b. August 26, 1812, in Wethersfield, Connecticut; d. July 23, 1854, in Springfield, Illinois. Welles graduated from Yale University in 1834, moved to Springfield, Illinois, and became a respected member of the Sangamon County bar. He spent most of his professional life as a real estate developer. By the time of his death, he had accumulated more than $13,000 in personal property and nearly 5,500 acres of real estate throughout central Illinois that was worth at least $28,000. Welles formed a legal partnership with Silas W. Robbins and served as master in chancery of the United States Circuit Court for the District of Illinois in Springfield.