WHEELER FAMILY MEET IN REUNION

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REUNION OF THE WHEELER FAMILY HELD AT MR. AND MRS. GERRET WHEELER'S IN THIS VILLAGE

The Day is Spent in an Enjoyable Manner - Speech-Making, Games, and a Bounteous Repast --A time Long to be Remembered

      August 21st, 1913, was the occasion of the fifteenth annual reunion of Hezekiah's branch of the Wheeler family, held with Mr. and Mrs. Gerret R. Wheeler at their home in Oxford village.  the event was of more than usual interest to all assembled, it being the centennial, and representatives of the five generations were present.  Eighty-four responded to the call for dinner and were very comfortably seated in chairs at tables on the beautiful enclosed lawn, and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner, after which the company was called to order and listened to the address of welcome by the president, with whom we had met.  This was followed by a program including a recitation by Miss Ruth Northrop; a duet by the Misses Grace and Myra Fleming; a motion song by Master Clifford Baker; a duet by Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Bixby; a history of the Wheeler family by Mrs. Bixby (which is given below); recitations by Kathryn Stoddard, Grace Colton and Mrs. Bixby; after which we enjoyed remarks by Mr. Bucklin of Rhode Island and Rev. R. A. Gates of Oxford.

   Following this program, the business meeting was held, minutes of the last meeting and reports of secretary and treasurer were read.  Twenty letters were received from absent ones living in several different states, in which they expressed regrets in being unable to attend.  the secretary reported the changes for the year to be one birth, three marriages and five deaths.

   The following officers were chosen for the coming year:

   President, Ward B. Padgett; vice-president, Bert R. Northrop; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Whitman Mowry.

   Mr. E. P. Wade, who for many years has very acceptably filled the office of sexton of Gospel Hill Cemetery, refused to act any longer, and Mr. R. A. Wheeler was chosen to do this work.

   It was a late hour in the afternoon when the members of the company bade the host and hostess good-bye, and started on their homeward journey, feeling that the reunion had been in every way a grand success.

   There were present from out of town:  Mr. A. B. Harrington, Utica; Mrs. E. P. Wade, Ellen Wade, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Wade and three daughters, Louella, Bertha and Grace, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Wheeler, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Fleming of Guilford; Floyd S. Wheeler, Pittsburgh, Pa; Harry and Miss Mary Cox of Lyons Falls; Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Baker of Norwich; A. W. Baker and children, Ruth, Helen, Philip and Anna of Walton; Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Pearsall and daughters, Mildred and Elizabeth of Salamanca; Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Fleming and daughters, Grace and Myra, of Binghamton; Miss Alice Banta of Union; Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Bucklin of Pawtucket, R. I.; Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Stoddard and children, Kathryn and Lee, of Coventryville; Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Carrington of Auburn; Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Bixby of Hamilton.

   A historical sketch written by Mrs. B. Lee Bixby, of Hamilton, follows:

    Within a very few years after the coming of the Mayflower, there came from England to the easterly part of Massachusetts, many persons named Wheeler, who settled in Boston, Charlestown, Salem, Concorn, Lynn and Salisbury, and thence removing in latter generations to Medfield, Milford, Newbury, Stonington, Fairfield, Stratford and New Haven.  Hezakiah Wheeler of the sixth generation (whose ancestors settled in Salisbury), was born about 1750, probably in Scituate, R. I., married Mary Wood, left Glocester [Gloucester] in 1813 and settled in Oxford.

