Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James
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WELLS, John, lawyer, born in Cherry Valley, Otsego County, New York, in 1770; died in Brooklyn, New York, 7 September, 1823. Owing to the massacre of his entire family by the Indians in Cherry Valley, he was in 1778 placed in charge of his aunt, who took him to New York city, and he was graduated at Princeton in 1788. He then studied law with Edward Griswold, was admitted to the bar in 1791, and in 1797 was appointed an associate justice of the peace by Gov John Jay. About this time James Cheetham attacked the Federalists with vigor in "The American Citizen" and Mr. Wells replied in the "Evening Post." The ability with which his task was performed led to the belief that Alexander Hamilton was the author, and so well pleased was the latter with their strength that he sought the acquaintance of the younger man. Subsequently Mr. Wells had charge of bringing out the papers known as "The Federalist," although for final revision they passed through the hands of Hamilton. In 1804 Mr. Cheetham attacked the conduct and character of William S. Smith, son-in-law of President John Adams, in his journal, in consequence of which an action for libel was brought against him in the supreme court. Mr. Cheetham secured the services of Mr. Wells as counsel, and, although the latter failed to win the case, his conduct gained for him considerable reputation. After the war of 1812 his argument in the case of Griswold vs. Waddington, in which he took the ground that the war was a dissolution of partnership between the two brothers Wadding-ton, one of whom was a resident of Liverpool and the other of New York, was regarded as one of his best efforts. He was a trustee of the General theological seminary and of Columbia college in 1815-'23. The degree of LL. D. was given him by Princeton. A bust was erected by the bar of New York in Grace church, of which he was a vestryman, and upon the removal of the church it, was placed in St. Paul's chapel, where it still remains. See "Memorial of the Life and Character of John Wells" (printed privately, New York, 1874).
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