(See article from the Oakes Times taken from the History of Dickey County compiled by the Dickey County Historical Society 1976 re Dickey County pioneer John Wheelihan 1828-1909.) John Wheelihan arrived in Dakota Territory in the spring of 1882 from Shawville, Quebec, Canada. He was born in County Cork, Ireland. He spent three years in the regiment of the British Army and part of his tour was the Rock of Gibralter, where he rose to First Seargent. There, he joined the Masons in 1857 and remained a lifetime member. While in Canada, he married Elizabeth Barr and had four daughters, Margaret & Alice (both died in Canada as toddlers), and Ada & Harriet (Dolly). After his wife's death, he married her sister, Maria September 30, 1872. Upon arrival in Dakota, he opened the Headquarters Saloon, on the far northwest corner of mainstreet (across from Randalls and the Opera House) and filed for the Wheelihan homestead. In 1884, he made arrangements for his wife, Maria and his older daughters and their four oldest children together (John David Alexander, Zillah May, Amelia, and James Henry, known as Harry) together to join him in Ellendale. Their youngest children, William and Pansy were born in Ellendale. John Wheelihan I became one of the first justices of the peace in Dickey County and Maria fed plaintiffs, defendents and court spectators in their claim shanty, where he held court. John and Maria also raised Percheron and Hamilton horses as well as shorthorn cattle. Around 1900, they built an eight room farmhouse on the Wheelihan farm.
(See article from the Oakes Times taken from the History of Dickey County compiled by the Dickey County Historical Society 1976 re Dickey County pioneer John Wheelihan 1828-1909.) John Wheelihan arrived in Dakota Territory in the spring of 1882 from Shawville, Quebec, Canada. He was born in County Cork, Ireland. He spent three years in the regiment of the British Army and part of his tour was the Rock of Gibralter, where he rose to First Seargent. There, he joined the Masons in 1857 and remained a lifetime member. While in Canada, he married Elizabeth Barr and had four daughters, Margaret & Alice (both died in Canada as toddlers), and Ada & Harriet (Dolly). After his wife's death, he married her sister, Maria September 30, 1872. Upon arrival in Dakota, he opened the Headquarters Saloon, on the far northwest corner of mainstreet (across from Randalls and the Opera House) and filed for the Wheelihan homestead. In 1884, he made arrangements for his wife, Maria and his older daughters and their four oldest children together (John David Alexander, Zillah May, Amelia, and James Henry, known as Harry) together to join him in Ellendale. Their youngest children, William and Pansy were born in Ellendale. John Wheelihan I became one of the first justices of the peace in Dickey County and Maria fed plaintiffs, defendents and court spectators in their claim shanty, where he held court. John and Maria also raised Percheron and Hamilton horses as well as shorthorn cattle. Around 1900, they built an eight room farmhouse on the Wheelihan farm.
Gravesite Details
This is the same John P Wheelihan as Memorial #148217152 John is actually buried here in Ellendale, but is listed on the stone in the Wheelihan family plot in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Ontario, Canada.
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