US Congressman. He was born one of four children (he also had three brothers, Edward was born in 1813, James was born in 1819, and Nathan P. was born in 1824) to Nathan Perkins Wells and Sarah Akin Wells in Johnstown, New York, and he was educated in local common public schools before attending the Johnstown Academy in Johnstown, New York, and Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he graduated from 1835. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1838 and he commenced to practicing law in Palmyra, New York. He then moved back to his birthplace of Johnstown, New York, and continued with his practice of law. On September 5, 1843, he married Margaret Stewart and the couple would have eight children together (Nathan Perkins was born 1844, Catharine Perkins was born in 1848, Sarah Margaret was born in 1850, John was born in 1853, Elizabeth was born in 1855, Walter S. was born 1858, Anna was born in 1860, and John was born in 1864). He was elected to the post of Judge of Fulton County, New York, and served in that position from June 1847 to December 1851. He then ran for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A Whig, he then served New York's 16th District (Thirty-Second) in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1851 to 1853. He declined to be a candidate for reelection to the Thirty-Third Congress in 1852. After his term in the United States Congress expired on March 3, 1853, he was succeeded in office by United States Representative George Abel Simmons. He also served as a Delegate to the National Convention from New York in 1856. After leaving public service he resumed his practice of law and also engaged literary pursuits. On November 17, 1867, his wife Margaret passed away and he married for the second time to Catharine Howe in 1868 but the couple had no children. He passed away on May 30, 1877, at the age of 59, in Johnstown, New York, and was buried in Johnstown Cemetery in Johnstown, New York, beside his first wife Margaret. His second wife Catharine passed away on October 19, 1903, at the age of 80, and she was buried with him.