Wheelock, Charles A. 1809-1904

WHEELOCK, BETTY, SHERMAN, JAMES, DAVIS, JUDKINS, LOOK

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/22/2011 at 16:14:41

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; March 22, 1904

CHARLES A. WHEELOCK

Charles A. Wheelock was born at Bakersfield, Vt., March 4th, 1809. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and his early life on what was then the frontier, tended to develop strength of character and power of endurance. He was the oldest of eight children, and worked with his father at the carpenter's trade from the age of sixteen until past twenty-one. He was married at the age of twenty-two to Clarissa Betty, and to them were born seven children. In 1855 he with his family came west to DeWitt, Iowa, and in 1867 he removed to Chester where he lived on his farm until about eighty years of age. The last five years of his life were spent in Grinnell, his home during the last three years having been with his daughter Mrs. L.J. Sherman, where he died Monday morning, March 14th, at the age of ninety-five years and ten days.

He became a member of the Congregational church in his home town in boyhood, and on coming west the family was identified with the Methodist church. He was devoted to the study of the Bible until his failing eyesight prevented him from reading, his views concerning the interpretation being peculiarly his own. He was fond of music, and only a few weeks before his death sang in his quaint way some of the old hymns which he sang in the east when young. Three of his sons were in the civil war, one John having died soon after returing home. Soon after coming west, his wife died, and in 1856 he married Mrs. Minerva James, who died in 1886. In 1890 he was married to Miss Amanda Davis.

His youngest sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Judkins, of Highgate Center, Vt., survives him. Of his four sons and three daughters, five are living, Hiram T. Wheelock at Alton, Ill., Mrs. Henriett Look at Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. L. Jane Sherman, Harrison T. Wheelock and Chas. M. Wheelock, in Grinnell. There are also living twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held at the home of his daughter last Wednesday morning at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. E.M. Vittum conducting the service, and the interment was in Chester, his home for thirty years.