Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 654-656 [McCracken]

     CHARLES KENNEDY WHEELER, ex-congressman and member of the firm of
Wheeler, Huges & Berry, one of the leading law firms of western
Kentucky, is one of the state's most honored sons.  Besides his
honorable public career as a member of the principal law-making body
of the republic, he is one of the keenest and most able of the
younger lawyers of the state, having begun practice before the
legally required age and with a special license from the state.  He
has been connected with the bar of Paducah for over twenty years,
and has had a rapid rise to prominence.
     Mr. Wheeler was born in Christian county, Kentucky, April 18,
1863 on his father's farm near Hopkinsville.  He is the youngest of
a family of twelve children, and was reared on a farm until he was
ten years of age, after which he lived in Hopkinsville.  He attended
the military academy in that city, and is a graduate of the academic
department of the Southwestern Presbyterian University, at
Clarksville, Tennessee, and of the law department of the Cumberland
University, at Lebanon, Tennessee.  In the summer of 1880 he was
licensed by special legislation to practice law in Kentucky, being
then the youngest licensed lawyer in the state.  He located in
Paducah, and from 1886 to 1890 was associated as partner with Judge
James Campbell.  He has confined his practice to common law and
equity cases, and has appeared as counsel in many important suits. 
In 1902 he formed a partnership with D. H. Huges, and the firm of
Wheeler and Huges is one of the strongest in western Kentucky, and
enjoys a large and lucrative practice.  Mr. Wheeler possesses a keen
and analytical mind for solving legal difficulties, and is an orator
of ability.  He has always continued a diligent student of the law,
and his careful preparation of cases has been one of the strong
elements of his success.  For several years he was corporation
counsel for the city of Paducah, serving from 1891 until 1896, when
he was called to higher duties.
     He has always been interested in public affairs, but the press
of business has not allowed him the participation which he would
desire.  During several years he labored for the success of the
Democratic party, and was a member of the Democratic state executive
committee, and was the Democratic presidential elector for his
congressional district in 1892, casting his vote for Grover
Cleveland.  Not until the fall of 1896 did he allow his name to be
used in connection with an office which would call for much time and
attention.  In November of that year he was elected a member of
Congress, and was re-elected in 1898 and 1900, but declined to
become a candidate in 1902.  In 1902 he was the unsuccessful
candidate for election to the United States senate.  He made an
excellent record during his terms as a national legislator, and
helped push some important measures.  During his three terms he was
continuously a member of the naval committee, which in late years
has been one of the most important of the house committees.  With
the years of greatest usefulness still before him, Mr. Wheeler has a
large share of his personal history and achievement still to write.
     In 1888 Mr. Wheeler was married to Miss Mary Guthrie, a daughter of
John J. Guthrie, a merchant of Paducah.  They have three
children, James, Mary and Charlott.  Mr. Wheeler is a member of
Grace church, Protestant Episcopal, and affiliations with the Masons
and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Wheeler Huges Berry Campbell Guthrie
=
Christian-KY

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