The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-19
WILLIAM A. WHEELER.
Five Terms in COnsress-Years of Public
service Without Reproach.

William A. Wheeler was born in Malone
Franklin county, New York state, June Both,
1919, and is consequently in his 57th year. He
received common school and academic educa-
ton in his native town, and subsequently en-
tered the University of Vermont, which he
left in the year 1912 without graduating. He
next studied law, and having been called TO the
Bar he commenced the practice of his profess
sion ia his native county with considerable
success. He showed marked ability in his
profession and in few years was offered the
nomination of District Attorney by the Demo-
Gratis of franklin county. He accepted the
nomination and was elected, He discharged
the duties of his Office in an able and impair
tial manner, and at the expiration of his term
of Office he was requested to become candi-
date for the Assembly in the Wing interest
Mr.. Wheeler threw himself into the contest
warmly, and was elected. He only served one
term, however, and at its close gave up for
time public life to business pursuits. He be-
came cashier in the bank of his native town,
and for fourteen years remained connected with
it, displaying judlcious judgment in all his
transactions, and winning the esteem and con-
fdence of all who had business relations with
him. He also became interested in railroads,
and was elected President of the Northern
New York railroad, which position he held for
eleven years. At the death of the old Wing
party Mr.. Wheeler became Republican, and
10 the year 1858 he was elected to the state
Senate, of which he was made temporary Presi-
dent, distinguished mark of the confidence in
which he was held by the Republican party,
who then for the first time fully controlled the
Legislature. MIR. Wheeler was an active mem
Der of the Senate during his term of Office, and
his ability and integrity were so well recognize
ed that his party moved him to higher sphere
of political duty by electing him as their Repre-
sentative to the Thirty-Seventh Congress, from
the then sixteenth District, comprising the
counties of Clinton, Essex and Franklin. Mr..
Wheeler proved himself faithful Representa-
tive, consistently supporting the Republican
party, and aiding in all measures for the sup
preston of the rebellion. After his term in
Congress had expired, Mr. Wheeler retired in-
to private life for four or five years. but in the
spring Of 1867 he was again called to take an
active part in politics. He was elected in
April, 1867, a member of the State Consttu-
tional Convention, and at its organization the
following June he again received a distinguish
ed mark of public favor by being elected to the
position of chairman of the convention. In the
fall of 1867 MI Wheeler was nominated and
elected to the Forty-frst Congress from the
seventeenth district, comprising Franklin and
St. Lawrence counties, and since that date he
has sat continuously in Congress up to the
present time. In the Forty-frst Congress Mr..
Wheeler was chairman of the Committee on
the Pacific Railroad, which Office he held in the
Forty-second Congress. and in this last Com
gress he was chairman of the Committee on
Appropriations. During the Forty-third Con-
gress, in the winter of 1874, he was, as already
stated, appointed chairman of the Congression-
al Committee which went to New Orleans to
settle the disturbing questions which then pre-
vailed in Louisiana. and it was mainly owing
to his exertons that peaceable settlement
was obtained. and that what is known as the
parties in the Louisiana Legislature. The COM
promise agreed upon by the committee was
adopted in good faith by the Republicans and
Democrats, peace was restored, and good feel
ing soon prevailed among all classes of citizens.