Clinton D. Wheeler |
Clinton D. Wheeler's Family |
Clinton Dewitt Wheeler, our great grandfather, was born on 18 September 1866 in Wayne county, Pennsylvania to George and Jane Wheeler. This date is listed on Clinton's Social Security application. Or he was born sometime in 1863, as documented in the 1865 New York state census where his father George and mother Jane are listed, with 2 year old Clinton, living in Sanford, Broome county, New York. Verification of Clinton’s birth date is unresolved. I believe the 1863 date because of the documented New York census information. This census lists George, Clinton's father, as a wounded soldier of the 56th Pennsylvania volunteers. The Social Security index information was filed in 1942. Memory can be mistaken after 75 plus years and the census is an official, objective document.
Except for the few years Clinton’s family lived in Lehigh, Iowa - as documented in the 1880 Federal census - Clinton lived out his life in and around Binghamton, New York. In 1885 Clinton was living in Binghamton, New York, boarding at 24 Dickinson Street in the First Ward. His occupation, in the Binghamton City Directory for that year, is listed as ‘agent’. The next year he has moved to 232 Oak street in Binghamton’s First Ward and is working as a carpenter. About 1885 he married Ella A. Clark and they began a family. First born is Maybell (Mabel), about 1886, then Harry about 1888. Their third child is Ralph Earl Wheeler, born December 7, 1889. Ralph was our grandfather. In 1900 the family is living at 7 Miles Street, Binghamton. Their daughter Mabel has by this time married George Polley.The 1905 New York State census lists Clinton as a house painter and his wife Ella as an operator in a shoe factory, most probably the Endicott Johnson shoe factory. The family continued to live in or around Binghamton, with Clinton working as an independent painting contractor. He worked regularly painting the factory buildings for the Endicott Johnson corporation in Johnson City. This information comes from his grand-son, our father. The 1911 Binghamton City Directory lists Clinton as a painter and paper hanger. He is living with Ella at 108 Main Street, Binghamton. They are still there in 1915, Ella stitching shoes at E-J. In 1920 Clinton and Ella are living at 16 Isabelle Place in Johnson City, New York with their son Harry. Clinton would have been able to walk to the E-J factories, just a few blocks away. The house must have been a large apartment building, several families are listed as living there in the 1920 census. It is no longer standing. Ella died 20 April 1922 in Johnson City. In the 1925 New York State census Clinton is living with his daughter Mabel and her husband George Polley. On August 6, 1926 Clinton married a second time. His wife was Hattie Robson, a widow. They were married in the Town of Dickinson. The 1930 census shows Clinton living alone in a rented house at 332 ½ Main Street, Johnson City. His is listed as widowed. In 1940 at the age of 74 Clinton is living alone in Johnson City. Clinton died August 6, 1946 of cerebral thrombosis. He died in the house at 26 Franklin street, at the time rented by his son Ralph and Ralph’s wife Ruth. They were renting the house from Harriet Wood, our mother's mother. |
Clinton Dewitt Wheeler: born by 18 September 1863; died 6 August 1946.
Married: 1. Ella Clark, married abt. 1885; born abt. 1863, died.20 April, 1922 Children: 1. Maybell Wheeler, born 1886. married 1st: Ralph Vergason, divorced 12 July 1913; children: Dorothy, born about 1905 Mildred, born about 1909 married 2nd: George Polly, 24 March 1915. 2. Harry Claude Wheeler, born 18 July 1889 3. Ralph Earl Wheeler, born 7 December, 1889; married: Ruth Caywood 4. Susan Wheeler, born 10 September 1893; died 8 Sept 1951 married: William Leonard children: William, born about 1923 Eugene, born about 1928 Beverly, born about 1933 5. Clinton D. Wheeler, Jr. born 1894; married: Leah Jackson, 15 July, 1913; born 1897. children: Janice, born about 1924 Married: 2. Hattie H. Robson (born abt. 1868; married 6 Aug. 1926) 1893 Binghamton City Directory: carpenter, 9 Elm Street 1900 Binghamton City Directory: painter, 7 Miles Street 1910 Federal Census: Binghamton, Ward 4, Broome, N.Y, 291 Main Street. 1920 Federal Census: Johnson City, Broome Co., 16 Isabelle Place. 1925 New York Census: Johnson City, Broome Co. 6 Carlton 1930 Federal Census: Johnson City, Broome Co. 332 1/2 Main Street Social Security index at Ancestry.com Contractor, painter (Endicott Johnson Shoe Factory) |