About John M. Wells
John M. Wells was an American politician, teacher and farmer.
John Moon Wells was an American farmer, teacher, and pioneer of Waukesha, Wisconsin. He served a single term in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Waukesha and New Berlin in the 1849 session. He was elected on the Free Soil Party ticket.
Background Wells arrived in Waukesha County in 1837, and served as the first public school teacher in the village's tamarack log schoolhouse, during the winter of 1837–1838, with a student body of between 25 and 30 children.
He was a member of the local Congregational Church (built in 1839), and participated in an ecumenical evangelical group known locally as "The Prairieville Breaking Team" which went around to the neighboring schoolhouses and villages to hold prayer meetings, and whose enthusiasm was deemed almost Methodist in its pious fervor.
On September 26, 1848, he served as a delegate from Waukesha County to the Wisconsin's 1st congressional district convention of the newly organized Free Soil Party, which nominated Charles Durkee for Congress. He also served in other Free Soil leadership positions during that period.
He would be succeeded by Democrat John E. Gallagher.
Agricultural Society In March 1849, when the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society was organized, Wells was elected as a member of the executive committee. He was also a member of the committee which drafted a constitution for that body.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was John M. Wells?
American farmer, politician
What was John M. Wells's occupation?
John M. Wells was a politician, teacher and farmer.
What nationality was John M. Wells?
John M. Wells was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John M. Wells. https://biography.guide/john-m-wells/
MLA: "John M. Wells." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-m-wells/.
Chicago: "John M. Wells." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-m-wells/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:08 UTC