History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 77

JOHN H. WHEELER

John H. Wheeler was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, April 19, 1840. He was brought up on a farm until about eighteen years of age, when he went to work at the carpenter's trade, soon mastering it so that he could take charge of any ordinary work in that line. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers, known as "The Ellsworth Avengers." He was mustered out in October, 1864, at the expiration of his term of enlistment. He took part in some of the hardest fought battles of the Civil war, among which were Gaine's Mills, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House, besides numerous engagements of lesser note. He was on detached duty during the winter of 1862-3, superintending the construction of barracks for a convalescent camp about three miles southwest from Alexandria, Virginia. October 17, 1865, Mr. Wheeler was married to Georgiana I. Fox, whom he had met while home on an invalid furlough in the summer of 1863. He started on his wedding day for Wexford county, where he arrived October 3, severe storms on the lakes delaying the boat several days during the trip. He took up a homestead on section 30, in what is now Hanover township, and at once commenced work on the construction of a saw-mill. This mill was the first frame structure erected in the county, and as soon as it was started and the necessary lumber could be cut out Mr. Wheeler put up the first frame house that was built in the county. Mr. Wheeler was the first treasurer of the county and held the office for two years at that time, and was again elected county treasurer in 1898 and re-elected in 1900. After running the saw-mill a few years, he resumed his occupation of builder, and secured the contract for building the court house at Sherman and other large buildings, such as stores, hotel, school-houses and many private dwellings. He was supervisor of Sherman, Concord and Antioch townships for ten years, during two of which he was chairman of the board of supervisors of the county. In the summer of 1878 he purchased a one-half interest in the Wexford County Pioneer, and two years later became the sole owner of that paper, which he retained until January 7, 1891. He was appointed postmaster of the Sherman postoffice in January, 1880, and held the office nearly five years. He received the appointment of census enumerator in 1880 and took the census of five towns in the northwest corner of the county, including the township of Cleon, now in Manistee county, but then a part of Wexford county. He has filled the office of county superintendent of poor, secretary of the Republican county committee, and served two years as great sachem of the Improved Order of Red Men of Michigan. Mrs. Wheeler died October 8, 1882, leaving two daughters (two sons having died in their infancy), one of whom still lives in the county and the other at Lansing, Michigan. Two years later Mr. Wheeler married Ella, daughter of ex-Sheriff W. W. Bartlett, of Grand Traverse county. For the past four years Mr. Wheeler has been engaged in buying and selling timber lands, in company with Judge Chittenden, of Cadillac. They also are proprietors of a large addition to the city.