James "Bill" Wheeler was born at Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas. Bill was the oldest of three children born to John William Wheeler (1851-1931) and Martha Jane George (1851-1877) who were both born in Tennessee. The other two children were Thomas Oscar Wheeler (1874-1955) and Margaret "Maggie" Martha Jane Wheeler (1876-1909).

James Wheeler was married to Lena Caroline Von Keller on June 5, 1896. Family notes state that they were married at Quannah, Hardeman County, Texas.

The James "Bill" and Lena Wheeler family came to the Greensburg, Kansas area on March 25, 1899 and located south of Brenham on what was known as the Ben Cronic place. [Note that a Ben F. Cronic (1866-1954) and wife are buried in Fairview Cemetery at Greensburg.] This story, written by Bill's son, Oren Wheeler, states that Bill bought some cattle shipped in from Mexico or New Mexico and put up the farm property as collateral. The cattle started dying right away of disease and all of the cattle had to be destroyed. They couldn't make the payments and lost the farm to foreclosure. Bill next got jobs vaccinating cattle for people around that area.

Kiowa County Signal newspaper (Greensburg, Ks.), March 15, 1901;

Lee Kenyon has just completed a new well for Will Wheeler living three and a half miles east of town and has recently finished a well for the Keller boys, Gus and Lou.

Kiowa County Signal newspaper (Greensburg, Kansas), September 19, 1902;

J. W. Wheeler sold his home farm to Ben Cronic this week. Mr. Wheeler will probably remain in these parts, buy a larger tract of land than he had and continue in the cattle business.

Kiowa County Signal (Greensburg, Kansas newspaper) Jan. 13, 1911, pg. 5;

For Well Drilling and Pump Repairing See J W Wheeler

I have had lots of experience in sinking wells, repairing pumps, erecting windmills, storage tanks and water supplies. I have two complete rigs and can do your work on short notice.

Your patronage solicited Phone 5403 Greensburg, Kansas

Kiowa County Signal (Greensburg, Kansas newspaper) March 20, 1913, pg 14;

J. W. Wheeler

Well and Wind Mill Work

J. W. Wheeler came from Texas to Greensburg 14 years ago and has been engaged in the well making and repairing business for three years. He has been busy practically all the time, and has made over 150 new wells and erected over 140 wind mills, over 100 of which were the famous Monitor Mills, and has sold over 200 Baker Pump Heads, both of which he makes a specialty of. He also sells Monitor gas engines from one to fifteen horsepower, feed grinders, pump jacks, belting and friction clutch pulleys.

Mr. Wheeler is very thankful to the good people of Greensburg and Kiowa county for the liberal patronage they have given him all these years, and assures them that he is better equipped and has better facilities for serving them than heretofore. He is also very proud of being the father of ten children, all living at home, seven of them now in Greensburg schools, and three more approaching school age. He will soon be able to run two complete well making rigs with his own boys and the best team of mules in the town, that are always ready to do their share of the work. When you have well trouble or wind mill disorders phone him by calling for Number 5403 and he will soon make you happy again. adv

Kiowa County Signal (Greensburg, Kansas newspaper) June 19, 1913, pg. 14;

Waupun Windmills

and

Monitor Windmills and Engines

J. W. Wheeler has just got in half a car load of the celebrated Waupun windmills. These mills are put out with the strongest guarantee of any mill on the market. If they are not satisfactory after you have tried them, Mr. Wheeler will take them down and it will not cost you a cent. Could anything be more fair? I also handle the Monitor windmills and engines. See me before you buy anything in this line.

J. W. Wheeler

Greensburg, Kansas

April 2, 1914, The Progressive Signal, Greensburg, Kansas, page 8;

"Births - To Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wheeler, twin boys, April 1st. Dr. Carter in attendance."

April 20, 1916, The Progressive Signal, (Greensburg, Kansas), page 1;

"Bill Wheeler suffered a severe accident last Monday while working on a windmill tower on the Bailey ranch. The fleshy parts of one finger of his left hand was torn away and another finger badly crushed."

Kiowa County Signal, (Greensburg, Kansas newspaper) June 1, 1916, Thursday, pg. 1;

"It Was A Ford"

Last Saturday evening as J. W. Wheeler and B. H. Kessinger were returning from Gray county, Mr. Wheeler lost control of his car when it became frightened at something beside the road and struck a bank with force enough to break one front wheel and then turned over. Mr. Kessinger made a flying leap and landed clear, but Mr. Wheeler stayed with the car until in turning over upon its side it left him on the ground. Other than a few bruises neither of them was hurt. After phoning to Ford for a new wheel and taking some of the kinks out of the steering rods they were able to keep it between the fences, and taking turns herding it they made it home all right.

