My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT W. S. WHEATLEY, the leading lawyer of Du Quoin, is attorney for the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad Company, and is ex-Grand Master of the Odd Fellows of the state. He has the honor of being a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in St. Clair County, August 19, 1850. His father, Warren Wheatley, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1828, and the grandfather, Mordecai Wheatley, was one of the pioneers of the Buckeye State. He was a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade and was prominent in the work of the Methodist Church. He had two brothers, Isaac and Robert, both of whom were active in church work, while the latter was the founder of the Christian Church in Du Quoin. The grandfather of our subject was one of the earliest pioneers of Perry County and was a man of more than average ability. He died in 1880, respected by all who knew him.

Warren Wheatley was a farmer, carpenter and merchant. During the late war he enlisted in the service of his country, November 1, 1861, as a member of Company I, Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and was appointed to a position in the commissary department of the Seventeenth Army Corps, in which he served until the close of the struggle. He was one of the best known men of that corps, and was known by all as “Hardshell,” a name given to him by Gen. John A. Logan on account of his giving so much hardtack to the soldiers. This name clung to him throughout life.

He was a personal friend of Gen. John A. Logan, and was on intimate terms with General Grant. Our subject now has in his possession valuable orders and friendly communications from the great General, and in 1883, when they met in St. Louis, Mr. Wheatley showed Grant an important order signed by him during the great conflict. The General, looking at it, said, “Hardshell, I am going to sign that order again for you,” and so saying he placed his name and the date on the face. General Leggett also spoke of Mr. Wheatley in terms of highest praise in friendly missives, as well as in general orders, as did General Logan and others prominent in the war. Mr. Wheatley died in Du Quoin, January 9, 1891, after an honorable and well spent life. He was united in marriage with Rachel Stewart, a native of Jeffersonville, Ind., and a daughter of Robert Stewart, a wagon-maker by trade, and one of the pioneers of Perry County. The lady died in September, 1884. There were two sons and one daughter in the family. James W. is a resident of Du Quoin. The daughter became the wife of R. B. French and the mother of two children now living, Maude and Guy. She is deceased.

Mr. Wheatley of this sketch spent his early boyhood days under the paternal roof in the usual manner of farmer lads and attended the common schools until seventeen years of age, when he decided to engage in the practice of law and entered the office of Col. R. R. Town, of Du Quoin. In 1871, on attaining his majority, he was admitted to the Bar, and his advancement from the start has been marked. He served for several years as City Attorney of Du Quoin, and was for many years an attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad and the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad. As an advocate he has few equals in southern Illinois.

In 1884, Mr. Wheatley was united in marriage with Miss Lottie B. Farnan, who belongs to one of the prominent families of Randolph County. They have two sons, Frank P. and Lary B. Mr. Wheatley has taken quite a prominent part in politics, and is one of the most noted political orators of southern Illinois. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, having many times refused to become a candidate, yet he is a warm advocate of the Republican principles. In the circles of the Odd Fellows’ society he is very prominent, and in 1891 retired from the office of Grand Master of the state, which position he filled with marked ability. When he entered the office, he found much dissatisfaction in the order in different parts of the state, but by his wise counsel he brought harmony out of discord and the fraternity is now in most excellent working condition.

In 1891, he was elected representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge, which position he is still filling. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is a Royal Arch Mason.