The daily sentinel., 1913-01-15

Hon Samual ~ Wheeler, one of
the best known attorneys in the state
and a leader in Colorado democratic
circles. has discontinued his criminal
practice and will devote himself sole
ly to the immense civil practice he
has built up in this city. This action
is co-incident with the induction of
his law partner. Hon. William Weis-
er, into the office of district attor-
ney
While Mr.. Wheeler has never de-
voted himself largely to to criminal
defense in the courts Of Colorado and
adjoining states, he hiss, neverthe-
less, had brought to him consid-
cradle business which he drops now
at a sacrifice to himself and disap-
pointment to his clients.
Next to his reputation as an at
torney Mr.. Wheeler ranks highest in
state political circles. He has been
frequently mentioned for. positions
of high merit, but has seldom al
lowed his name to be considered for
any office within the gift of his
party or the people of this state. For
the past twenty years not state
convention has been held but Mr..
Wheeler has been present as dele
gate and has always taken leading
part in the deliberations of his par
ty councils. He has been looked
upon as leader of democratic
thought in western Colorado and is
constantly turned to for advice and
counsel by those who have the best
interests of the party and the people
at heart.
Politically Prominent.
Mr.. Wheeler was one of the presi
dental electors in 1908 who cast
Colorado's electoral vote for William
J. Bryan and has many times been
prominently suggested for a place on
the supreme bench.
There is little question among Mr..
Wheeler's friends that he could
have had the nomination and election
to the governorship last year had he
permitted his name to go before the
primaries. From all parts of the
state came unsolicited expressions of
support for his candidacy and it was
not until Mr.. Wheeler definitely re-,
fused to consider the matter because
of business reasons that the pressure
was lessened upon him. lie would
have received, in the opinion of
many. an even larger vote than that
accorded to Governor E. NJ. Ammons.
Mr.. Wheeler was born near Win
/ chester, Va, and resided on his
/ fathers farm and when the family
moved to Sedalia, Mo, he continued
at farm work until he was IS when
he began country school teaching.
/ The money he received from his
/ early efforts in pedagogy were ap-
piled largely upon the tuition for his
course in the Warrensburg MOI
Normal. where he graduated.
- .
finally worked his way through the
law department of the University of
Yirginias He finished his work in
that famous institution two years
before Woodrow Wilson, now presi-
dent-elect, entered to take his own
legal course. Mr.. Wheeler. during
all this time, spent most of his days
teaching and his nights in preparing
himself for his life work, the practice
of law
Taught in New Orleans.
Finally he went to New Orleans,
where he taught mathematics and
literature in an exclusive and aristo-
cratic graded school for boys This
was his last teaching, and he went
to Odessa, Mo-, where he began his
first legal practice. 1t was while he
was a struggling young practitioner
in Odessa that he met and married
Miss Frances Hereford, now Mrs.
Wheeler.
Two years later Mr.. Wheeler and
his bride settled in southwestern
Kansas. where they were neighbors
of Mr.. and Mrs. l. n. Bunting In
| 1890 they came to Grand Junction,
and largely through their influence
the Bunting family followed them
here,
Mr.. Wheelers law practice here
has been eecond to none in western
Colorado. and his influence Ill all