Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-08-13
THE WHEELER REUNION.

Dixfield since the removal OF their
parents; some of them have visited rela-
tives In Mexico and Rumford, and old
friends at their former home, few
times. All OF them are married.
The oldest one OF the family Is CO
years; the youngest one Is 80 years OF
age. TIE united age OF those remaining
| (all at Dixiield) Is 45G years.
The grandfather OF these sons and
daughters OF Dixfield, Joseph Wheeler,
| was one OF the first settlers In that town.
| One informant says he came In 1903, an
Their saws In 1905. He came from Massa-
chusetts, and with him came his wife
and some OF his older children. His
wife was Lucy Sumner, daughter OF
Massachusetts clergyman. They both
died In Dixfield after many and well-hll-
cd years there. Their children were
Joseph Sumner, Lucy, Erastus, Dolly,
Eunice and Sarah. Lucy married David
Kimball OF Rumford. She WAS the sec
ond school teacher the village OF Dix
field had.
Era, tus remained In the village until
he reached his majority, then went on
| foot TO Boston, made his home In Massa-
chuset,s ever afterwsrd, and died only
few years ago In Worcester, In that
state.
Elizabeth married, lived In Worcester.
She died many years ago.
Eunice married Daniel Libby, who
died long time ago. His widow, with
her only son Sumner, made their home
In Dixfield most OF the time.
Sumner now lives In the villsge, the
4 - 10 @, tie.
now having home there. Mrs. Libby
died July %, 1881, aged so years.
Dolly married John Doyen. They
lived in Dixfield some years, but moved
away so long ago the writer does not
remember them. Both Mr.. and Mrs.
Dozen are dead. They left several
children.
Sarah died at the home Of Joseph s.,
April ~, lSl3, aged ~ years.
Deacon Wheeler, as he WAS Familiarity
called, with his wife, lived with their
son Joseph, and died In his house, he
Jan. 81, 1851, aged 81 years, she April 10,
1863, aged 81 years.
Joseph s. Wheeler married Phebe Cole
Gleason Of Mexico. She was the dsugh-
ter OF Isaac and Sarah, (aunt Sally to
everybody Kimball Gleason, among the
very earliest settlers ut Mexico Corner.
Isaac died before the remembrance OF
the writer. His widow married again,
DIR. Arad Farwell. Both have been
many years on the other shore. Mrs.
Phebe Wheeler Was a sister to Simeon
G. and David X, men OF local promi-
nence at Mexico, both now dead, also to
Abigail D., who married Curtis L.
Howe, many years In Mexico, where he
died; Emily v, who was twice married,
first TO Bartlett of Rumford or Bethel,
second to Ira A. Putnam of Rumford
and Sarah L., who married James NJ.
Dollofi (recently deceased) Of Rumford.
The children Of Joseph 5. and Phebe
Z. were:
Adelaide NJ, who married Dexter
c. Talbot OF North Coventry, Conn.
lie was not present at the reunion, but
wrote letter TO the family, which was
read to those gathered at the National
House, a very interesting and pertinent
letter.
Charles r., now n resident Of Brattlc-
boro, Vt.
Richard Henry, whose death has been
noted.
Abbie NJ. wife OF Walter c. Brown,
OF New London, Conn.
lothian Sewell OF Boston.
VIM. j. Of South Paris.
Katharine j., wife Of Isaac w. Sweet
land Of Windsor, Conn.
Edward ii. Of New London, Conn.
These children of Dixtield, the young
est Of the family now fifty years old,
after an absence Of thirty years, return
ing found but few, even OF their school
mates and playmates, to greet them.
They visited the farm on which their
earlier years were spent (now owned by
George G.. Gates; went through the
house which sheltered them; called
on few who live TO make welcome any
returning son or daughter Of the village;
were called upon by several old ac-
quaintances at the National House,
which they made their quarters while ut
Dixfield, and held their more formal
meeting Tuesday afternoon, the 30th
ult. Present with them during the
afternoon were: Sumner Libby, Gal
cousin) Henry w. Park and Mrs. Victor
NJ. Abbott from Mexico, Ge0rgianna
Saunders from OneOnta, n. Y, Mrs.
VIM. w. Wait, Vim. T. Eustis and Mrs.
Isaac Randall OF Dixfleld. Later Ia the
day, after your correspondent had re-
turned home, he Is informed several
other villagers called on them. While
at Dixfield they had two photographs
taken, one group OF the brothers and
sisters only, the other including all the
family present, old and young.
They visited Mexico and Rumford
Falls Wednesday, there meeting John
Tappan Eustis. a former scho0lmate,
the son of Chas. Lyman Eustls, one
Of the most prominent early residents
Of Dixfield and near neighbor for |
years to the Wheeler family, both fami- |
lies living for years at the extreme lower |
end of the village By train Wednesday |
afternoon they went to Buckfleld, thence |
with carriages to South Paris, intending |
to visit Paris Hill Thursday, where they |
would meet John F. Stanley, Albert s.
Austin and wife, and Albert ID. Park,
also Dixvillians.
Not antedating the marriage Of John
Kimball of Exeter, n. H., who married
Abigail Lyford, Feb. IA, 1923, and for
second wife Sarah Wilson, whom he mar
ried Sept. Is, l74O, by tracing the re-
lationship from the six children born
w tiic ursI Wuc, duu tLc utuc ChhuICu
born to the second wife, through the
family Of Moses A., son Of John, who
married Phebe Cole Smart and came to
Rumford In 1885, whose family Of chill
dren numbered ten, four daughters and
six sons, eight Of them living to marry
and raise large families, through the
daughter Sarah, who married Isaac
Gleason, and the son David, who mar
ried Lucy Wheeler-through all the
generations down to the little ones found
now In large numbers Ia Rumford and
other nearby towns, gather In the rela-
tives from many nearby and more re-
mote states, sound the call, and have all
answer "Here TENTS Endeavor and
Willist0n, used by the "Endeavorers"
at Boston, would be filed. SPARKEs.
VACATION TIME