Difference between revisions of "Thomas Everett Welles"

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| place_of_death =Pensacola
 
| place_of_death =Pensacola
 
| occupation    =Sea captain, civic leader
 
| occupation    =Sea captain, civic leader
| religion      =Presbyterian<ref>According to Clay's ''History of Escambia County'', Welles was "not a member of any church" but "his preference was for the Presbyterian faith".</ref>
+
| religion      =Presbyterian<ref>According to Armstrong's ''History of Escambia County'', Welles was "not a member of any church" but "his preference was for the Presbyterian faith".</ref>
 
| spouse        =Caroline Brown Cobb
 
| spouse        =Caroline Brown Cobb
 
| parents        =Russell and Fannie Peabody Welles
 
| parents        =Russell and Fannie Peabody Welles
| children      =Frank Welles<br/>Ruth Alden Langford
+
| children      =Frank Everett Welles<br/>Ruth Alden Langford
| signature      =Welles-sig.jpg
+
| signature      =Welles-sig.png
 
| signaturesize  =120px
 
| signaturesize  =120px
 
}}
 
}}
 
'''Thomas Everett Welles''' was a sea captain, [[Mayor of Pensacola]], and stakeholder in the [[E. E. Saunders Company]].
 
'''Thomas Everett Welles''' was a sea captain, [[Mayor of Pensacola]], and stakeholder in the [[E. E. Saunders Company]].
  
==Early life==
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==Life==
Welles was born in [[1855]] in Mystic, Connecticut and was educated in the schools of that city. In his youth he was employed by Captain T. C. Cobb of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, who operated a fleet of ice-harvesting ships.  In the early 1870s, Welles was the purser of a ship delivering ice to the [[Pensacola Fish Company]], a leading fishing company in Pensacola.  The owner, [[E. E. Saunders]], was apparently so impressed by Welles that he offered to sell him a stake in the company.  Welles returned to Massachusetts, where he married Captain Cobb's daughter, Caroline Brown Cobb, and borrowed money from him to purchase his stake in Saunders' company.  Thereafter, he moved with his wife, first to Key West, before settling in Pensacola around [[1878]], at which time Welles began working for Saunders.  Around [[1883]] Saunders reincorporated the company as the [[E. E. Saunders Company]], with Welles as partner and manager.  At the time, the E. E. Saunders Company employed over one thousand men, operated ice and fishmeal manufacturing plants, and had an annual payroll exceeding $100,000.<ref>[http://www.stjohnshistoriccemetery.com/pensacolas_heritages/fishing.htm#t_e_welles Pensacola’s Heritage at St John’s Historic Cemetery]</ref>
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Welles was born in [[1855]] in Mystic, Connecticut and was educated in the schools of that city.
  
Welles became very successful and in later years entered the banking industry, serving as vice president of the [[Citizens National Bank]] and a director of the [[Peoples National Bank]].  He served as the president of the Young Men's Business League and the Good Government League, and was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, the Improved Order of Red Men, Woodmen of the World, and the Masons.  Welles owned a home at [[Gadsden Street]] and [[12th Avenue]], as well as a large plantation in north Alabama.
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Around [[1875]] he moved south, first to Key West, before settling in Pensacola around [[1878]], at which time Welles began working for the [[Pensacola Fish Company]].  On [[June 24]], [[1882]] he married Caroline Brown Cobb of Pensacola.
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Around [[1883]] Welles, in partnership with [[E. E. Saunders]], incorporated the [[E. E. Saunders Company]], with Welles acting as manager.  At its height, the E. E. Saunders Company employed over one thousand men, operated ice and fishmeal manufacturing plants, and had an annual payroll exceeding $100,000.<ref>[http://www.stjohnshistoriccemetery.com/pensacolas_heritages/fishing.htm#t_e_welles Pensacola’s Heritage at St John’s Historic Cemetery]</ref>
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Welles became very successful and in later years entered the banking industry, serving as vice president of the [[Citizens National Bank]] and a director of the [[Peoples National Bank]].  He also served for a time as president of the [[Gulf City Coffee Company]], and formed a joint venture with grocer [[Sol Cahn]] called the [[Welles-Cahn Company]].  Welles served as the president of the Young Men's Business League and the Good Government League, and was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, the Improved Order of Red Men, Woodmen of the World, and the Masons.  Welles owned a home at [[Gadsden Street]] and [[12th Avenue]], as well as a large plantation in north Alabama.
  