Kiowa County Signal (Greensburg, Kansas newspaper) June 22, 1916, pg. 1;

Town Lot Sale

The town lot sale held last Saturday was only fairly well attended and the lots sold cheap. The first lot sold, a business lot south of the Price hotel brought $305, and the one adjoining it sold for $200. In the afternoon a number of lots south and west of the south school were sold at prices ranging from $62 to $11.50 per lot. Will Wheeler bought the block just north of his house for $250.

Kiowa County Signal newspaper (Greensburg, Ks.), Apr. 25, 1918, pg. 3;

I hereby announce myself a candidate for the office of County Clerk subject to the decision of Democratic voters at the August primaries. signed J. W. Wheeler

Kiowa County Signal newspaper (Greensburg, Ks.), July 4, 1918, pg. 6;

J. W. Wheeler made a business trip to Wichita, the last of the week and purchased a Reo Oil Truck. He is now manager of the Standard Oil Co. here.

In January 1920 the Federal Census shows that their family was living in Greensburg, Kiowa County, Kansas, and lists their family as;

William J. Wheeler, age 47, born in Texas, occupation: well driller

Lena C., wife, age 44, born in Germany, immigrated in 1880

children; Adolphus J., age 22, born in Texas, occupation: laborer, well machine

Folsom, age 21, born in Oklahoma, occupation: mail carrier, rural route

Ophelia, age 20, born in Kansas, occupation: teacher, public school

Oneta C., age 17, born in Kansas

Peter, age 16, born in Kansas

Wendel, age 14, born in Kansas

Louie, age 13, born in Kansas

Maria, age 12, born in Kansas

Martha, age 10, born in Kansas

Neva, age 7, born in Kansas

Oren, age 5, born in Kansas

Ophelya and all the younger children were born in Kansas. Peter through Neva were attending school.

In May of 1920 Lena is taken to her brother's hospital in Ardmore, Oklahoma for an operation to remove a tumor. Lena's brother, Frederick P. Von Keller, M. D., had opened the first hospital in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Lena dies about a week after her arrival.

As shown, Bill at this time worked mostly at well drilling and repairing windmills. Bill was badly injured when he fell through a rotten windmill platform and landed on the side of a water tank. (Per grandson Bud McFarlen.) Following this accident, Bill was cared for at the home of his son Folsom and wife Leona in Greensburg by family members including daughter Neva Miller. Bill's death certificate, under cause of death, states, "Several years ago fell from windmill tower, heart dilated, myocurditis rheumatism hands and knees."

A 1934 photo included here shows Bill Wheeler, daughter Neva and three of his grandchildren (Marvin and Donna Barnhart and Vada Miller.) with an unusual double-wheel windmill in the background. The information says this was Bill's farm, also known as the old Hays place. Biography on Nathan B. Hayse (1891-1947) buried in Fairview Cemetery says that he left farming in 1931 and moved to Greensburg.

Bill Wheeler's grandson Bud McFarlen also stated that sometime in the late 1930's he remembers that his grandfather Bill was plowing for a nearby farmer.

It is known that Bill remarried and lived for time at Sylvia, Kansas, but his 2nd wife's name has been forgotten over the years until the following was noticed in the book, "Kingman County, Kansas Marriage Records, Vol. 2, 1920-1988, page 226;" Wheeler, J. W.; 56, Greensburg, Ks., Braley, Emma L.; 41, Pratt, Ks., married Feb. 19, 1929, Kingman, Ks. by L. W. Kabler, P. J. It is unknown how long this marriage lasted. Bill's daughter, Neva Miller, for reasons unknown, obviously didn't approve since she never spoke to her daughter Vada of Emma or of this marriage. The town of Sylvia is located on Highway 50, about 25 miles west of Hutchinson.

Bill Wheeler, widowed, died at the age of 67 in Greensburg, Kansas, where he had resided for 41 years. Attending physician was J. A. McLaughlin, Greensburg. Burial on March 21, 1940 at Greensburg. (State of Kansas Death Certificate.)

From the Kiowa County Signal newspaper dated Thursday, March 21, 1940;

"J. W. WHEELER DEAD - Long Time Resident of County Succumbed Tuesday Afternoon - J. W. "Bill" Wheeler, a long time resident of Greensburg and Kiowa county, died Tuesday afternoon at the home of his son, Folsom Wheeler, in this city. Mr. Wheeler had been in failing health for the past several months.

In addition to farming interests, Mr. Wheeler was a Greensburg business man, having at one time operated a livery stable where the Justice garage is now located across the street west of the courthouse. Mr. Wheeler was also a well contractor, and built the residence now occupied by the Nathan Hayse family. He was a highly respected citizen and well known in this section.

Funeral services were held this afternoon from the M. E. church, conducted by Rev. A. C. Brown, and in charge of Fleener Mortuary. Interment was in Fairview cemetery."