The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-17
REV. THOMAS WHEELER.

REV. THOMAS WHEELER.
We have only recently learned of the de-
cease of the above named brother, veneer
able man who held Universalist fellowship
and resided for many years at Muskegon,
Mich. He died May ID, 1886, from gen.
eral decline, having attained the ripe age
of IS years, month and 81 days.
His home for the past three years had
been with his only surviving daughter
Mary at Forest Hill, Cook county, ILL.,,
where also lived son, in whose tender
care was passed his remaining allotted
time, and where at last he quietly and
peacefully departed this life to join the
host of those gone before, among whom
he had faith he should meet the dear
ones lost to this life. From memorial
in Muskegon paper we condense the
following particulars of his life:
Thomas Wheeler was born March %,
1901, at New Fame, vt. At seventeen
years of age he was engaged with an
uncle in millwrighting and other mechan-
ical labor and at nineteen he became a
pupil at an academy and laid the founda-
ton for professional career. Becoming
qualified, five seasons found him as
teacher of schools at small wages and
usual concomitant of boarding around
devoting spare time to reading medicine
in the office of doctor. Text books
were few and costly-this and other con-
siderations determined his going to Bos-
ton to seek employment and gain access
to public libraries. Arriving there, and
working days and studying nights, his
health gave away, obliging his return to
New Fame to again teach school through
the winter to defray expenses while
recruiting health. It was while teaching
here at this time that he met in one of
his pupils young girl who afterward
became his wife.
Returning again to Boston he pursued
his studies nights-and working days
this time making his home with q Mr..
Fuller, the father of the celebrated Mar
garet Fuller.
In the spring of declining an
offer Of capital and partnership with the
son of Mr.. Fuller on account of risks
involved and not finding employment
suited to his strength, he joined his elder
brother in Canada, at millwrighting,
which afterward he pursued alone, erect
ing and running wooden working machi-
merry. Five years we're thus passed
teaching school winters and working
ummers-during which time he also &C
quired a knowledge of the French Ian
Ruage. In 1929 he embarked in general
merchandise with partner. Having
added hardware and manufacturing of
tinware to the business, he also here first
commenced repairing clocks and watches;
this eventually became his chief business
1t was thought best to discontinue the
business which was accordingly closed up.
1t was while living here that he married
the lady who some years before had been
his pupil.
Settling in Waterloo, Canada, he re-
sumed the summer work of millwrighting
and the winter work of teaching. Here
were born to Mr.. and Mrs. Wheeler two
sons. Here, too, he again took up the
study of medicine under the direction
of resident physician-b his health
again failing and listening to the coun-
sells of his wife, who demurred to his Civ
ing his time to profession which entail
ed so much fatigue and exposure = with
her consent he turned his thoughts
and studies to the profession of the
ministry. Settling finally his affairs in
Canada, in the fall of 1882 he removed
to Williamsville, VT, where leaving his
family, he proceeded to Boston and plac-
ed himself under the instructions of Rev.
Hosea Ballou to prepare himself for the
ministry. Returning thence in the spring
of 1888 and receiving letters of fellowship
from the Green Mountain Association of
Unlversallsts OF the State OF Vermont,
he commenced preaching as opportunity
offered, until the fall of 1884, when, at
Fayetteville, VT, he was ordained as
Evangelist.
March 10, the following year, saw him
en- route with his wife and four children
by stage for western New York to fill an
engagement to preach at Alexander.
Soon after, receiving an invitation
from an old friend at Ann Arbor, then Ter
ritory of Michigan, he proceeded there
alone, to assist in ceremony of dedication
of a new church edifce at that place then
only small hamlet in the wilderness OF
the then far West. While there an en-