My Genealogy Hound

WHEELER, L. F., the present Mayor of the flourishing city of Carrollton, is a native of Westfield, Hampden County, Mass.; born in 1818, the fifth of a family of seven children. The days of his early youth were spent upon the old farm homestead. At seventeen, so to speak, he branched out, and thenceforward relied upon his own resources. Entering the employ of a company who had numerous agents to transact their business, that of selling silverware, jewelry, etc., in the State of New York, Mr. W. first began operations and continued them in the State of Ohio, remaining one year, and the following year, 1838, concluded to cast his fortunes in the far west, and accordingly made his way to Greene County, where he first turned his attention to farming, continuing in this capacity several years. In 1846 he proceeded to Alton, where he entered a small store for the transaction of a general merchandising business; here he remained for a period of five years, gaining an extensive trade. In 1851 he moved to Carrollton, his old home, where he entered into a general merchandising business with William P. Barr. The new firm conducted a successful business for a term of four years, when the firm dissolved partnership by mutual consent, Mr. Wheeler now branching off into the lumber trade, and here also he continued a prosperous business until the close of the rebellion, when on account of ill health he was compelled to relinquish all active business. In 1867 he was elected Police Magistrate, acting in this capacity two years. In 1878 Mr. Wheeler was requested by his many friends in the city of Carrollton to allow his name to be used in connection with the mayoralty, it being well known that he was a strict advocate of temperance. Although he had many difficulties to contend against, King Alcohol holding full power for many a year, he was elected by a large majority, when we take into consideration the fact that never before perhaps had a strictly temperance candidate been elected. In 1850 Mr. W. was married to Miss Mary L. Eldred, a daughter of Elon Eldred, by whom he had three children: Adah, Marietta and Elon E.