Meanwhile, a new political party, the Republican, had been formed in 1854 to combat the extension of slavery (see Political Parties). This party gained strength so rapidly that Southern leaders threatened to secede from the Union if the "Black Republicans" came to power. When the new party did win the elections of 1860 and Lincoln was chosen president, the Southern states, led by South Carolina (Dec. 20, 1860) carried out their threat. By February 1861, six other states of the lower South Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had seceded
Because he was unwilling to move Union troops out of the South, Lincoln told authorities in Charleston, S.C., that he was going to continue sending supplies to the Union soldiers stationed at Fort Sumter in the Charleston harbor. When they heard about Lincoln's plan, South Carolina's militia opened fire on the Union fort and thus began the American Civil War.
As soon as war was declared, the northern group of Southern states seceded and joined the Confederacy.
--------------------------------------------------------- Excerpted from Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia Copyright © 1994, 1995 Compton’s NewMedia, Inc.
All this was going on one year before James Stonewall was born.
When Dorothy Van Doren WHEELER was 8 yrs old, James first told her the following riddle. Later before she and Clarence were married, James was over at their farm visiting her father, William Chester VAN DOREN, and James again recited the riddle and her dad said she should memorize it.
THE JAMES STONEWALL WHEELER FAMILY RIDDLE:
"FIRST CAME (1) JOHN, THEN (2) WILLIAM, THEN (3)WILL. THEN CAME (4) JAMES WHO LIVED ON THE HILL. NEXT THERE WAS (5) JOHN AND HIS SON (6) JOHN, THEN (7) WILLIAM WHO DIED BY HIS WAGON. NOW THERE IS (8) JAMES RICHARD AND LAST OF ALL THERE IS ME (9) JAMES STONEWALL."
James Stonewall had been raised by his Grandmother Sarah WHEELER, while his father was off to the gold rush in California, so he knew a lot of family stories from Virginia. Sarah told him about the horseback trip his dad had made back to Kentucky trying to find William's grave. He did not quite understand all that had happend when William and Sarah had to quickly leave Kentucky for Illinois. It seems William got in a fight with his stepfather over how the stepfather treated one of the female slaves on the farm. There was a good chance that the stepfather died but no one would say for sure.
He had been told by Sarah how John (5) had helped George Washington spy on the Bridish troops while hauling farm produces to market.
He had told the family about the shoe box full of gold (or money) his dad brought back from California where he ran a Merchantile Store for the gold miners.
He entered his riddle in a Virginia Historical Society contest and won a watch when he as a little boy. Dorothy believes there may have been supporting documents attached to the riddle as well.
The Obituary of James Stonewall Wheeler was transcribed by Marshall R. Wheeler of Austin, TX an adoptive 3rd Cousin once removed of William Clarence Wheeler, who was the oldest great grandchild at the service:
James Stonewall Wheeler, 84, son of a pioneer of the California gold rush days, and a resident of Roswell for 32 years, died at the Greem convalescent and nursing home this morning following a long illness.
He was born in Scottville, IL, Jan. 13, 1862, where he was raised on his father's farm. During the gold rush days to the west coast his father made a trip to California in an ox cart. The father returned to Illinois and later the family moved to Nebraska, at that time a frontier.
After living there for many years the family again moved to western Kansas ner Goodland. On March 22, 1888, he married Eva Claudie Ross at Firth, Neb.
In 1908, Mr. Wheeler moved to this section locating on the farm known as Rosedale ranch in East Grand Plains, which he sold in June, 1944. His wife died at the old family home on July 20, 1936.
Survivors are five sons, James Earl Wheeler, El Paso; Glen C. Wheeler, Verne C. Wheeler, and Neil S. Wheeler, all of Roswell, and Lawrence D. Wheeler, San Angelo, and 20 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Later obit. - Funeral service for J. S. Wheeler, who died following a lingering illness Wednesday morning, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 at the Westrum chapel, with Rev. LeRoy Thompson, of the First Presbyterian church officiating. He will be assisted by Aubrey Gregg. Music will be provided by members of the choir of that church.
Active casketbearers will be Wendel Sterrett, Ross Whitney, Virgil Grantham, Frank Peters, Barrie Hiene and Eugene Hobson. Honary bearers will be Ernest Nelson, Fred Nelson, C. H. Culdice, Francis Blanchard, Will Blanchard, Albert Hobson, J. W. Young, Fred Heine, N. E. Whitney, W. T. Clardy, E.R. Duvall, Albert Watson, W. C. Van Doren, E. F. Bartlett, Earl King, C. W. Barnes, Charles Sterett, Wilbur Sterret, C.O. Halloway, George Bogart, R. W. Drysdale, E. L. Morse, L. A. Carson and W. R. Ecols, Santa Fe.
Burial will be in South Park cemetary at the side of his wife.
Please report any bugs or comments to: Bill Wheeler wheelerwc@zianet.com