Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-09-23
Hon. Charles w. Wheeler.
CONTINUED FROM PAGa ONE

enlisted in the 10th Regt. of Vols, Co.
/. and served until the close of the
war, at first in the commissary depart
ment, and later, at his own request, in
the ranks. From private he was
promoted six times until he went be-
yond the grade of first lieutenant to
that of regimental quartermaster.
From the time General Grant took
charge of the Army of the Potomac
Mr.. Wheeler was with that army in
every battle until the close of the war,
being wounded once. Since then he
has lived in the town of Irasburg,
engaging in the business of general
store. He has served this town in
many capacities, giving it much of his
best service. Most conspicuous has
been his work on the school commit
tee, in the work of which he took very
great interest. He represented Iras-
burg in the state legislature in 1886,
and was a member of the senate of
1890. He has beer a member of the
Congregational church for many years,
and one of its most efficient helpers
and supporters. He died Monday
morning, Sept. IA, at the age of 50
years. Such is the bare record of
Charles w. Wheeler. There is nothing
remarkable about it. Many men have
been born, have been busy, have serv
ed their Country in times of war and
in times of peace. They have lived
and have been buried. But there are
men and men, Christians and Chris
tians, patriots and patriots. 1t is not
enough to say of a man that he was
busy business man, had hand in the
affairs of church and state, and that
his name was on the church roll. |
have known some such men for whom
their fellow citizens cared little. The
honor accorded them when they were
buried was either scant or not sincere.
1t needs explanation that this large
church is crowded to-day, that for the
last few weeks one was constantly
met with enquiries as to the health of
this man that the telephone was busy
In many towns early last Monday
morning, that representatives from
other towns are here to-day, that this
band of public school children are here.
l do not expect so much interest and
honor when die, nor do you, why
should it be so much in evidence to-
dow rhnra &c t,,,t
he was the right kind of man. Some
active busy men are not in themselves
of the right sort. Some real heroes
of the war of 81, some men who
control town and state and national
affairs, are not of the right sort, some
Christians might, with advantage, be
different. He was the right kind of
man, and the world loves and honors
real man. He was right in intellect.
He had brains and knew how to use
Them He was shrewd, understand
ing, careful, in the good sense of these
terms. He could express himself in
most eloquent terms on any occasion.
Had he been preacher or states
man, with the discipline that comes
from long practice, he would have
been bright and shining light. |
have often envied him his gift of ex-
preston in payer. But not even this
intellectual qualification of itself
made him honored or honorable. To
go with business acumen, the capacity
to understand large things, to think
great thoughts, to speak eloquent
words, there must be certain qualities
of heart. These he had. In the first
place he was unselfish. You might
expect to have your attention called
to the fact that he was religious, but
/ think that the matter of selfshness
or unselfshness comes first. No self
ISL person, though he have, to all ap-
pearances, as much religion as a man
can carry, can ever make friends and
keep them, can ever be beloved, or
mourned at death. No person who
was unselish ever lacked friends or
failed to hold them. That he was un-
selfish is seen in that he lived very
largely for others. He gave four years
of his best life to his country in the
war Of the Rebellion, has worked hard
from morning till late at night for 10
years for the sake of his family, has
given generously of time and money
for the church, has held town Offices,
and offices in the state, has been the
bearer Of the burdens OF his kind as
will as of his own. And then, as if
this were not enough, he has been the
custodian of the affairs of the widow
and orphan, the counsellor of his less
fortunate fellow citizens, helping
them make their investm ents, buy or
sell property, draw up their wills, look
after their families, settle their es-
tates, lear their troubles. His money
s-.I