EDWIN WHEELER, the first grocer of Marne, was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, on November 3, 1831. The family later moved to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, which Edwin Wheeler left in 1853 at the age of twenty-one. He located in Dexon, Illinois, and worked in a butcher shop for one year, then moved to Milledgeville and farmed for one year. He then formed a partnership with his father and brother and they operated a store in Milledgeville for two years, after which Ed Wheeler returned to farming. In 1862 he moved to Hardin County,Iowa, and worked there until the summer of 1875. With the growth of the town, the increase in business demanded the expansion of his facilities, and Ed Wheeler had to double the size of his building. He operated his store here in Marne for many years and was prominent in the affairs of the community. His line of merchandise was expanded at various times to include groceries, footgear, notions, glassware, and fancy goods. Edwin Wheeler married Deborah Stewart in Milledgeville, Illinois, on May 10, 1855, and the couple had three children - Columbus C., William L., and Edwin Wheeler, Jr.

Transcribed from "The First Century, A History of Marne, Iowa 1875 - 1975", published in 1975, Marne, Iowa: The Marne Centennial Historical Committee, pg. 43. Transcribed (2015) by Cheryl Siebrass and contributed September, 2019.

PREV <== Continue Reading ==> NEXT