The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-03-08
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
RUSSELL WHEELER.
VIEWPOINTS OLDEST MALE RESIDENT
HIS DEATH OCCURS ON SATURDAY.

Russell Wheeler, Newtown's Oldest
male resident, died on Saturday morn
ing at 11.3O O'Clock, aged 81 years and
four months. Mr. Wheeler had been in
declining health for some months, but
up to the last he retained his vigor of
mind and body to a remarkable degree
for one who was on the last lap of the
century mark. The end came without
a struggle. In the morning, John B.
Wheeler and son, Hervey Wheeler,
had placed him in rocking chair be-
fore the stove, a favorite resting place
for the old gentleman. Toward II
O'Clock he turned to his grandson, who
sat near the window, and asked him if
it was going:to snow, and these were
the last words he uttered. Shortly
after John B. Wheeler arranged pill
low as head rest for his father and in
few minutes the aged man turned
his head as if to go to sleep and peace
fully passed away.
Russell Wheeler doubtless owed his
long life to his even and temperate
mode of life. He was man of refined
temperament, great reader and up
to almost the close of his life was able
to read his papers without glasses.
His extensive reading kept him in
touch with the affairs of his town, the
state and the nation. He never failed
to do his duty as voter and on No
vember last in company with his son,
Republican Town Chairman J. B.
Wheeler, he rode to the Street, secured
his ballot and voted for the men of his
choice, William Mckinley and Theo-
dore Roosevelt. His first vote for
President was for Andrew Jackson.
He had thus voted for Is Presidents.
Mr. Wheeler had passed his long life
on the homestead where he died, being
born in the same house where he
breath ed his last. In his active life
he was an attendant and supporter of
the Congregational church, a citizen
of most excellent qualities.
While never active in politics, in the
year 1913 he represented Newtown in
the Legislature. John B. Wheeler
said his father cast his first republican
vote in the Fremont campaign and
from that time on to his death was an
enthusiastic republican. Mr. Wheeler
says he remembers very we'll accom-
panying his father to Fremont mass
meeting, held at the Camp ground in
Redding. On February %, 1887, he
married Lydia Ann Botsford, daughter
of Charles and Fanny (Mannington)
Botsford. Two children were born to
them, John B. and Ellen: the latter
born December 80, 1910, died August 6,
1s43. Mrs Russell Wheeler died March
Is, 1873.
1t is an interesting and charitable
coincidence that for Eve successive
generations in the Wheeler family
there has been but one son in each
family.
The Wheeler genealogy is exceeding
ly interesting. Not many places in
town have been in the family the
! length of time the Wheeler estate has.
At the time of his death Russell
Wheeler was living on the original
homestead of his ancestors. He was
descended from Thomas Wheeler of
Milford, the line of his descent being
through Obadiah, of the second gen.
Grafton, Joseph, Joseph Bennett, and
John Botsford, the father of Russell.
Obadiah Wheeler came to Newtown
some time prior to 1879, for in that
year he was commissioned by the Gov
first lieutenant of the second company
of "trainband'' in Newtown. John B.
Wheeler has now in his possession a
deed dated May 81, 1850, to land Oba-
diah Wheeler bought of one Matthew
| Curtis, which was witnessed by Joseph
Bristoe and Ephraim Peck. This deed
is evidently for a part of the present
farm of John B. Wheeler.
Joseph Wheeler was born November
2, 1734, married Keziah Botsford,
March 25, 1855, and had children:
John, Joseph B. and Eli. He was COM
missioned captain of the second COM
pany of ''trainband" in Newtown by
William Pilkin, captain general and
commander, in 1866. He died in 1918
and his wife on September 9, 1921.
Joseph Bennett Wheeler was born
June 26, 1868, married Anna Botsford
in 1888, daughter of Dea Abel and
Mary (Bennett) Botsford, and had
children: John Botsford, Lucy, Mollie
and Anna M. Joseph Bennett died in
1887 and his wife in 1912. He and his
son, John Botsford Wheeler, built the
present house on the homestead in
1909. Joseph Bennett Wheeler was
one of the prominent men of the town.
He served as justice Of the peace, was
first selectman for many years and had
the settling of many estates.
John Botsford Wheeler was born
April 6, 1885, married in 1908, Polly
Blackman, daughter of Truman and
Phebe Hawley Blackman, and had
children: Russell 1.-THE subject of this
sketch), Sally NJ. and Caroline. The
father of these was good citizen, a
democrat in politics but not active in
public affairs. He died February 20,
1862, and his wife passed away March
II, 1872.
Russell Wheeler is survived by one
son, John B. Wheeler, a grandson,
Hervey Wheeler, and a eat-grandson,
Russell IIubbell Wheeler.
The funeral was largely attended on
Tuesday afternoon, from the Wheeler
residence, Rev O. w. Barker offici.