   As we, the descendants, relatives and friends of the late Hezekiah and Mary Wheeler meet to-day to celebrate our 15th Annual Reunion, some of have left our homes only a few hours ago, and have traveled many miles, by means of horse and wagon, trolley or steam cards, or automobile, and have reached this pleasant home in due time for dinner (quite an important item to all who are in any way related to the Wheeler family).  The mode of travel now is quite different from what it was 100 years ago when, on the 14th day of April, 1812 (my great-grandfather, Henry Wheeler) and Nicholas Smith who later married Susannah (sister of Henry Wheeler), stated from Gloucester, R. I., for Chenango County, N. Y., expecting to make arrangements for a permanent residence there.  In the fall they went back to Rhode Island and stayed until the following spring, 1813, when Henry Wheeler with his wife (Naomi Phillips) and six children who were born in Foster, R. I., came to Oxford, arriving here about July 1st, settling on the farm on the Guilford road (known as the Wheeler homestead).  Nicholas Smith, who went back in the fall with Henry Wheeler, stayed in Rhode Island until the following September on account of the feeble condition of Hezekiah Wheeler.  Then on September 27th, 1813, they (Hezekiah Wheeler and Nicholas Smith) with their wives, started for Chenango County, their mode of conveyance was a wagon with a canvas cover in which the family could sleep, drawn by oxen, with a cow attached to the rear of the wagon, and stopping at night by the roadside, a fire was made, the johnny cake baked, the cow milked, supper was eaten, and the night passed in the wagon; and thus one day was a repetition of the one before it.  The following is a copy of a letter written by Hezekiah Wheeler's wife:

   "Gloucester, Sept. 27, 1813

   We set out for journey to move to the state of New York.  We had a tedes journey by the menes of my husband being sick all the way, the 8th day of Oct, we landed in Oxford this above was wrote by Marry Wheeler (time 11 days)."

   I take it they were on their journey eleven days, and covered a distance of about 250 miles, their first stopping place was at the home of their daughter Anna, who married Eddie Petteplace, and lived in a log house just below the present village of Guilford.  Anna was grandmother of Eddie Wade who we had hoped would be with us to-day.

   During the residence of Henry and Naomi Wheeler in Oxford six more children (Naomi, Luke, Rufus, Mary, Phillip and Nancy) came to bless their home.  All of their twelve children, with their wifes or husbands, have passed to the great beyond except Mary (wife of Luke), who is with us to-day, and she was 85 years old last May.  Of the other grandchildren of Hezekiah and Mary Wheeler non, so far as we know, are living except Mrs. Halsey Godfrey (daughter of Nicholas Smith), who is 83 years old and lives in Wellsbridge, Otsego County.  Henry Wheeler died October 24, 1855, and Naomi, his wife, died March 9, 1874, and are buried on Gospel Hill.

   There are twelve generations of the Wheeler family from the time that John Wheeler (the immigrant) came from England in the ship called the Mary and John in 1634.  Of these twelve generations, I belong to the 10th, my father belongs to the 9th, his father Luke to the 8th, his father Henry to the 7th, his father Hezekiah to the 6th, his father Henry to the 5th, his father James Jr. to the 4th, his father James to the 3d, his father Henry to the 2d, his father John to the 1st.

   After coming from Rhode Island to Chenango County, Hezekiah Wheeler and Mary Wood (his wife) lived about 15 years.  He died January 8, 1828, and Mary (his wife) died January 9, 1828; there being only 27 hours difference in the time of their deaths.  They both were buried in the same grave, but in separate coffins, in the cemetery on Gospel Hill in the town of Guilford.  Of the 44 children of the sons and daughters of Henry and Naomi Wheeler only 15 are now living, of whom Lillie (Eddie Wheeler's sister) is the youngest.  When our ancestors of a century ago left the New England States for Chenango County, their friends gave them what they considered a farewell adieu, and if after separation of a half dozen years a letter was received with a post mark of 18 3/4 cents to be paid when delivered, it was an event worthy of congratulations for weeks.  But to-day we can send letters to our relatives and friends anywhere in the United States for 2 cents (providing some that belong to the younger generations do not try to write too much to their sweethearts).  Of course, if they do, they have to pay extra postage.  This has been known to happen even in the Wheeler family.

   Late in the afternoon one year ago to-day, we said good-bye after having spent a very enjoyable day at our annual gathering, and since then we have looked forward to this day which has dawned so bright and clear, and I feel that each of you will agree with me, when I say, I think we should all thank, especially the officers, and all those who have helped to make this gathering at this hospitable home so pleasant and enjoyable for us all.  I am sure this will be a bright spot in the lives of all who are here to-day, and when we think of the many privileges and conveniences that we have now that our ancestors did not have, let us also realize how great our responsibility is, and improve the opportunities that come to us each day, and let us all at times say the kind words and do the kinds deeds that will help to make the world a better place in which to live.  May we live day by day so that we may meet each other in that Great Reunion when Jesus comes to claim all those who love and trust him. -- Secretary.