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Wells family
Current regionUnited States
Place of originBirmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
Founded
  • Arrival in the United States
    1870, Chicago
  • 155 years ago
FounderThomas E. Wells
Historic seatOrchard Farm
Titles
List
Properties
List

The Wells family is an American business, banking, ranching, military, and political family in the history of England and the U.S. states of Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, and New Jersey. The family is a major political donor to the Republican Party and is one of the largest land-owning families in the state of Nebraska.

19th century

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The family's founding patriarch was Thomas E. Wells (1855–1910), who moved to Hyde Park Township, Illinois in 1870. Wells immigrated to the United States with his father, John, and his younger brother, Samuel.[1] After immigrating, Wells dropped out of school at age 15 and began his career in Chicago.[2] In 1873, he went to work for the Chicago Board of Trade and was made partner of the firm in 1876, alongside Robert Stuart. By the late 1870s, Wells was appointed director of Stuart's new company, Quaker Oats; a position he would retain until his death. He would later serve as vice president.[3] At that time, the Quaker Oats Company was doing $16 million of sales annually, selling wheat cereals, farina, hominy, cornmeal, baby food, and animal feed. By 1918, the company did $123 million in sales.[4]

Rush Creek Ranch in 2017

After a debtor defaulted on their loan, Thomas E. Wells received several thousand head of cattle as collateral. In 1890, he initially purchased 10,000 acres of land in the Nebraska panhandle from the Union Pacific Railroad, establishing Rush Creek Ranch.[5][6] Before his death, the ranch would grow to 155,864 acres and is still owned and operated by the Wells family, as of 2025.[5]

20th century

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In 1904, Thomas E. Wells returned to England and acquired Orchard Farm in the Cotswolds.[1]

In January 1934, Preston A. Wells Sr. and Thomas E. Wells Jr., sons of Thomas E. Wells, purchased the Riverside Hotel from the Fort Lauderdale Bank and Trust Company for $8,250 in cash. It was a three-story building with 30 rooms, constructed by George E. Miller in 1925.[7] The brothers form the Las Olas Company, which has owned the hotel since its founding and is still owned by the Wells family, as of 2025.[8][9][10]

Entrance to the Riverside Hotel

During World War II, Greeley Wells served in the United States Marine Corps and fought the Empire of Japan in the Pacific theater.[11] Wells began basic training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton before being sent to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii for further training.[12] On February 19, 1945, Wells landed on the southeast side of Iwo Jima with the 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, on "Green Beach 1", which was the closest landing beach to Mount Suribachi on the southern end of the island. He stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima under "intense mortar, sniper, and machine gun fire" and was shot in the arm.[13][14] Wells took part in the raising of the first and second U.S. flags on Iwo Jima.[15][16][17] Wells went on to serve as mayor of Harding Township in 1963.[18][19][20] He served as chairman of Barry Goldwater's unsuccessful Morris County, New Jersey campaign in 1964.[21][22] That same year, Wells ran for freeholder of Morris County and was defeated by incumbent Thomas Koclas.[23][24] He would go on to serve as a local party leader and Harding Township police commissioner.[25][14][15]

In 1974, Thomas E. Wells III founded the First American Bank in Chicago.[26][27]

In 1974, Dick Wells gained control of The Las Olas Company. By then, the company owned many other large properties across Broward County, Florida.[28][29][30][31] In January 1979, Wells was appointed as a member of the Florida Tax Commission by Governor Bob Graham.[32][33][34]

In 1992, Marion Wells became co-chair of the Heritage Foundation's Legacy Society, a "group of Heritage supporters who make gifts through their estates so Heritage will be a permanent voice in Washington for conservative principles." She raised over $292 million in gifts and commitments in that position.[35][36]

By 1993, the Wells family owned nearly 60% of land on Las Olas Boulevard and passed many of the executive responsibilities to the "new generation" of the family.[29][37][38]

21st century

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In 2001, Marion Wells established the Marion G. Wells Foundation; a nonprofit grant-making organization that supports conservative think tanks and advocacy groups.[36][39]

For many years, the Wells family has contributed to many Republican politicians, including: George W. Bush, John McCain, Paul Ryan, Mike Pence, and John Thune.[40][41]

Logo of the Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at the University of Florida

After significant donations, the University of Florida's Department of Neurology was named after Lillian Shedd Wells, and the department's Center for Brain Tumor Therapy was named after Preston A. Wells Jr.[42][43]

In 2007, the City of Fort Lauderdale posthumously awarded Dick Wells the title of "Honored Founder" for his contributions to the city.[44]

In 2023, members of the Wells family supported Governor Ron DeSantis's unsuccessful campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.[45]

