A NOTABLE FAMILY REUNION
Mills County Tribune
March 8, 1900
The TRIBUNE made mention last week of having on our possession an old copy of the Mills County Journal bearing date of Nov. 3, 1897, and in it we find a most interesting account of a reunion held on Oct. 25th of Judge Wm. Wheeler’s family. This is one of the most remarkable families in Mills county at the present time and was so esteemed a quarter of a century ago.
The Journal says: Thursday of last week, the 25th, was the time and the home of Judge Tubbs of Emerson was the place that witnessed the reunion---with one exception---of the living members of the family of Hon. Wm. Wheeler of this city on the occasion of the 64th birthday of his wife, Mrs. Wheeler. The following members of the family were present---all of the daughters being married and nearly all having families of their own, with a goodly number of their children; Mrs. Sibyl Tubbs, wife of L.W. Tubbs, the eldest daughter, Mrs. Clarissa Fellows of this county; Hon. D.H. Wheeler of Plattsmouth; Mrs. Thede Coolidge, of Columbus, Nebr.; Mrs. Mary Gulford of Kentland, Ind.; Mrs. Rhoda Woodrow, Rozene Smith and Jessie Shipman of this county, and Chas. S. Wheeler of Louisville, Nebr., besides the father and mother and their numerous grand children. The day was spent in social chat and congratulations. In the afternoon a sumptuous dinner was served, and in the evening a large number of friends gathered in and passed the evening with the happy party in dancing and other social enjoyments.
The only living member of the Wheeler family not present was Birney Wheeler of Minneapolis, Minn, who had engagements which he could not leave.
There is probably not a more remarkable family in the West than that of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. There were 12 children born to them, two of whom died in childhood. The ten now living are remarkably large, robust and healthy. Mr. D.H. Wheeler measures six feet and bears down the scales at 210 pounds. The other boys are also large. The seven daughters are considerably above the usual height, and their average weight is 165 pounds. They were all born in western Michigan the parents having removed to Glenwood about 12 years ago. Scattered a good deal through the mutations of life, it must have been a source of great pleasure thus to have been brought together again under one roof.
It was in the early fifties that Thomas Wiles and his wife, Elizabeth Hobson Wiles, founders of the Iowa and Nebraska families, came to Mills county and settled on a farm five miles south of Glenwood. It was from Mills county that members of this family went to Cass county, Neb., and made homes.
They were the substantial pioneers of the two counties and their descendants have proven themselves worthy citizens.
At this reunion Isaac Wiles, the only remaining child of the founders of the family, could not be present as he was far out in Nebraska. Two members of the family, Mrs. Elizabeth Wiles, Plattsmouth, and Mrs. Anderson Davis, of Murray, aged 89 and 88 years, were the oldest persons present at the reunion.
Attendants from Mills county were Charles Wiles, Marion Wiles and Edwin Wiles and families, all of near Glenwood.
