COLUMBUS WHEELER was born in Christian county, Kentucky, April 7th, 1826. His father, James Wheeler, was a native of the same state. He married Catharine Harlan. In 1835 he came to Macoupin county, and settled on section three in Gillespie township, where he remained until his death, which occurred February 29th, 1852. Catharine Wheeler died July 15th, 1845. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days in the log school-houses and working upon the farm. On the 26th of April, 1849, he married Miss Naoma Wilson. She was born in Kentucky, June 13th, 1831. Her father came to Madison county in 1834, where he remained one year, after which he removed to section nineteen, Brushy Mound township, where he remained until his death. Columbus, in 1848, received eighty acres of land and built a house on it. He afterwards added four hundred acres more, and at the present time has upwards of five hundred acres of well tilled and improved land. There have been sixteen children born to Mr. Wheeler and wife, six of whom are living. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Wheeler has been engaged all his life in farming, stock raising and trading.