The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-12-23
80 GRAPHICAL.
rs.ss, the Life and Career OF /.
az Oairo Lawyer

Samuei :. Wheeler, LAWYER, wa, borr
singh anton, Boone county. New
lork' on the 18th day of January. 1879
us par" its were Alvin and Harriet A.
l0uchiey } Wheeler. His father wa,
porn IN Berkshire county, Massachusetts
III i'e.' and was graduated at William !
college in the class of 1870 with this
inquest honors, and was immediately
thereafter appointed tutor in his Alma
Mater, which position he filled with
great ability and marked success until
ie'2, when he entered the Berkshire
medical college at Pittsfeld, Massachu-
sets, from which he graduated in the
winter of 1924, and commenced
the practice Of his profession in Great
harrington. Massachusetts. After
eight years OF successful pratice his
heaith became SO impaired by his arduous
ana incessant labors, that be was obliged
TO abandon the profession altogether
lie removed to Greenbush, New York.
where he established an academy, which
he taught successfully for five years, with
out, however, experiencing that improve
ment in his health which he had hoped
would result from change of circum-
stance. Finding that q more active life
was imperahvely demanded, in 1886 he
removed to Binghamton, New York,
where he purchased a farm, and there
spent the greater part Of his lifetime. He
| died at Houston, Delaware county, where
he; was temporarily soiouSning, on the
| 18th OF October, 1863, in the seventy
third year Of his age lie was
a ripe scholar, and till the
time of his death never ceased to cult
| vate and improve mind so richly en-
dowed and so thoroughly disciplined in
| early life. He surrounded his home with
an air Gf refinement, indicative OF an ele-
waited taste, that rendered it attractive
and pleasant at all times. He constantly
sought to impress upon his children the
value OF liberal education, and taught
them in wisdOm's ways, both by precept
and example. He was of Scotch-Irish |
descent, his ancestors having settled in |
Massachusetts in the first part of the last
century. His mother was direct de- |
scendant of the Rev. Peter Buckley. who
came from Woodhill, Bedfordshirc, Eng
land, and settled in Concord, Massachu-
sets. 1885. She died in williamstown, Mas
sachusetts, In 1915. They had a family
of six children, OF whom our subject was
the fourth.
Our subjec. received the r,ldiments OF
his education in the common sch DOL OF
his native place, and afterwards gradu-
ated at Binghamton Academy, New
York. His studies were so thorough as |
to enable him to adopt either the medical |
or legal profession as he might choose on
more mature consideration. He decided |
on the law, and adopted means 10 carry F.
out his plans. He left the paternal roof |
in 1856. in the eighteenth year OF his age.
and moved to Illinois; obtained situa-
ton at Joliet as accountant. where he re.
sided two years, diligently reading law
books during his leisure moments. In |
1853 he removed to Kalamazoo. Michigan,
and for several months gave exclusive at.
tention to his legal studies in the Office OF
y. Balch, Esq. aud III the fall of that |
year was admitted to the bar, and re-
moved 10 Cairo, Illinois, whersss he en-
tered upon the practice OF his profession,
and which has since:been his home, with
the exception of five years residence in
Mound City, Illinois. Inexperienced all
the trials incident to the incipiency Of a
profession without means or infiuen-
tial friends; but lie fought manfully
against all obstacles, and although the
dew OF his youth is still freshly resting
on his brow, yet his success is assured.
He has already figured conspicuously in
many Of the most important suits that
have been tried in Southern Illinois, both
"A the state and federal courts. He has been
he general solicitor OF the Cairo and Vim
,enne5 railroad since 1874, and enjoys c
he confidence Of larger circles of clients
han usually fall to the lot of men of his
&c. he came to Cairo in 1858 mere
10Y both in years and in experience. He
vas. however, possessed OF good edu-
alton and an indomitable will to sue
eed. The bar OF Cairo, then as now.
vas composed of some Of the ablest law
ers in the state. He fought his way {
mong them, and to-day he is recognized \
s the peer of any member of the profess a
ion. He is gentleman OF we'll a
efned characteristics-indus stu v
ious, methodical. dispassionate and con-
cientions. AS an advocate his strength
les rather in his capacity 10 present the
old law Of the case than to captivate and >
azzle by eloquence and fine hourishes
1 rhetoric, 10 which indeed he makes no u
retense. He is, however, q fluent =
peaker, and possessed OF rare faculty OF =
revity. He has never held an Office OF ~
ny kind, though4requently solicited to
e candidate, believing that office
oldiDg is incompatible with any other
vocation, and he has but one ambition, al
amely, to be good lawyer. p
In politics he has generally acted with b
lie Democratic party, but he is not a in
al
lie was raised under Presbyterian
and has for several years
cen in communion with that church.
He was married on the llth of Janu-
" 1860, to Miss Kate +. E., daughter of iii