ULYSSES S. WHEELER, one of the most enterprising farmers of Jefferson township, is a son of John Wheeler, whose father Thomas Wheeler, came from Maryland to West Virginia, locating near Steubenville. Thomas Wheeler was married in Maryland to Miss Honor Donovan, who bore him eleven children, as follows: James, John, Thomas, William, Zachariah, Andrew, David, Benjamin, Honor, Sarah and Nancy. John Wheeler was born August 18, 1812, on the home place in West Virginia, and assisted in the duties of the farm until about twenty years of age, when he learned tailoring. In connection with his trade he carried on a general store in the town of Eldersville, for twelve years, and then bought the farm which is now in the possession of his son Ulysses. John Wheeler was united in marriage in 1839 with Hannah Sharp, who was born March 9, 1817, in Washington county, Penn. The young couple afterward moved to Eldersville where their six children were born: Amanda, born March 28, 1840; Ulysses S., born June 8, 1841; Jasper, born March 16, 1844; Lorenzo, Henrietta and Loretta (triplets), born July 26, 1848. Of these children, the last four died in infancy, and Amanda (Mrs. Dr. McCullough) died May 25, 1881. John Wheeler died February 1, 1867, and Mrs. Hannah Wheeler, August 30, 1877. Ulysses S. Wheeler (the subject of this sketch) the only living representative of his family, came to the farm in Jefferson township when about thirteen years old, which has since been his home. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I., and served in the First Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps, under Gen. Hancock, during the whole war. Ulysses Wheeler was engaged in thirty-two battles and skirmishes, among the more important of which were Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania Court House, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Mr. Wheeler was slightly wounded at Chancellorsville. In the year 1865 he received an honorable discharge, and returned home. In the following year he was united in marriage with Frances, daughter of B. M. Sharp, an undertaker of Steubenville. She was a student and graduate of the Steubenville Female Seminary. Ulysses S. and Frances Wheeler have two children, both of whom are living with their parents on the farm. In politics Mr. Wheeler is an ardent Republican, and although his township is strongly Democratic, he has been elected to several official positions, having been tax-collector nine years, and was census taker in the year 1890. He is honored by all his acquaintances, and is a devoted husband and father.

Text taken from page 1255 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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