Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Mitchell Wheeler
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
MITCHELL WHEELER. The self-made
man is admirably illustrated in the career
of Mr. Wheeler, who at an early period in
his life was made acquainted with its sober
realities, and when a youth of twenty years
commenced its battles on his own account. He had
been trained to frugal habits and saved from the
first what he could of his earnings, and for years
labored early and late in the hope of accumulating
a competence for his old age. In following his
subsequent course we find that he has been quite
successful in his efforts, and that he is accounted
among the well-to-do citizens of Sherman Township,
Clay County, and one of its most extensive
farmers.
Mr. Wheeler was born in Licking County, Ohio,
Feb. 5, 1855, and there spent the years of his boy
hood, attending the common school and assisting his
parents as far as he was able. The latter. Thomas
and Caroline (Williams) Wheeler, emigrated to
Kansas in 1868, and spent the first three months in
Manhattan. Thence they removed to Clay County,
where the father homesteaded 160 acres in Bloom
Township�Mitchell then being thirteen years old.
Their first shelter was a dugout with a sod roof,
and they occupied this a number of years, during
which time they carried on the improvement of the
farm as steadily as possible under the circumstances.
In the winter season they hewed logs and finally
put up a log house two stories in height. This was
quite an improvement upon the dugout, and when
it had been weather-boarded and an addition built
on they had quite a pretentious dwelling, and this
they still occupy.
Young Wheeler by operating in the manner described
in our first paragraph, earned enough money
to buy a team of horses, one of which soon died, he
purchased another on time and began breaking
prairie, thus obtaining his start in life. He lived
with his parents until his marriage, this event occurring
Dec. 9, 1880, the maiden of his choice
being Miss Laura Van Nostin. The young
people began the journey of life together in a
manner corresponding to their means and surroundings,
and in 1874 Mr. Wheeler purchased
land in Bloom Township, upon which they lived
until September, 1888. He still retains possession
of his farm property, which comprises 640 acres, in
Bloom Township, and is largely devoted to livestock,
he pasturing numbers of cattle, from the
proceeds of which he enjoys a handsome income.
Mr. Wheeler also has 160 acres on sections 7 and 8,
Bloom Township, and 160 acres on section 29. He
is thus one of the leading land-owners of Clay
County.
To Mr. Wheeler and his estimable wife there
were born but two children, a daughter, Clara C,
born May 30, 1883, and who still continues to live
with her parents, and one deceased, named Lora
Mabel. Mr. Wheeler distinctly remembers the
time when wild turkeys, deer and antelope were
plentiful in this region, and an occasional elk was
seen. Indians strolled over the country at intervals.
When his father first settled here there were
only three or four men before him, and one of these
was a bachelor. They endured all the hardships and
privations of frontier life, the inconvenience of a
distant mill and market, and maintained their courage
until prosperity smiled upon them, and the
country, becoming settled up, proved a most desirable
place of residence.
The father of Mrs. Wheeler, was Alexander Van
Nostin, a native of McLean County, Ill. When he
was two years old his parents came to Kansas and
homesteaded land in Grant Township, in the southeastern
part of Clay County, where Mrs. Wheeler
was reared to womanhood. They now are residents
of Clay Center. To this city also removed
Mr. Wheeler and his family in September, 1888.
Prior to this, in July of that year, Mr. Wheeler
had purchased a half interest in the Morganville
Roller Mills, and has since purchased the quarter interest
of Jonas Johnston. He is thus the owner of
three-fourths of the property. In connection with
milling he is extensively engaged as a grain and
stock dealer. He votes the Democratic ticket, but
has no aspirations for office, his chief ambition being
to succeed in his legitimate calling. He belongs
to Morganville Lodge, No. 322, I. O. O. F.,
of which he is a charter member, and also belongs
to the Encampment at Clay Center. He is
likewise identified with the A. O. U. W., of Morganville.
On another page of this work may be found an
engraving of the Morganville Roller Mills, which
have materially aided in the advancement of that
city. Under the admirable management of Messrs.
Wheeler & Temple they have contributed to the development
of the trade and business prosperity of
Morganville, and are well-known throughout this
section of the country.