 
After E. E. Saunders' death in [[1913]], Welles bought his shares of the Saunders operations from his widow, and operated the company until his death in November [[1914]].
 
After E. E. Saunders' death in [[1913]], Welles bought his shares of the Saunders operations from his widow, and operated the company until his death in November [[1914]].
  
 
==Politics==
 
==Politics==
Welles was a Democrat, and served for a number of years on the state Democratic Executive Committee.  He served as [[Mayor of Pensacola]] from [[1903]]-[[1905]].
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Welles was a Democrat, and served for a number of years on the state Democratic Executive Committee.  He served as [[Mayor of Pensacola]] from [[1903]]-[[1904]].
  
 
==Heritage==
 
==Heritage==
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Welles is also related to [[Wikipedia:Gideon Welles|Gideon Welles]], Secretary of the Navy during and after the Civil War.
 
Welles is also related to [[Wikipedia:Gideon Welles|Gideon Welles]], Secretary of the Navy during and after the Civil War.
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==Other images==
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<gallery>
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Image:TEWelles.PNG|Circa 1897
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</gallery>
  
 
==References and notes==
 
==References and notes==
 
<small><references/></small>
 
<small><references/></small>
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{{start box}}
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{{succession box | before = [[Celestino Moreno Jones]] | title = [[Mayor of Pensacola]] | years = 1903-1904 | after = [[Charles Henry Bliss]]}}
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{{end box}}
  
 
[[Category:People buried in St. John's Cemetery|Welles, Thomas Everett]] [[Category:Mayors of the City of Pensacola|Welles, Thomas Everett]] [[Category:Bankers|Welles, Thomas Everett]]
 
[[Category:People buried in St. John's Cemetery|Welles, Thomas Everett]] [[Category:Mayors of the City of Pensacola|Welles, Thomas Everett]] [[Category:Bankers|Welles, Thomas Everett]]

Latest revision as of 19:01, 22 February 2009

Thomas Everett Welles
Welles-port.jpg
Born November 24, 1855[1]
Mystic, Connecticut
Died November 26, 1914
Pensacola
Occupation Sea captain, civic leader
Religion Presbyterian[2]
Spouse Caroline Brown Cobb
Parents Russell and Fannie Peabody Welles
Children Frank Everett Welles
Ruth Alden Langford
Welles-sig.png

Thomas Everett Welles was a sea captain, Mayor of Pensacola, and stakeholder in the E. E. Saunders Company.

Life[edit]

Welles was born in 1855 in Mystic, Connecticut and was educated in the schools of that city.

Around 1875 he moved south, first to Key West, before settling in Pensacola around 1878, at which time Welles began working for the Pensacola Fish Company. On June 24, 1882 he married Caroline Brown Cobb of Pensacola.

Around 1883 Welles, in partnership with E. E. Saunders, incorporated the E. E. Saunders Company, with Welles acting as manager. At its height, the E. E. Saunders Company employed over one thousand men, operated ice and fishmeal manufacturing plants, and had an annual payroll exceeding $100,000.[3]

Welles became very successful and in later years entered the banking industry, serving as vice president of the Citizens National Bank and a director of the Peoples National Bank. He also served for a time as president of the Gulf City Coffee Company, and formed a joint venture with grocer Sol Cahn called the Welles-Cahn Company. Welles served as the president of the Young Men's Business League and the Good Government League, and was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, the Improved Order of Red Men, Woodmen of the World, and the Masons. Welles owned a home at Gadsden Street and 12th Avenue, as well as a large plantation in north Alabama.

After E. E. Saunders' death in 1913, Welles bought his shares of the Saunders operations from his widow, and operated the company until his death in November 1914.

Politics[edit]

Welles was a Democrat, and served for a number of years on the state Democratic Executive Committee. He served as Mayor of Pensacola from 1903-1904.

Heritage[edit]

Thomas Welles is of English descent and has several notable ancestors:

Welles is also related to Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy during and after the Civil War.

Other images[edit]

References and notes[edit]

  1. Armstrong, Henry Clay. History of Escambia County. St. Augustine: 1930. (digital copy)
  2. According to Armstrong's History of Escambia County, Welles was "not a member of any church" but "his preference was for the Presbyterian faith".
  3. Pensacola’s Heritage at St John’s Historic Cemetery


Preceded by:
Celestino Moreno Jones
Mayor of Pensacola
1903-1904
Succeeded by:
Charles Henry Bliss