Wheeler Family Heritage

Louisa Evans Born: Aug. 16, 1844, Richland County, IL Died: March 1, 1935, Fairfield, Wayne County, IL Buried:  March 3, 1935, Maple Hill Cemetery, Fairfield, Wayne County, IL Married: 1) Jonas Gill 1864 in Clay County, IL. He was born Jan. 13, 1837 in England and died Feb. 23, 1867 and is buried in Foster Hill Cemetery in Clay City, Clay County, IL.  Jonas immigrated from Liverpool to the U.S. arriving in New York City on June 30, 1858, age 22 aboard the City of New York ,  On the ships passenger list it states that he was a mason heading for Illinois. He served in the Civil War in Company A of the 98th Illinois Infantry.  Jonas was listed as being 5'9" with black hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion and living in Flora, working as a mason. He joined up on Aug. 9, 1862 in Clay Co., and mustered in on Sept. 3, 1862 at Camp Centralia, IL.  Jonas mustered out June 27, 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee. 2) Nathaniel Behymer  September 1, 1870, Noble...

Aerial View of Mill Shoals Mill Shoals - This village is situated on sections 19 and 20, on the banks of Skillet Fork. The land is very level, and was originally owned by William Linder.  The village was laid out in 1869 by Judge Boggs, of Wayne County, who received one half of forty acres for the work. There is now a population of about 275 persons.  There is a flouring mill, owned by Samuel Burrell, and run by water-power; a saw-mill, owned by the Behymer Co., doing a large business; a lumber manufactory, where lumber is prepared for the market; two general stores - Behymer & Co. and Upton & Laster; two groceries, one hotel, two doctors, and a good school, taught by B.F. Files. [ History of White County, Illinois, Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages & Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military & Political History, 1883] According to Loren Taylor & Stephanie Bare in their History of Mill Shoals Nathaniel Behymer purchased Wakefiel...

Nathaniel Behymer Born: June 29, 1822, Ohio Died: November 9, 1896, Mill Shoals, White Co., IL Buried: Shrewsbury Cemetery, Mill Shoals, White County, IL Married: 1) Sarah Burton/Davis?, Nov. 11, 1841 in Clermont Co., OH, she died in 1854. There is a marriage license in Ohio between Nathaniel Behymer & Sarah Burton. The biographical sketch says she was the daughter of Reason Davis. This may have been a second marriage for her. 2) Nancy Gordon, Sept. 24, 1854 in Ripley Co., IN, she died Dec. 24, 1865 3) Mary Jane Brooks, Feb. 18, 1866 in Richland Co., IL, she died April 21, 1870 4) Louisa (Evans) Gill, Sept. 1, 1870 in Noble, Richland Co., IL Nathaniel Behymer, merchant, lumber deal and manufacturer of lumber, plow and wagon timber; postoffice, Mill Shoals; is the first child of John and Jane (Meeker) Behymer, natives of Virginia and New Jersey respectively. They moved to Ohio with their parents, married and moved to Indiana, and then to Missouri, thence to Illinois,...

William W. Wheeler, Sr. Born: ca. 1780 North Carolina Died: between 1830 and 1840 probably in Wayne Co., IL Buried: unknown Married: by 1812 Ann Mathis (?) Records: 1809-1812 - Illinois, Wayne Co. - Hargraves Rangers: Then in the order were the rangers, the first of whom were organized as early as 1809 in this State. They were called into existence by the law of self-protection from the Indians, who, in 1811, commenced their raids and perpetrated many terrible massacres, burning houses, stealing stock and capturing the women and children. The Indians were secretly aided and encouraged in this attack upon the whites by English emissaries, and they were the first and provoking cause that culminated in the war of 1812-15.  Nearly all the first white English settlers were identified with these rangers, and they pursued the murderous midnight marauders, and at times visited upon them summary, terrible, but deserved punishment . . . These rangers did much to make this count...

