JOHN FRANKLIN WHEELER
Among
the young agriculturists of Lucas county, Iowa, who have made
a decided success, beginning in a small way, is John Franklin
Wheeler, who since 1910 has been engaged in the cultivation of
one hundred acres of land in Union township, to which he has
since added eighty acres in Jackson township.
Mr.
Wheeler was born May 26, 1874, in Otter Creek township, this
county, where he attended public school and grew to manhood. His parents were
William and Mary L. (Ruble) Wheeler, the father a native of
Monroe county, Ohio, and the mother of Warren county, Indiana. The former, who was
born on March 27, 1837, came to Otter Creek township by the
overland route in 1854 and the latter, who was born on
February 26, 1840, came to Liberty township with her sister in
1848. Both
parents are yet alive and make their home in Lucas, to which
place they retired after a long and resultant agricultural
career. They
were among the pioneers of this section of Iowa and the
mother, who retains a wonderful memory, can still vividly
recite many incidents of pioneer life and give an account of
many of the hardships that confronted the early settlers. In their family
were the following children:
Melissa Jane, born February 16, 1861, deceased; James,
born February 8, 1863, also deceased; Mrs. Etta Manley, born
November 13, 1864, of Lucas; Mrs. Belle Primm, born November
21, 1866, of Chariton; Mrs. Alice Waugh, who resides in
Woodburn, this state; Henry, born January 9, 1872, of Creston;
and John Franklin, of this review. All of these children were born and
reared in Otter Creek township.
The oldest member of the Wheeler family to settle in
Iowa was the paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob
Wheeler, who came here in 1857, and who married Thankful
Wheeler, born June 23, 1810.
Her death occurred on the 19th of July,
1881.
John
F. Wheeler has followed agricultural pursuits during all of
his active life. Beginning
practically without funds he has by diligence and application
succeeded in founding one of the best equipped stock farms in
his locality. It
comprises one hundred and eighty acres, of which one hundred
are in Union township and eighty in Jackson township and
thereon can be found a set of good improvements. The years have
brought him prosperity and the appearance of his property
stands as evidence of his success. Before settling in Union township Mr.
Wheeler owned a farm in Otter Creek township, which he sold to
good advantage in 1910, when he came to the property upon
which he now resides.
In
1894 Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Cora M. Waugh,
who was born in Clarke county, Iowa, February 23, 1876, and
there attended school and grew to womanhood. Her parents were
Charles and Mary (Larkins) Waugh, natives of Illinois, who for
many years resided in Woodburn, Iowa, where the father passed
away on January 27, 1909.
In their family were seven children, all of whom were
natives of Clarke county:
Ambrose and Louis A., of Woodburn; Mrs. John F.
Wheeler, the wife of our subject; Carl, of Chariton; Mrs. Lena
Sowder, of Union township; Mrs. Josie Mason, of Lucas; and
Mrs. Lizzie Mundell, of Union township. Mr. and Mrs.
Wheeler have become the parents of eight children: Harry E., who was
born November 18, 1895, and who is assisting his father with
the work of the farm; Ina, born October 4, 1899; Essie, born
July 3, 1901; Vada, born August 6, 1904; Lela, born October 3,
1906; Clyde, who was born October 4, 1908; Lester, born March
6, 1911; and Flossie, born April 19, 1913. The six oldest
children were born in Otter Creek township and the two
youngest in Union township.
Those old enough are now attending the public schools.
Through his own efforts Mr. Wheeler has attained a position as one of the substantial agriculturists of his locality and has been a factor in the growth and advancement of the county along agricultural lines. His political affiliations are with the republican party and he takes the interest of an active and earnest citizen and voter. Mrs. Wheeler is a member of the United Brethren church and her husband was formerly connected with the Modern Woodmen of America in Lucas. He is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him and enjoys the good-will and confidence of his friends and neighbors.