Biographies William Harvey WELLS Cook County, Illinois ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information contributed for use in Cook County ILGenWeb by Cristy Thompson [Blondie2jt@aol.com], May 2000 WILLIAM HARVEY WELLS An educator born in Tolland Conn. on Feb. 27, 1812 and lived on a farm until 17 years old, attending school irregularly, but made such progress that he became successively a teacher in the Teachers' Seminary at Andover and Newburyport, and finally Principal of the State Normal School at Westfield, Mass. In 1856 he accepted the position of Superintendent of Public Schools for the city of Chicago, serving till 1864 when he resigned. He was an organizer of the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association, one of the first editors of "The Massachusetts Teacher" and prominently connected with various benevolent, educational and learned societies. He was also author of several textbooks, and assisted in the revision of "Websters Unabridged Dictionary." He died on Jan. 21, 1885. Page 583 Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Biographies of McHenry County Citizens Published: 1903 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- COPYRIGHT NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the submitter or their legal representative, and must contact the listed Cook County ILGenWeb Coordinator(s) with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contact Angel Jacobsen-Shweika (CookILGW@jacobsen-shweika.com). ©2000, Angel Jacobsen-Shweika