Dorcas Watkins Born: 1832 Illinois Died: between 1873 and 1880 Buried: possibly at Shrewsbury Cemetery Married: Martin Taylor ca. 1849 Records: 1860 - Sep. 5 - Illinois, White Co., Twp. 3S, Range 8E, Post Office Burnt Prairie [Mill Shoals Twp.] - census: Taylor, Martin N., 29, no occupation, personal estate $3000 b. IL Darcus, 28, b. IL illiterate Matilda 10, b. IL Sarah 8, b. IL Jane, 4 b. IL Samantha 2 b. IL Rebecca 2/12 b. IL 1865 - July 3 - Illinois, White County, Seven Mile Prairie - census: 1 male under 10 James 1 male 30-40 Martin 1 female under 10 Rebecca 2 females 10-20 Matilda, Sarah 1 female 40-50 Dorcas (?) 1870 - June 6 - Illinois, White Co., Burnt Prairie - census: Taylor, Martin N., 39, farmer, personal estate $250, b. IL Dorcas, 38, keeping house, b. IL, illiterate Sarah 18, at home b. MO, can't write Jesse, 14, male at home, b. IL, can't write Samantha 12, at home b. IL, illiterate Rebecca 10, at home, b. IL Logan 8, b. IL Sher...

Martin N. Taylor Born: ca. 1831 Illinois Died: Buried: unknown Married: 1) Dorcas Watkins ca. 1849 & 2) Caroline Moody 1882 in White County, Illinois Records: 1860 Sep. 5 - Illinois, White Co., Twp., 3S, Range 8E, Post Office Burnt Prairie [Mill Shoals Twp.] - census: Taylor, Martin N. 29, no occupation, personal estate $3000 b. IL Darcus 28, b. IL, illiterate Matilda 10, b. IL Sarah 8, b. IL Jane(?) 4, b. IL Samantha 2, b. IL Rebecca 2/12, b. IL living next to William Taylor age 55, Robert Taylor age 19, James Taylor age 34, Isaac Taylor age 23, James Taylor age 33, Daniel Taylor age 24 1865 - July 3 - Illinois, White County, Seven Mile Prairie - census: Taylor, M. H. or N. (?) family - census smudged on name 1 male under 10 James 1 male 30-40 Martin 1 female under 10 Rebecca 2 females 10-20 Matilda, Sarah 1 female 40-50 - Dorcas (?) 1870 - June 6 - Illinois, White County, Burnt Prairie - census: Taylor, Martin, 39, farmer, personal estate $250, b. I...

Elizabeth Jane Renfro Born: ca. 1838, Illinois Died: Buried: Married: William W. Wheeler  ca. 1857 Records: 1840 - Illinois, Wayne Co. - census - Nathan Rentfrow family: 1 male under 5 - M. age 2 1 male 20-30 - Nathan age 27 1 female under 5 - T. age 4 1 female under 5 - E. age 3 1 female 20-30 - N.S.(?) age 18 or a first wife 1850 - Sept. 16  - Illinois, Wayne Co., District 11 - census: Renfro, N. 37, male, farmer, real estate $102(?), b. KY N.S.(?), 28, female, b. IL T. 14, female b. IL E. 13 female b. IL M. 12, male, b. IL A. 10, male b. IL W.(?) 8, male, b. IL (twin?) A.W. 8, female b. IL (twin?) living next to M. Renfro family age 25(?) - maybe a brother to N. Renfro 1860 - July 27 - Illinois, Wayne Co., Twp. 3, Range 8 East [Barnhill] - census: Wheeler, Wm. W. 28, farmer, personal estate $1000, b. IL Elisabeth 22, b. IL Wm. Nath. 2, b. IL Elija 1/12 b. IL Children: William Nathan Elijah John Wesley Charles W. (maybe)

