Heber Manning Wells (1859-1938) - Find a Grave Memorial

Utah Governor, Politician. First Governor of Utah, from 1896 to 1905. His mother was one of Daniel Wells' six plural wives and Heber was one of his thirty-six children. In 1877, he became the tax collector of Salt Lake City. He was appointed City Recorder in 1882 and served in that position throughout the rest of the decade. He was the Republican candidate for Governor in 1895, and upon election, presided over the transition of Utah from territorial status to statehood. As Utah's first governor, his two terms were devoted to setting up the machinery of state government. He took special interest in promoting economic development without abusing the state's natural resources. In 1925, Wells was appointed Treasurer of the United States Shipping Board Fleet Corporation and served in that capacity in Washington, D.C. until his retirement in 1933. He returned to Salt Lake City, where he died of a stroke.

Bio by: Thomas Fisher