Amos Russell Wells was born at Glens Falls, New York, December 23,
1862. His mother removed to Yellow Springs, Ohio, when he was four
years old, and he received his education at the public school there,
afterward studying at Antioch College of that town, a college made
illustrious by its first President, Horace Mann, who died there.
Graduated in 1883, all by himself, later receiving as Master of Arts,
also LL.D. He taught for a year in a country district school, then
entered the faculty of his Alma Mater, where he was a tutor for nine
years. Was professor of Greek, Geology and Astronomy. He joined the
Christian Endeavor Society in 1888, and by it was led to become a
member of the Presbyterian Church at Yellow Springs. When but a boy he
began to write, and edited numerous journals. Later edited an amateur
paper, also a town paper. His first paid contribution was a poem
accepted in 1881 by _The Christian Union_, now _The Outlook_. Wrote
articles often for _The Golden Rule_, now _The Christian Endeavor
World_, and for the _Sunday School Times_.
In December, 1891, he went to Boston and became managing editor of
_The Golden Rule_, a position which he still holds. Since then the
paper has changed its name and three other papers added--_The Junior
Christian Endeavor World_, _Junior Work_ and _Union Work_, all edited
by Mr. Wells. He is also Editorial Secretary of the United Society of
Christian Endeavor and in editorial charge of all its publications.
Mr. Wells' first book, then entitled _Golden Rule Meditations_, but
now _The Upward Look_, was published in 1893. Since then every year
has seen from one to ten additions to his list of productions until
they now number fifty-eight volumes in all. He is a director of the
Union Rescue Mission and of the Chinese Mission of Boston. Is a member
of the American Sunday-School Lesson Committee, an important part of
his work being his association with Dr. F. N. Peloubet in writing the
well-known _Select Notes_ on the International Sunday-School Lessons.