Peter A. WHEELER, farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 9, Liberty Township, was born in Jefferson County, New York, May 17, 1840. When he was four years of age his parents, Peter and Polly (MILLARD) WHEELER, removed to Fulton County, illinois, and there he was reared on a farm, his father being a farmer by occupation. His parents lived till their death in Fulton County, the father dying in the year 1876, and the mother in 1884.

Peter A. enlisted in the service of his country at the age of eighteen years [December 6, 1863], becoming a member [Private] of Company H, Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, in which regiment he served about six months, when he was transferred [May 26, 1864] to Company F, Eighth Illinois Infantry, in which he served till receiving his discharge, a period of two years and four months. He took part in the raid from Vicksburg to Meridian, Mississippi, and was at the battle of Mobile, and had his clothing cut in many places, but was not wounded. He was mustered out at Baton Rouge in May [4], 1966, when he returned to Canton, Fulton County, Illinois and the same fall was married to Miss Louisa J. MARINER, of Canton.

They are the parents of four children - Henry E., Lewis L., Hattie I. and Flora Adell.

Mr. WHEELER followed farming in Fulton County for three years after his marriage, when he removed to Minnesota, and after spending five years in Cottonwood County, that State, returned to Canton, illinois.

In the spring of 1883, Mr. WHEELER came to Ringgold County, Iowa, when he located on his present farm, which contains 480 acres of well- improved land under high cultivation. He devotes considerable attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of Poland-China hogs, which are of the purest breed and are all entitled to registry. He has on his farm eighty-three head of thorough-bred cattle, and twenty-three horses, and as a stock-raiser Mr. WHEELER ranks with the best of his township.

He is an active and enterprising citizen, and during his residence in Liberty Township has won many friends by his genial manners and fair and honorable dealings.

~ 1879 ~ Eliphalet MARINER [father of Louisa J. (MARINER) WHEELER], is a farmer, section 36 [Fulton County, Illinois]. The great-grandsire of Mr. M. came from France and settled in Connecticut; his grandfather's name was Wm. MARINER, and his father's, Buell MARINER, who lived in Litchfield County, Connecticut. Mr. M. came to this county in December, 1836, and located in Canton; the following spring bought a farm on sec. 20, built a log house and moved into it. For some years he ran a threshing-machine, which was known as the "ground-thresher," or "chaff piler." This was the first successful thresher ever run in the county. There had been only one other of any kind in the county. He also was engaged as a superintendent on the building of the Peoria and Oquawka R. R., and during 1843 and '44 built the turnpike between Copperas creek and Utica. In 1847 he married Julia C. LORD at Canandaigua, New York The same spring he moved upon his present farm and has resided there for 32 years. He was a firm supporter of Government during the [Civil] war and contributed a horse to Barney FULLER, a private in the first cavalry company that left the county. This horse was with GRIERSON and one of only 4 that reached New Orleans on GRIERSON's famous raid.

~ 1890 ~ Mr. and Mrs. MARINER were the parents of seven children. Louisa married Peter A. WHEELER and resides in Ringgold County, Iowa; Harriet, unmarried, lives with her mother in Canton [IL]; Joseph B. is married and living in Page County, Iowa; Myron married Catherine FLOWERS and occupies the old homestead in Canton Township; Charles married Isabella CHURCHILL and lives in Bushnell, McDonough County [IL]; Floyd E. married Miss Emma SARGENT and farms in Orion Township of Fulton County [IL]; Lewis is unmarried and living with his mother.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 376, 1887.

"Canton Township" History of Fulton County, Illinois p. 558. C.C. Chapman. 1879.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois Pp. 404-05. 1890.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z