My Wheeler Genealogy

In December 1845, Amos Wheeler and Wealthy Rowley Wheeler, moved into Woodland Twp., Barry County, and settled on section 26, east and south of what is now the village of Woodland. In 1834, they moved from Wheeler, Steuben County, New York, to Lodi, Washtenaw County, Michigan. While living in Lodi, they purchased land from the U.S. government in Woodland Twp., Barry County, Michigan.

Amos Wheeler, (b. 22 March 1799, d. 24 November 1867), was the son of Jonas Wheeler of Steuben County, New York. Jonas was the great-great-grandson of Thomas Wheeler of Concord, Massachusetts, who was appointed Sergeant of 1642. Jonas was born in Concord, Massachusetts in 1745-6. Jonas served for short stints in the Revolutionary War.

Wealthy Rowley Wheeler, (b. 1 November 1800, d. 22 December 1857), was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Raymond Rowley from Steuben County, New York. The lineage of William goes back to Shubael Rowley, grandson of Captain Matthew Fuller, who was successor of Captain Miles Standish and Surgeon General of the Plymouth forces. Wealthy's mother, Elizabeth, who accompanied her children to the Woodland area after the death of William in 1835, was the daughter of Daniel Raymond, who was serving as first sergeant in the company of infantry in Regt. of General Schuyler, when Elizabeth was born on 1 January 1778.

Other children of Elizabeth Raymond Rowley who came to Woodland area were George (b. 4 September 1803, d. 2 March 1869), Laura (b. 27 November 1808, d. 6 March 1895), Elijah (b. 28 March 1813, d. 31 October 1895), William (b. 6 October 1817, d. 10 December 1886), and Elizabeth (b. 22 May 1821, d. 30 January 1899).

It is believed that George Rowley may have lived in Woodland Twp. for a short time and then moved to Iowa, where he settled and married Charity Ellen Early. Their son, James, took a wagon train out to California, settling in the Redwood region. Here was built the Rowley brother's Shingle Mill.

Laura Rowley married John Dillenback (1 January 1837). They were continuous members of the Woodland Center M.E. Church. They were the parents of A.W. Dillenback, a prominent and honored pioneer, who served in the Civil War, and delivered addresses at political and historical functions in this area.

Elijah Rowley and Murrion Rowley lived in Woodland Twp. and were parents of at least four children. Sometime later, they moved to Mullekin, Michigan.

Elizabeth Rowley, a school teacher, married Moses Dillenback, who had taken up land in Woodland Twp., cleared it, farmed and taught school winters. He was also a township clerk and school inspector. After Moses' death in 1861, Elizabeth married David Bragman, from near Portland. They moved to Iowa, then Manceloa, Michigan. They had at least one child.

Amos and Wealthy Rowley Wheeler lived in Woodland Township from 1845 until Wealthy's death in 1857. They were Charter members of the first Baptist Church organized in 1846. Their children were Almira (b. 19 July 1826), William (b. 21 December 1828), Paschal (b. 22 August 1830), Laura (b. 28 November 1832) and George (b. 23 April 1843).

Almira Wheeler married Harvey Sheldon, a widower with three small children. Five more children were born to Almira and Harvey. Harvey Sheldon was active in public office and served as Barry County treasurer for twelve years. Almira and Harvey then moved to Hagar Township, Berrien County, Michgan. Amos Wheeler spent his last years living with Almira and Harvey.

George Wheeler and Hannah Wheeler had two daughters. George was head carpenter when the Kilpatrick Church was built in Woodland Township, Michigan. In later life, George and Hannah moved to Hagar, Berrien County, Michigan.

Paschal Wheeler married Elvira Tyler Cramer and lived in Woodland Township, Barry County. Paschal and Elvira raised two sons, William Cramer and James Herman Wheeler (d. 1925). Paschal was a farmer and served as sexton of the Baptist Church and the adjoining Baptist cemetary. Paschal was responsible for planting many of the large maple trees in the old part of the now Woodland Memorial Park in Woodland, Michigan. Paschal would write about putting up stakes days ahead, and then on Arbor Day, planting the maple trees in the cemetery.

James Herman Wheeler married Martha Spindler. James Herman and Martha had a daughter, Nettie Wheeler (b. 8 December 1890, in Woodland township), who married Roscoe Hynes on 30 September 1909 at U.B.Parsonage, Woodland, County of Barry, Michigan.

Nettie had a sister who would become Mrs. Bertha Cotton, of Woodland.

Nettie Wheeler gave birth to my paternal grandmother, Marjorie Helen Hynes, on 5 June 1918. Nettie and Roscoe's other children were the now late Miss Elva Hynes of Lansing, Michigan; the now late Mr. Lyle Hynes of Portland; the now late Mr. Donald Hynes of Flint, Michigan; and the now late Mr. Neil Hynes of Richmond, California.

Mrs. Nettie (Wheeler) Hynes, 69, of 1060 Tupper Lake street, Lake Odessa, died suddenly at her home Wednesday, 20 January 1960, about 8:30 in the evening. Nettie had been under a doctor's care, so no coroner was called.

Nettie had spent all her life in the Woodland area until moving to Lake Odessa at the age of 60.

Mrs. Nettie (Wheeler) Hynes was a member of the rural Kilpatrick United Brethren church. Funeral services were held on the following Saturday after Nettie's death at 1:30 in the afternoon at the Pickens chapel at Lake Odessa with the interment in the Woodland Memorial cemetery. Reverend I.H.Osgood officiated.

Nettie's husband, Roscoe Hynes, died on 13 January 1969, when the writer of this blog was 4 years old.