William Storrs Wells Explained
William Storrs Wells (October 14, 1849 – May 13, 1926) was an American businessman serving as president and CEO of the Fairbanks Company who was prominent in New York society during the Gilded Age.
Early life
Wells was born in Albany, New York on October 14, 1849. He was the second son of three children born to Robert Hitchcock Wells (1817–1900) and Catharine M. (née Storrs) Wells (1820–1891).[1] Both of his siblings, Frederick Storrs Wells and Evelin Nelson Wells, died in infancy.
Career
Wells served as president and CEO of the Fairbanks Company, an American manufacturing company that built weighing scales.[2]
Society life
In 1892, Wells and his wife were included in Ward McAllister's "Four Hundred", purported to be an index of New York's best families, published in The New York Times.[3] Conveniently, 400 was the number of people that could fit into Mrs. Astor's ballroom.[4]
Wells was a member of the Union Club of the City of New York and the Metropolitan Club.
In May 1900, Pansy cottage, the Wells summer cottage located at Bellevue and Ruggles Avenues in Newport, Rhode Island, burned down.[5] The fire at the cottage, which had recently been extensively remodeled and enlarged,[6] occurred the day before the Wells were to take up residence at the home.[5] The Wells had purchased Pansy cottage in 1886 from Constant A. Andrews.[7] In 1903, the construction of their replacement cottage, called Chetwode, was completed.[8] It was designed by Horace Trumbauer with gardens by John Russell Pope.[9] [10]
Personal life
Wells was married to Anna Cole Raynor (sometimes Annie) (1854–1935),[11] the daughter of James A. Raynor, president of the Erie Railroad.[12] They maintained a home at 16 East 57th Street, in New York City. Together, they were the parents of:
- James Raynor Storrs Wells (d. 1917),[13] [14] who married Irene Dabney Bishop, a former chorus girl.[15] They divorced after he got out of the U.S. Navy and he remarried to May Maloney, a showgirl, in 1912.[14]
- Natalie Wells (1882–1976), who married Harry Twyford Peters (1881–1948) at Chetwode in 1905.[16] [17]
Wells died of pneumonia in Paris, France,[18] after a long illness on May 13, 1926.[19] In 1934, his widow sold their Chetwode, their Newport estate, to John Jacob Astor III.[20] The home was eventually demolished in 1973.[21] As his son predeceased both parents, his daughter was his wife's sole beneficiary in her will.[22] The will provided nothing for the two daughters of their son, James, stating that it was her specific "intention to cut them off absolutely from sharing in my estate."[22]
Descendants
Through his son James, and James' second wife Mary, he was the grandfather of Marie Storrs Wells and Annette Raynor Wells.[22] Through his daughter Natalie, he was the grandfather of Natalie Peters and Harry Twyford Peters Jr.[11]
External links
Notes and References
- Book: American Ancestry: The City of Albany, State of New York, 1887, ed. by Thomas P. Hughes.- v. 2. (Local series) Columbia County, state of New York, 1887, ed. by Thomas P. Hughes.- v. 3-12. Embracing lineages from the whole of the United States. 1888[-1898. Ed. by Frank Munsell|date=1887|publisher=Munsell|page=93|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XUpkAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA93|access-date=17 May 2018|language=en].
- Book: The Storrs Family. 1886. Priv. print.. 200. 17 May 2018. en.
- News: McAllister. Ward. THE ONLY FOUR HUNDRED WARD M'ALLISTER GIVES OUT THE OFFICIAL LIST. HERE ARE THE NAMES, DON'T YOU KNOW, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR GREAT LEADER, YOU UNDER- STAND, AND THEREFORE GENUINE, YOU SEE.. 26 March 2017. The New York Times. 16 February 1892. en.
- Book: Keister. Lisa A.. Getting Rich: America's New Rich and How They Got That Way. 2005. Cambridge University Press. 9780521536677. 36. 20 October 2017. en.
- News: A NEWPORT COTTAGE BURNED.; Residence of W. Storrs Wells Destroyed -- Had Just Been Enlarged.. 18 May 2018. The New York Times. 5 May 1900.
- Book: Town Topics, the Journal of Society. 1893. Town Topics Publishing Company. 11. 18 May 2018. en.
- News: Society at Newport.; Enjoyable Events at the City by the Sea.. 18 May 2018. The New York Times. 3 October 1886.
- Book: Kathrens. Michael C.. Newport villas: the revival styles, 1885-1935. 2009. W.W. Norton & Co.. 189–190. 9780393732702. 18 May 2018. en.
- News: Markert. Gretchen. Chetwode a Visit with the Astors. 17 May 2018. Newport Patch. 11 July 2017.
- Web site: Wells, Anna Cole Raynor, 1854-1935. redwoodlibrary.pastperfectonline.com. Redwood Library and Athenaeum. 17 May 2018.
- News: MRS. W. STORRS WELLS DIES IN NEW YORK One of Oldest of Summer Residents of Newport Spent Past Season at "Stone Gables," Leaving Newport Several Weeks Ago. 18 May 2018. Newport Mercury. 15 Nov 1935. 2. en.
- News: MRS. WILLIAM S. WELLS.; Widow of President of Fairbanks Scales Company Dies at 81.. 17 May 2018. The New York Times. 15 November 1935.
- News: DIED. WELLS. 17 May 2018. The New York Times. 31 March 1917.
- News: J. R. S. WELLS IS DEAD. Marital Troubles Attracted Much Attention for Decade. 17 May 2018. New York Herald. April 1, 1917. 10. en.
- News: MR. J. R. WELLS SUES FOR $500,000 DAMAGES Declares Husband's Parents Have Alienated His Affections and Caused Her Desertion. 17 May 2018. Asheville Gazette-News. 19 Mar 1910. 6. en.
- News: Weddings of a Day.; Peters -- Wells.. 17 May 2018. The New York Times. 26 May 1905.
- News: News of Newport.. 18 May 2018. The New York Times. 13 July 1907.
- News: DIED. WELLS--William Storrs. 17 May 2018. The New York Times. 14 May 1926.
- News: WILLIAM STORRS WELLS.; Body of New Yorker Who Died in London to Be Brought Here.. 17 May 2018. The New York Times. 15 May 1926.
- Web site: Mrs. W. Storrs Wells (ca. 1853-1935). www.nyhistory.org. New-York Historical Society. 17 May 2018. en.
- Book: Miller. Paul F.. Lost Newport. 2008. Applewood Books. 9781557090911. 73–76. 17 May 2018. en.
- News: MRS. W. STORRS WELLS' WILL PROBATED Leaves An Estate "In Excess of $10,000" Testament Names Her Daughter, Mrs. Peters, Executor and Sole Beneficiary. 17 May 2018. Newport Mercury. November 22, 1935. en.
