Alameda County Biographies

Hon. William S. Wells

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

        Hon. William S. Wells, who is at present presiding in department of the 
superior court of Alameda county, enjoys the distinction of being the first 
superior judge in the county to receive the republican nomination for that 
office direct from the people, he, having on the 16th of August, 1910, received 
a handsome majority at the primaries. Judge Wells was born in Fairfield, Solano 
county, California, June 24, 1861. He comes from old New England stock and has 
inherited the qualities that generally lead to success. His father, William S. 
Wells, was a native of Maine and came to California in January, 1850, and was 
one of the sturdy pioneers who helped to make California what it is today. The 
father settled in Solano county and practiced law there and later in San 
Francisco. He was a resident of Oakland at the time of his death, which occurred 
on Christmas Day, 1878.
        Judge Wells acquired his preliminary education in the public schools and 
later entered St. Augustine College at Benicia, subsequently completing his 
studies at the University of California. He was admitted to the bar of the state 
in 1884 and began the practice of his profession in Contra Costa county with 
almost immediate success. He received the appointment of assistant district 
attorney of Contra Costa county in 1886, and his record in that office led to 
his appointment as judge of the superior court in that county January 26, 1899, 
in place of Joseph P. Jones, deceased. Judge Wells was afterward elected to fill 
the unexpired term and again for a full term which expired in January, 1909. In 
April of the same year he was appointed to the superior court of Alameda county 
upon the passage of the law, creating an additional judge in this county and 
since assuming office he has won the approval and respect of the community for 
his fair disposition and just rulings. As a judge of the probate department of 
the superior court, where many complicated and intricate points of law are 
coming before him, he has shown a comprehensive and exact knowledge of the 
underlying principles of his profession and a sound judgment which only long 
experience and careful study can produce.
        On the 4th of November, 1885, Judge Wells was united in marriage to Miss 
Ella O'Neil and he has two children: William S. Wells, Jr., a graduate of the 
University of California, now practicing law in Oakland; and Ella M., a graduate 
of Miss Head's school. Both are married. Judge Wells is prominently known in 
fraternal circles, being past grand master of Masons of California, a member of 
Oakland Lodge, No. 171, B. P. O. E., and belonging to the Woodmen of the World. 
He is prominent socially in Oakland, and his sterling worth and many excellent 
qualities of mind and character have brought him a wide and representative 
circle of friends.
 
Past & Present of Alameda County, California � Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 
1914, p. 563