George R. Wheeler [RG3541.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3541.AM:  George R. Wheeler, 1838-1880

Papers:  1860-1926, n.d.

Schuyler, Colfax County, Nebraska:  Civil War veteran, farmer

Size:  0.25 cu.ft.; 1 box

BACKGROUND NOTE

Born in Canada on June 9, 1838, George Richmond Wheeler came to the United States shortly before enlisting with the 10^th New York Volunteer Heavy Artillery in 1862.  It was also around this time that he married Juliann Rutten.  Following his discharge in 1865, the Wheelers moved to Iowa and then eventually settled in Nebraska.  George Wheeler operated a general store for a time at Schuyler, Nebraska, and farmed as well.  George R. Wheeler died on April 10, 1880.  He is buried in the Schuyler Cemetery at Schuyler, Nebraska. 

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of one box of papers relating to George R. Wheeler and the Wheeler family.  Included in the collection are correspondence, 1860-1864; diaries and ledgers, 1861-1883; and some miscellany.

This collection relates to the military service of George R. Wheeler and his brother, Peter G. Wheeler.  The bulk of the collection consists of letters arranged chronologically.  Also included are three diaries, one written by George R. Wheeler during the Civil War and two others, also by George Wheeler, relating to his farming activities at Schuyler.  The farm account proceedings book includes notes and assignments from a zoology class taken by one of the Wheeler’s children.  The remainder of the collection consists of miscellaneous items, including Civil War pension certificates and certificates of promotion and discharge, a record book of Eleanor Wheeler from the Nebraska State Normal School, and five typescript pages of reminiscences by one of the Wheeler children about their family.

INVENTORY

Box 1

Folder

1. 1. Correspondence, 1860-1864

1. 1. Diaries, 1864, 1871-1875

1. 1. Account of farm proceedings, 1870-1880

1. 1. Ledger, 1861-1883

1. 1. Miscellany, including:
      
      Civil War discharge and promotion certificate of George R. Wheeler, 1865
      
      Pension certificates Juliann A. Wheeler (wife of George R.), 1888, 1920, 1926
      
      Record of Eleanor M. Wheeler at the Nebraska State Normal School, Schuyler, Nebraska
      
      Typescript reminiscences about the Wheeler and Ruttan/Rutten families

Subject headings:

Agricultural laborers — Nebraska

Colfax County (Nebraska) — History

Farm life — Nebraska — Colfax County

Frontier and pioneer life — Nebraska — Colfax County

Schuyler (Nebraska) — History

United States — History — Civil War, 1861-1865 — Personal narratives

Wheeler family

Wheeler, George R., 1838-1880

Wheeler, Juliann A. (Rutten), 1836-1934

Wheeler, Peter G., 1834-1864

HEK/JS                  11-19-1965

DDS/cr                   10-09-1970

Revised TMM        10-07-2019