Offspring: Washington Wells
Miami (Fla.)
A page from a family biography the Wells of the Bahamas. This particular page shows the offspring of Washington Wells, who was an Afro-Bahamian planter during the mid-19th century: John Wells (1866-1941), Herbert Alexander Wells (1882-1960), and Melborn Wells. Herbert Wells (1882-1960) was the first African American hired by the Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC). Born in the Bahamas in 1882, Herbert migrated to Key West, Florida, via the <em>Fearless</em> in 1900 and began working for the FEC as a fireman around 1915. He worked for the FEC for 32 years before retiring in 1947. Herbert also owned and operated a drug and grocery store that was located at Northwest 2nd Court and 17th Street in Miami. Herbert married Mary Ellen Knowles Wells (1892-1948) in 1916 and had one daughter, Berdina Wells (b. 1930). This item was contributed by Cary Marshall Felton, the great grandson of Herbert Wells and great-great grandson of Washington Wells.
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten document: Private Collection of Cary Marshall Felton.
Felton, Cary Marshall
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eng
Text
Long Island, Bahamas
Miami, Florida
Declaration of Intention for Herbert Alexander Wells
Miami (Fla.)
Immigration
A Declaration of Intention for Herbert Alexander Wells (1882-1960), the first African American hired by the Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC). A Declaration of Intention was required for the naturalization of immigrants.<br /><br />Born in the Bahamas in 1882, Wells migrated to Key West, Florida, via the <em>Fearless</em> in 1900 and began working for the FEC as a fireman around 1915. He worked for the FEC for 32 years before retiring in 1947. Wells also owned and operated a drug and grocery store that was located at Northwest 2nd Court and 17th Street in Miami. Wells married Mary Ellen Knowles Wells (1892-1948) in 1916 and had one daughter, Berdina Wells (b. 1930). This item was contributed by Cary Marshall Felton, the great grandson of Wells.
Williams, Edwin R.
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten document, August 2, 1935: Private Collection of Cary Marshall Felton.
Fitzsimmons, Anna M.
Felton, Cary Marshall
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eng
Text
Long Island, Bahamas
Key West, Florida
Miami, Florida
Herbert Alexander Wells
Miami (Fla.)
Herbert Alexander Wells (1882-1960), the first African American hired by the Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC), in front his home in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Born in the Bahamas in 1882, Wells migrated to Key West, Florida, via the <em>Fearless</em> in 1900 and began working for the FEC as a fireman around 1915. He worked for the FEC for 32 years before retiring in 1947. Wells also owned and operated a drug and grocery store that was located at Northwest 2nd Court and 17th Street in Miami. Wells married Mary Ellen Knowles Wells (1892-1948) in 1916 and had one daughter, Berdina Wells (b. 1930). This item was contributed by Cary Marshall Felton, the great grandson of Wells.
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph by Carletha Wells Felton, 1959: Private Collection of Cary Marshall Felton.
Felton, Carletha Wells
Felton, Cary Marshall
image/jpg
Still Image
Liberty City, Miami, Florida
Herbert Wells Dies in Sleep
Miami (Fla.)
Railroads--Florida
An obituary for Herbert Alexander Wells (1882-1960), the first African American hired by the Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC). Born in the Bahamas in 1882, Wells migrated to Key West, Florida, via the <em>Fearless</em> in 1900 and began working for the FEC as a fireman around 1915. He worked for the FEC for 32 years before retiring in 1947. Wells also owned and operated a drug and grocery store that was located at Northwest 2nd Court and 17th Street in Miami. Wells married Mary Ellen Knowles Wells (1892-1948) in 1916 and had one daughter, Berdina Wells (b. 1930). This item was contributed by Cary Marshall Felton, the great grandson of Wells.
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article: <em><a href="http://miamitimesonline.com/" target="_blank">The Miami Times</a></em>, December 31, 1960, page 12: Private Collection of Cary Marshall Felton.
<em><a href="http://miamitimesonline.com/" target="_blank">The Miami Times</a></em>
Felton, Cary Marshall
image/jpg
eng
Text
Miami, Florida
Herbert Alexander Wells at the Railyard in Savannah, Georgia
Railroads--Florida
Herbert Alexander Wells (1882-1960), the first African American hired by the Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC), at the railyard in Savannah, Georgia. Born in the Bahamas in 1882, Wells migrated to Key West, Florida, via the <em>Fearless</em> in 1900 and began working for the FEC as a fireman around 1915. He worked for the FEC for 32 years before retiring in 1947. Wells also owned and operated a drug and grocery store that was located at Northwest 2nd Court and 17th Street in Miami. Wells married Mary Ellen Knowles Wells (1892-1948) in 1916 and had one daughter, Berdina Wells (b. 1930). This item was contributed by Cary Marshall Felton, the great grandson of Wells.
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph: Private Collection of Cary Marshall Felton.
Felton, Cary Marshall
image/jpg
Still Image
Savannah, Georgia