As of 2025, the Wells family owns First American Bank, and Thomas E. Wells IV is the CEO and chairman.[46][47] The bank has 61 locations nationwide and assets of over $6 billion.[48]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Thomas Edmund Wells (1855-1910) of Chicago and Broadway". broadwayhistorysociety.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  2. ^ "Oatmeal Trust Prospering". Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette. February 15, 1900. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  3. ^ "Thomas E. Wells: Quaker Oats". Chicago Inter Ocean. February 14, 1905. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  4. ^ "American Cereal Company". Akron Beacon Journal. February 13, 1901. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Customer Highlight: Rush Creek". Points West Community Bank. July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  6. ^ Shumway, Grant Lee (1921). History of Western Nebraska and Its People. Western publishing & engraving Company. p. 263.
  7. ^ "Las Olas Hotel is Purchased by Chicago Visitor". Fort Lauderdale Daily News and Evening Sentinel. January 17, 1934. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  8. ^ Hernandez, Jaime (September 4, 2003). "Obituary". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  9. ^ Nolin, Robert (August 2, 2013). "Thomas Wells, family owns Riverside Hotel". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  10. ^ Thurwachter, Mary (December 24, 2006). "Stay at historic Florida hotel". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  11. ^ G. Greeley Wells (October 17, 1991). "The Man Who Carried the Flag at Iwo Jima". The New York Times. p. A26.
  12. ^ Rottman 2002, pp. 178.
  13. ^ Corcoran, Anne (December 5, 1991). "A Prank, Not a Plot". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Greeley Wells: Always Carry a Flag". lflbhistory.org. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Lodder, Reece. "Remembering Greeley: The Marine who carried his flag to Iwo Jima". marines.mil. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  16. ^ Smollar, David (February 22, 1985). "Iwo Jima". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  17. ^ Asta, P.J. (February 19, 2015). "Celebrating an inspirational image". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  18. ^ "Mayor Greeley Wells Cuts Ribbon at Minuteman Opening". The Chatham Press. May 8, 1963. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  19. ^ "Predict Another Jetport Effort In Morris County". The News. November 16, 1963. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "Greeley Wells". Daily Record. February 19, 1995. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  21. ^ Lazarus, Shirley (February 18, 1975). "Iwo Jima Veteran Hoping For Economic Heroism". Daily Record. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  22. ^ "Greeley Wells to Handle Barry Campaign in Morris". Herald News. July 25, 1964. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  23. ^ "Wells Asks New Count In Morris". Herald News. April 23, 1964. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  24. ^ "Wells Leads Incumbents In Parsippany". Herald News. April 22, 1964. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  25. ^ "Wells to Head GOP Campaign". Herald News. June 28, 1965. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  26. ^ "First American Bank". Forbes. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  27. ^ "First American Bank". sssba.org. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  28. ^ Wallman, Brittany (July 9, 2007). "Historic hotel plans expansion". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  29. ^ a b Croghan, Lore (July 7, 1993). "Street-smart family builds fortune". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  30. ^ Thurwachter, Mary (May 27, 2007). "Midweek deals for girlfriends and second honeymooners". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  31. ^ Snead, Karyn (May 28, 1978). "New Meets Old On Las Olas". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  32. ^ "5 Central Floridians join state tax commission". Orlando Sentinel. January 11, 1979. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  33. ^ "Graham picks new members for tax panel". Tallahassee Democrat. January 11, 1979. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  34. ^ "Graham (continued)". Tallahassee Democrat. January 11, 1979. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  35. ^ "Marion G. Wells". Center for Media and Democracy. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  36. ^ a b "Marion Gretsch Wells" (Press release). Capital Research Center. February 2, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  37. ^ Croghan, Lore (July 6, 1993). "Wells family building its fortune on Las Olas". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  38. ^ "History". thelasolascompany.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  39. ^ "Marion G Wells Foundation". ProPublica. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  40. ^ "Marion Wells". Public Accountability Initiative. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  41. ^ "Preston A Wells Jr". Public Accountability Initiative. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  42. ^ "Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery". ufl.edu. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  43. ^ "Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy". ufl.edu. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  44. ^ "City of Fort Lauderdale Citizen Recognition Awards Ceremony" (PDF). Fort Lauderdale City Commission. April 17, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  45. ^ Man, Anthony (August 4, 2023). "Deep-pocketed Florida donors help keep DeSantis' presidential hopes alive with six-figure contributions". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  46. ^ "Our Team". firstambank.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  47. ^ "Table of Experts — Passing the torch: Mastering business succession planning". South Florida Business Journal. March 28, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  48. ^ "Our Story". www.firstambank.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.

Sources

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  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
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