William  W. Wheeler, Jr. Born: ca. 1832, Illinois Died: probably before 1870 as he does not appear on the census Buried: unknown Married: Elizabeth Jane Renfro ca. 1857 Records: 1840 - Illinois, Wayne Co., census: 1 male 5 to 9 - could be William 1 male 15-19 - could be Martin 1 male 20-29 - Thomas 2 females 15-19 - one could be a sister and one could be Thomas' wife 1 female 50-59 - probably William & Thomas' mother 1850 - Sep. 5 - Illinois, Wayne Co., District 11 - census: Wheeler, Thomas, 36, farmer, personal estate $300, b. KY - this is probably William's older brother E. 27, female, b. IL W.R. 5, male, b. IL C. 8/12 (?), male, b. IL Wheeler, W.W. [William W.] 19, farmer, b. IL, attended school within the year 1854 - Feb. / March - Illinois, Hopewell Baptist Church: [Page header] A new list of names of the members of Hopewell Church in 1854 . . . Nathan Renfro 10x [William's father-in-law?] Elizabeth Renfro 11 departed this life Oct (?...

Rebecca Frances Taylor Born: 20 June 1860 IL Died: 3 Oct. 1942, Mill Shoals, White Co., IL Buried: Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL Married: William Nathan Wheeler , 11 April 1880, White Co., IL Records: 1860 - Sep. 5 - Illinois, White Co., Twp. 3S, Range 8E, Post Office Burnt Prairie - census: Taylor, Martin N. 29, no occupation, personal estate $300, b. IL Darcus 28, b. IL, illiterate Matilda 10, b. IL Sarah 8, b. IL Jane 4, b. IL Samantha 2, b. IL Rebeca 2/12, b. IL living next to William Taylor age 55, Robert Taylor age 19, James Taylor age 34, Isaac Taylor age 23, James Taylor age 33, Daniel Taylor age 24 1870 - June 6 - Illinois, White Co., Burnt Prairie - census:  Taylor, Martin 39, farmer, personal estate $250, b. IL Dorcas, 38, keeping house, b. IL, illiterate Sarah 18, at home, b. MO, can't write Jesse 14 male, at home, b. IL, can't write Samantha 12, at home, b. IL, illiterate Rebecca 10 at home, b. IL Logan 8, b. IL Sherman ...

William Nathan Wheeler Born: 4 June 1859, Sims, Wayne Co., IL Died: 23 March 1923 Arrington Twp., Wayne Co., IL Buried: Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL Married: 11 April 1880, White Co., IL, Rebecca Frances Taylor Records: 1860 - July 27 - Illinois, Wayne Co., Twp. 3, Range 8 East [Barnhill] - census: Wheeler, Wm. W. 28, farmer, personal estate $100, b. IL Elisabeth 22, b. IL Wm. Nath. 2, b. IL Elija 1/12, b. IL 1870 - June 18 - Illinois, Wayne Co., Barnhill Twp. - census: Odell, Joseph, 57, farmer, real estate $2700, personal estate $900, b. KY Elizabeth 49, keeping house, b. TN Joseph B. 19, farmhand, b. IL Mary 9, b. IL, attended school Bearden, Morris, 12, b. IL, attended school Wheeler, Nathan 12, b. IL, attended school - is this William Nathan? - could be, see below. Lock, Thomas, 12, b. IL, attended school 1870 - June 3 - Illinois, White Co., Burnt Prairie - census: Hunsinger, Peter, 56, farmer, real estate $5000, personal estate $800, b. KY Frances 48...

Donald Vernon Wheeler Born: July 25, 1885, Mill Shoals, White Co., IL Died: Aug. 9, 1955 Fairfield, Wayne Co., IL Buried: Maple Hill Cemetery, Fairfield, Wayne Co., IL Married:  28 October 1908, Mill Shoals, White Co., IL Grace Irene Behymer, daughter of Nathaniel & Louisa (Evans) Behymer Born: Jan. 9, 1885, Mill Shoals, White Co., IL Died: Dec. 15, 1970, Fairfield, Wayne Co., IL Buried: Maple Hill Cemetery, Fairfield, Wayne Co., IL Records: No date - Letter from Evelyn (Staton) Wheeler to Robert Wheeler listing names, births and marriages of Bernard Wheeler's children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. No date - 4 generation chart created by Robert Wheeler Tombstone photographs 1983 - Family Group Sheet created by Robert Wheeler Children: 1. Bernard Earl b. 8/7/1909 Mill Shoals, IL, d. 3/7/1988 Dayton, OH md. 8/18/1933 Crown Point, IN Evelyn Ann Staton b. 2/10/1907 Wayne City, IL, d. 3/23/2001, Montgomery Co., OH 2. Lowell N. b. 9/12/1911 Mill Sh...

