Wheeler, Oliver, abt. 1844-1923

WHEELER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/14/2017 at 19:56:51

From the Rock Valley Bee, March 9, 1923:

OLLIVER WHEELER DEAD

Olliver Wheeler died Sunday morning [March 4] after an illness of about two weeks. He was first taken sick with the 'grippe or "flu" and recovered from this sufficiently to get up for a day. He was taken sick again and pneumonia developed from which at his advanced age he could not recover.

Mr. Wheeler had lived in Rock Valley and vicinity for about thirty-six years, coming here in 1887. According to those who knew him best he was between 76 and 80 years of age. He leaves no known relatives.

For several years after coming to Rock Valley he drove and trained race horses at fairs. For the past ten years he has been at the Warren Hotel. He never spoke of any near relatives. An effort was made to get trace of some relatives. A message was sent to Grant Harington, a former resident of Rock Valley, now living in Wisconsin, and who was a close friend of Mr. Wheeler's asking about his relatives. The reply was that he had no known relatives.

Mr. Wheeler was a man who was faithful in the discharge of any work that he had to do. He tended the furnace, helped with the washing, and made calls at the hotel for ten years, and he could always be depended upon.

The remains were taken to the undertaking parlors and prepared for burial and short services were held there Tuesday afternoon conducted by W. I. Murphy, and the remains were taken to Valley View Cemetery.

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From the Alton Democrat, March 10, 1923, Rock Valley news:
(portions of the text are blurry)

Oliver Wheeler who has lived in and around this community for thirty years and for the past ten years has made his home at the Warren hotel died Sunday morning March 4 of pneumonia after an illness of short duration. Little is known of his personal history. He was born in the state of New York in [1844?] and at the time of his demise was in the 79th year of his age. He had a sister but her residence was unknown. He led a quiet and secluded life. His funeral occurred Tuesday afternoon and interment occurred in Valley View cemetery.

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The 1920 U.S. census has Oliver H. Wheeler, age 67, single, born New York, a boarder at a hotel, occupation hotel janitor.

No Oliver Wheeler was found living in Sioux County in the 1900 or 1910 census. He does not appear in the Sioux County Cemetery Index.