Wheelock, Minerva (Mitchell) 1832 - 1898

WHEELOCK, MITCHELL, SCHOFIELD, BROWN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:22

Iowa Plain Dealer December 2, 1898, FP, C4

Found Dead In Bed.
The people of Decorah were shocked yesterday afternoon to hear that Mrs. W. W. Wheelock had been found dead in bed at her home on West Broadway. She had been living alone most of the time since the death of her husband, some two years ago, and of late had been complaining of poor health. The last seen of her alive was yesterday morning, when some groceries were delivered to her home from one of our grocery stores. Some of her friends and neighbors called during the day Monday and also yesterday to see if they could not aid her in some way, but were unable to obtain admittance to the house. Becoming worried Sheriff Christen was called, and about 2:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon easily effected an entrance to the rear of the house, and on a couch in the kitchen, she was lying, cold in death. A coroner’s jury was called, and pronounced the cause of her death as heart disease. Mrs. Wheelock has been a resident of Decorah for many years, and is well known in this city and vicinity.-Decorah Public Opinion.

The deceased was sister to J. B. Mitchell of New Oregon, where she, with her husband, formerly resided. Her given name was Minerva, and we believe she was the the{sic} eldest of the daughters in the family, of whom there were four. The family came from Vermont, locating in this county in 1856, the father and mother dying in New Oregon some years ago. Of a family of nine we believe but three remain, J. B. Mitchell, Mrs. Carrie Schofield and Mrs. Emma Brown of West Va. The interment will be in New Oregon cemetery this afternoon.

Transcriber’s Note: New Oregon Cemetery records show an Eliza M. M. Wheelock who was born May 22, 1832 and died November 29, 1898.

Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 1, 1898 P 4 C 2

OLD SETTLERS PASSING.
Mrs. W. W. Wheelock Dies Suddenly Monday.—Peter Holland Buried Saturday.
The news of the death of Mrs. Wheelock, widow of the late W. W. Wheelock was received with surprise, Tuesday afternoon. As far as anyone knew she was in her usual health. Monday morning the delivery boy for K. I. Haugen’s delivered oil to Mrs. Wheelock and at her request filled her wood-box. Though she complained of a cold she did not appear to be seriously afflicted. Monday afternoon, Miss Sorenson, who has been in the habit of calling at the house nearly every day, tried to get in but could not. She went again about noon, Tuesday, but was unable to get in. Miss Sorenson looked through the kitchen window and saw Mrs. Wheelock lying on a sofa near the stove. Fearing that something was wrong Coroner Gibson was notified and he went to investigate. The back door was found unfastened and on entering the kitchen Mrs. Wheelock was found to be dead. Dr. Barfoot was summoned and after a careful examination he gave it as his opinion that she had been dead about twenty-four hours. There was no evidence of any struggle or suffering, the deceased appearing as though she had gone to sleep and never regained consciousness. Undoubtedly the cause of her death was heart disease complicated with slight congestion of of the lungs
Coroner Gibson empanelled a jury composed of A. N. Vance, Mr. Babcock and Wm. Dunbar, who returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
Mrs. Wheelock was one of the old residents of Decorah.
Her maiden name was E. Minerva Mitchell and she was horn on May 22d, 1832, at Sheldon, Vt. Here she grew to womanhood and was married on June 9th, 1852, to Willis W. Wheelock. After three years’ residence at Sheldon they came west, stopping a few weeks at New Oregon, and then coming to Decorah where they have since resided. They had no children Mr. Wheelock died in the spring of 1897. One brother, J. B. Mitchell, of Cresco, and two sisters, Mrs. Emma Brown, of Virginia, and Mrs. C. M. Scofield, of Minneapolis, survive her. Mrs. Scofield and her daughter arrived this morning and Mr. Mitchell is expected some time during the day. The time of holding the funeral has not been definitely settled, but it will probably be held to-morrow morning.
The deceased was a woman of marked characteristics. Ill health prevented her from going about a great deal and her intimate friends were limited as a result of her illness. She was a great reader and a constant student of the Bible. When she was found a copy of the Bible was lying open on the lounge beside her. By faith she was a Baptist. Those who knew her intimately unite in speaking of her Christian virtues, the kindness of her heart and the warmth of her friendship.

New Oregon Cemetery
 

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