Lonnie & Anna Wheeler Lonnie Vernet Wheeler Born: 28 Jan. 1883, White Co., IL Died: 27 Mar. 1956, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL Buried: Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL Married: 21 Dec. 1904 at Jacob Erkman's home Anna Erkman Born: 29 Oct. 1883, Herald's Prairie Twp., White Co., IL Died: 6 Nov. 1975, Albion, Edwards Co., IL Buried: Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL Records: 1900 - June 2 - IL, White Co., Mill Shoals - census: Wheeler, Nathan, b. Jan. 1856, 44 md. unknown number of years, b. IL, father b. KY, mother b. IL, timber inspector, owns mortgaged home Rebecka, b. June 1858, 41, md. unknown number of years, 2 children, 2 living [mistake 3 children listed in this census], b. IL, father b. IL, mother b. IL Verna, daughter/sister, b. June 1860, 39 , md. 1 year, 0 children, b. IL, parents born IL [sister is written over daughter] Vernet [Lonnie], son, b. Feb. 1881 , 19, b. IL, parents born IL, day laborer Vernon [Donnie], son b. J...

Verna May Wheeler Born: 1880, Mill Shoals, White Co., IL Died: 5 Feb. 1952, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL Buried: Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL Married: 1) William Thomas Allen 3 May 1900 2) Benjamin L. Gwaltney 16 Sep. 1907, his second marriage William Allen, son of T.J. & Jane (Snowdell) Allen Born: 29 Nov. 1868, Albion, Edwards Co., IL Died: 1906, California Divorced: Benjamin F. Gwaltney son of W.J. & Maria (Murphy) Gwaltney Born: 27 Dec. 1875 Died: 15 Sep. 1952 Buried: Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL Benjamin Gwaltney md. 1) Lelah Frazier and had sons Prince & Eugene Field Gwaltney Records: 1880 - Illinois - White Co., Mill Shoals - birth: February 6 on tombstone parents marriage certificate April 11, 1880 1880 census, June 23 - she is not listed with her parents on the census June 1860 on 1900 census - which really doesn't work, but the month is a little better. 1910 census she is listed as being 20 which would pu...

This is a blog about the Wheeler family of White County, Illinois for the descendants of William Nathan & Rebecca Frances (Taylor) Wheeler. Children: 1. Verna May Wheeler 1880-1952, md. 1) William Allen & 2) Benjamin Gwaltney 2.  Lonnie Vernet Wheeler 1883-1956, md.  Anna Erkman 3. Donald Vernon Wheeler 1885-1955 md. Grace Behymer b.1970 4. unidentified child 5. unidentified child Grandchildren: 1a. Charles Ronald Allen 1901- 1b. Elmer Ruel Allen 1902- 1c. Eugene Field Gwaltney, 1904-1983 1d. Jess Wheeler Gwaltney 1909- 1e. Frances Marie Gwaltney 1920- md. Willis Funkhouser 2a. William John Wheeler 1914-1914 2b. Bernice Iona Wheeler 1918-1914 3a. Bernard E. Wheeler 1909-1988 md. Evelyn A. (--?--) 1907-2001 3b. Lowell N. Wheeler 1911-1945 md. Vera May Gray 1917-2007 3c. Robert Graham Wheeler 1915-2000 md. Frieda Kathryn French Great grandchildren: 3a1. Donald Edward Wheeler md. Elizabeth 3a2. Michael Wheeler 3a3. Helen Louise Wheeler 3a4. Bernar...