“He was ever an earnest friend of the afflicted Saints, and when he met the Prophet Joseph Smith, a strong and lasting attachment was at once formed, although at that time he was not connected with the Church.” — Matthias F. Cowley¹

Daniel Hanmer Wells was born in 1814 in Trenton, New York, and became an influential figure in Nauvoo, Illinois, before the Latter-day Saints migrated west. After moving to Commerce (later Nauvoo) in 1834, he married Eliza Rebecca Robison in 1837. "Squire Wells", as he was called, was actively involved in the community and was a supportive friend to the Saints despite not being a member of the Church. In Nauvoo, he served as justice of the peace, city alderman, school warden, regent of the University of Nauvoo, and commissary general in the Nauvoo Legion.^2,3 He was baptized in 1846 shortly before leaving Nauvoo, but his wife refused to go with him.² After the Saints arrived in Utah, Wells was the attorney general of the provisional government and part of territorial legislative councils.³ He also was ordained as an apostle, served as a counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency, and the mission president over the European mission.^2,3

1. Mathias F. Cowley, “President Daniel H. Wells,” Prophets and Patriarchs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 148, archive.org

2. “Daniel Hanmer Wells,” rsc.byu.edu

3. “Wells, Daniel Hanmer,” josephsmithpapers.org