Leila Elizabeth Smith Wheeler was born September 12, 1878, at Ft. Griffin in Shackleford County, Texas. She was two months old when her mother, Elizabeth Boyle Smith and older brother, George, came by covered wagon to establish the first family home on the Texas South Plains.Leila and George attended school at Estacado. The school term was only six months long at that time. The children boarded with a Quaker family and returned home on the weekends. The Smiths attended church at Estacado on Sunday leaving the children to spend the next school week in town. After the Mt. Blanco school was built near the Smith´s Rock House, the children attended classes there.
Leila was a good pianist. She, Annie and Mary took organ lessons from a teacher who stayed in the Smith home for two years. Leila enjoyed helping with her mother´s chores. As she grew older, she helped care for the younger children. She was handy with needle and thread and did most of the family sewing from yard goods bought by her father at supply stores at Amarillo.
She married John H. Wheeler, a cowboy who was employed at the Montgomery TM Bar Ranch, Christmas Eve, December 24, 1902, at the courthouse in Emma.
Leila and John moved to Matador where John was employed at the Matador Ranch. Leila returned to the Rock House to give birth to their first child, Ernest Roy Wheeler, born October 15, 1902, died Sept. 26, 1967; Josephine May Wheeler was born October 17, 1904, at Matador, Texas.
Leila and John moved to the John Wheeler Ranch (homesteaded by his father) located near the Caprock Community. J.A. Wheeler was born there April 20, 1907.
Uncle Charlie Hawes, dedicated friend and partner of Elizabeth and Henry Smith, lived out his last years with the Wheelers. He died at their home August 22, 1921.
When their children reached school age, Leila and John built a house near Emma and moved there in 1915. In 1926 after the children were educated, the Wheelers moved back to the ranch to live out their senior years.
John died February 14, 1937. Leila´s death came January 30, 1938. They are buried in Ralls Cemetery.
50th Annual West Texas Pioneers and Old Settlers Reunion Program, Saturday, August 21, 1976
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Crosby County TXGenWeb Project
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