Alexander Wells (California judge) explained

Alexander Wells
Office:Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
Term Start:January 3, 1853
Term End:October 31, 1854
Predecessor:Alexander O. Anderson
Successor:Charles Henry Bryan
Office1:Member of the New York State Assembly for New York Co.
Term Start1:January 1, 1846
Term End1:December 31, 1846
Birth Date:7 October 1819
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Death Place:San Jose, California, U.S.

Alexander Wells (October 7, 1819 – October 31, 1854) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California.

Early life

Wells was born on October 7, 1819, in New York City.[1]

Career

He was admitted to the bar about 1842, and practiced law in New York City. He also entered politics as a Democrat, and was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1846.[2]

About 1850, he moved to California. In April 1852, he was appointed a temporary Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court, to serve during the absence of Justice Solomon Heydenfeldt, and remained on the bench until October.[3]

In 1852, he won the Democratic nomination in a special election for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California, defeating the incumbent Alexander O. Anderson who had been appointed to the vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry A. Lyons. On November 2, 1852, Wells was elected for the remainder of the term, which expired at the end of 1854.[4] In 1854, he was nominated for election to a full term, but died before the election.[5] One historian summed up his judicial career as follows: "The sixth associate justice, Alexander Wells, who came to the bench in 1853 at the age of 59, died a year later, leaving no published legal mark on the court".[6]

Personal life

On October 7, 1846, he married Annie Van Rensselaer Van Wyck (1822–1919),[7] [8] the daughter of Philip Gilbert Van Wyck (1786–1870) and Mary Smith (née Gardiner) Van Wyck (1788–1858). Her paternal grandparents were Catherine Van Cortlandt (1751–1829) and Abraham Van Wyck (1748–1786) and her uncles were Pierre Van Cortlandt Van Wyck and David Gardiner.[7] Wells was introduced to Annie by her cousin, Stephen Van Rensselaer.[7] Together they had:

Wells died suddenly on October 31, 1854, at his home in San Jose, California.[13] [14] In 1903, his widow inherited the estate of her sister, Joanna L. Van Wyck, estimated at several million dollars.[15]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Richard Roy Powell, Compromises of Conflicting Claims: A Century of California Law, 1760 to 1860 (1977), p. 227.
  2. Book: Hough, A.M., M.D. . Franklin B. . The New York Civil List: Containing the Names and Origin of the Civil Divisions, and the Names and Dates of Election or Appointment of the Principal State and County Officers from the Revolution to the Present Time . 1858 . Weed, Parsons and Co., Publishers . Albany . July 25, 2017 . en.
  3. Johnson, J. Edward. "Alexander Wells." Journal of the State Bar of California (1946; Vol. 21–22; pg. 225)
  4. Book: Secrest . William B. . Dark and Tangled Threads of Crime: San Francisco's Famous Police Detective Isaiah W. Lees. . 2004 . Quill Driver Books . 9781884995415 . 44 . July 25, 2017 . en.
  5. The State Register and Year Book of Facts (1859). pg. 192
  6. Burrill, Donald R. (2011) Servants of the Law, p. 65. (In fact, Wells was about 31, not 59, when he took office.)
  7. https://books.google.com/books?id=cMhrgqYREtMC&q=alexander+wells+new+york+assemblyman+1846 The American Monthly Magazine
  8. News: Obituary -- WELLS. July 25, 2017. The New York Times. May 8, 1919.
  9. News: Times. Special To The New York. DEATH LIST OF A DAY. Schuyler Hamilton. July 25, 2017. The New York Times. February 14, 1907.
  10. News: MRS. S. HAMILTON, JR., DEAD.; Took an Overdose of Morphine at Her Home in the Florence -- Prostrated by the Storm.. July 25, 2017. The New York Times. May 4, 1899.
  11. News: DEATH LIST OF A DAY.. October 17, 2016. The New York Times.
  12. News: Rites Tomorrow for Baroness, 94 Former Gertrude Wells Was Talented Musician. Brooklyn Eagle. January 28, 1944.
  13. https://books.google.com/books?id=HdE-AAAAIAAJ History of the Supreme Court justices of California
  14. Book: Legislature. California. Journals of the Legislature of the State of California. 1855. July 25, 2017. en.
  15. News: LEFT SEVERAL MILLIONS.; Will of Joanna Van Wyck of Ossining Filed for Probate.. July 25, 2017. The New York Times. August 29, 1903.