island in Maine. His primary education was mostly abroad, but he also attended St. Mark's School in Southborough, Massachusetts. He attended Columbia University from 1883 to 1887. While at Columbia, he was a member of the Fraternity of Delta Psi (St. Anthony Hall). He also attended Harvard University, class of 1888. He went to Columbia Law School, graduating with a LL.B in 1890.