Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 307. FRED E. WELLS An enterprising spirit and the ability to meet and master situations have brought Fred E. Wells to the fore in business circles of Salem and made him a leader in the line in which he specializes. He was born March 11, 1871, and is a native of Pleasantville, Iowa. His parents, William and Sara (Cartwright) Wells, settled in Montesano, Washington, in 1904 and both have passed away. Fred E. Wells was reared on his father's farm and received a public school education. His ability as an instructor won for him the position of principal of a school at Carlisle, Iowa, and in 1903 he went to the state of Washington. For five years he was foreman of a sawmill at Aberdeen and then came to Oregon. In 1908 he purchased land near Hermiston and for six years was engaged in ranching in Umatilla county. On the expiration of that period he traded the place for farm land in Polk and Marion counties, also securing city property. In the fall of 1915 Mr. Wells moved to Salem and has since been a dealer in fuel, maintaining a yard at No. 280 South Church street and owning a quarter of that block as well as three-quarters of a block on Mill street: at the point of its intersection with Belleview. Mr. Wells sells on a wholesale and retail basis and handles about twenty thousand cords of wood per year. He has contracted for the wood from the Silverton and Falls City mills and operates six trucks. About twelve persons are in his employ and the business is the largest of the kind in Salem. He gives to it his undivided attention and has fostered the growth of the enterprise by well matured plans and straightforward dealing. In 1893 Mr. Wells was married in Indianola, Iowa, to Miss Mary E. Reeves, a daughter of Levi and Clarinda (Douglas) Reeves, the former of whom became county surveyor of Warren county, Iowa, and was also a prosperous agriculturist. In later life Mrs. Reeves came to Oregon and her demise occurred in the town of Bend. Mrs. Wells attended Simpson College, an Iowa institution, and also chose the career of an educator, following the profession for four years. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have two children. Ferne, the elder, completed a course in Willamette University and was a postgraduate student at the University of Oregon, afterward becoming a successful teacher. She is now the wife of E. B. Dougherty and has one child, Alice Fay. The second daughter. Fay Wells, is also a graduate of Willamette University. Like her parents and sister, she has a talent for educational work and for a year was principal of the school at Myrtle Point, Oregon. She is now the wife of Melvin Lien and a resident of Salem. The daughters are also capable business women and assist their father in the management of his office. Mr. Wells is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Chamber of Commerce. He gives his political support to the republican party and manifests a deep interest in matters affecting the welfare and progress of his community, in which he is highly esteemed. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.