by Laurel | February 12th, 2013
Random tombstone from Forestdale Cemetery.
01 July 1917
Edwin D. Wells
Born March 13, 1857
Died June 30, 1917
Death of Edwin D. Wells
Holyoke Hardware Dealer
Was Member of School Board and Prominent in Civic Life
Edwin D. Wells, a prominent Holyoke hardware man and former member of the Holyoke School Board, died last evening at the Holyoke City Hospital following an operation for appendicitis. It had been thought following the operation Wednesday that he was on the way to recovery, but a sudden change came late yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Wells was a native of Bernardston and was brought up on the farm, receiving his education in the public schools and at the Powers Institute, a noted educational institution 40 or 50 years ago. In 1881 he went to Holyoke to learn the hardware business and entered the employ of the J. Russell company, where he remained for 10 years. He then opened up a hardware store on Main street with A. E. Crosby, the firm name being Crosby and Wells. About three years later he went into business for himself at 334 Main street and had conducted a successful and growing business since that time. He was a member of the Western Massachusetts Hardware Dealers Association and of the New England Hardware Dealers Association.
Edwin D. Wells
He resided in South Hadley Falls until 1899 when he moved across the river to Holyoke. While a resident of South Hadley he was a member of the school board for a number of years, and was also chairman of the joint school boards of south Hadley and Granby. In the fall of 1910 he was elected a member of the Holyoke School Board, and was re-elected in 1913 for another three year term. He was also a member for a term of the trustees of the Holyoke Vocational School. He was always intensely interested in school matters, and during his terms of office he kept a close supervision of the schools. He was also interested in the activities of the Chamber of Commerce and served on several important committees.
Mr. Wells was fond of travel, and had visited many places in the country and also had taken trips to Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Panama, and was in considerable demand locally for talks on the places he had visited. He leaves, besides a widow, one brother, Alfred C. Wells.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican.
E. E. Wells & Co., Hardware
