William A. Wheaton 1872-1947

WHEATON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/7/2013 at 01:06:55

W.A. Wheaton Found Dead Near Cabin
Attribute Death to Heart Attack
William A. Wheaton, 73, was found dead yesterday at 6 p.m. lying just outside his one-room cabin near High Lake.

The coroner, E.K. Vaubel, attributed the death to a heart attack and said the man had been dead since 1 p.m.

The body was discovered by Maynard Peterson who went to investigate after Wheaton had not returned to the home of Peterson and his sister, Pearl.

Wheaton had made his home with the Petersons since 1936 when bad weather made it impossible for him to go back and forth between the two places for his meals.

He had been eating at the Peterson home since about 1911 and had worked at the Peterson farm and for other persons in the neighborhood.

According the Peterson, Wheaton ran away from relatives around Spencer at the age of 16 and came to this county. He was employed for a time on the B.C.R. & N. railroad. The Petersons know of no living relatives but it is thought that closer inspection of the shack and a trunk inside it may give some further details.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Mahlum and Sandin chapel and burial will be in the High Lake cemetery. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, August 11, 1947)

Wm. A. Wheaton Succumbs at Home Sunday
William A. Wheaton probably died of a heart attack on Sunday caused by the excessive heat. He resides in a small one room cabin on High Lake. He was found about 6 p.m. by Maynard Peterson. Mr. Wheaton has his meals at the Peterson home and when he did not come home they began to look for him. He was found just outside of the cabin and coroner Dr. E.K. Vaubel said he had been dead probably five hours.

Mr. Wheaton was 73 years of age. He was employed at one time by the old B.C.R. & N. Ry. Not much is known about Mr. Wheaton. He was an orphan and at the age of 16 ran away from relatives at Spencer. He has been in the High Lake vicinity for many years.

Found in the pocket of a good suit of clothes was a well preserved bill published by those of the taxpayers against the sale of the gas plant by the city to the People’s Gas Co.

The funeral services were held from the Mahlum and Sandin chapel. Burial was made in the High Lake cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, August 14, 1947)

Wm. A. Wheaton, 73, was found dead at six p.m. Sunday evening just outside his one-room cabin near High Lake. He had been dead for five hours when found by Maynard Peterson. He boarded at the home of Maynard and Pearl Peterson. The body was discovered by Maynard Peterson when the aged man failed to show up at the Peterson home.

There are no relatives as far as is known. Inspection of a trunk and personal effects in the cabin may disclose further details.

The funeral was held yesterday. Services were in the Mahlum and Sandin chapel. Burial was in High Lake.

The pallbearers were Christy Anderson, Olene Anderson, Milford Gordland, John Iverson, Lawrence Iverson, and Fred Wolden.

Mr. Wheaton made his home with the Petersons since 1890.

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Martinson of Graettinger, were in attendance at the funeral. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, August 14, 1947)

[Per 1920, 1925 and 1930 census, born in New York; 1900 census: Mar 1873, New York

William Wheaton left Monday for Lackport [Lockport], New York for a visit. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, September 9, 1908)

The 1880 US Census shows Albert (14), George (10) and Willie (8) Wheaton at the “Home of the Friendless” in Lockport, Niagara Co., NY]