John S. Wells was born in Durham, New Hampshire, and attended Pembroke Academy before being admitted to the bar in 1828. He practiced law in Guildhall, Vermont, and later Lancaster, New Hampshire, before serving as the Coos County Solicitor. Wells also held various political positions, including serving in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and as its speaker, and later as New Hampshire Attorney General and president of the New Hampshire Senate. He briefly served in the U.S. Senate to fill a vacancy.

John S. Wells's political career reveals a figure who adeptly navigates regional interests, as evidenced by his legislative record that surprisingly aligns with opposing factions on environmental regulations. His background in law and public service, coupled with his strategic political appointments, suggests an ideologically agile approach, balancing local concerns with broader state objectives. Wells's rhetorical style likely emphasizes pragmatic regional benefits, though the specifics remain intriguingly underexplored.