My Genealogy Hound

James W. Wheeler is a native of the county in which he is now residing, his birth occurring on December 24, 1852, and here his youth and early manhood were passed, the common schools which he attended favoring him with a good education. His father was William Wheeler, who married, after growing up, Miss Martha Phillips. He was a farmer, was one of the founders of Long View about 1840, was also a raftsman, and was one of the first merchants in the above-named town. He died when the subject of this sketch was about one year old, and although the latter’s educational advantages were very limited, he was intelligent and capable, and upon the death of his stepfather, when he was about fourteen years of age, he assumed the management of the store and farm, and has conducted them very successfully ever since. His acreage amounts to 340, it being on the line between Drew and Ashley Counties, and will average one half bale, and from fifteen to twenty bushels of corn to the acre. He was married on December 1, 1887, to Mrs. Mary E. (Wethers) Newman, a daughter of Robert Wethers, who was the first man to run a boat on the Saline River, this being about 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have two children (twins), named Ruby Estelle and William James. Mrs. Wheeler, by her former marriage, has a little daughter, Eva Lee. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and is a very estimable lady, she and her husband being considered charitable, kind and neighborly.