My Genealogy Hound

G. W. WHEELER, deceased, whose portrait appears in this work, was born near Bristol, Hartford Co., Conn., Aug. 29, 1820; his father’s name was William, and was of English descent his mother’s maiden name was Hila Curtis; his father died while he was still a child after which he continued to reside with his mother until he was 18 years of age, when he went to New York State, and was engaged with his brother peddling goods for about two years; in the year 1840, he went to Kalamazoo Co., Mich., and worked upon a farm for his brother for four years, and then went to Scioto, opposite the city of Portsmouth, and worked in a foundry there; on June 21, 1846, he married Miss Helen M. Wilson, daughter of John and Isabella Wilson, of Pennsylvania, and immediately afterward moved to Kalamazoo Co., Mich., and engaged in farming up to 1858, when he came to the State of Illinois, and first settled in Bureau Co., and from there, in the year 1858, came to Belleflower Township, in McLean Co., and settled upon the farm upon which his widow still resides, where he died Oct. 26, 1877. His estate contains 320 acres. His family consisted of ten children, nine of whom are living - Armina I. (now Mrs. John H. Dean of Belleflower Township, married in April, 1865), Allie M. (now Mrs. Frank Dixen, of Bloomington, married July 9, 1874), John N. (who married Miss Jennie Conrad March 4, 1879 and lives in Belleflower Township); the following still live at home — Thomas M. (who married March 7, 1879, Miss Laura Garst of Allin Township), Alida V., Nettie I., George W., Frank W., Nellie M., and one deceased, Lewis.