One of the family emigrated to Vermont.

Wheeler's father went from Vermont to Malone, New York, where he was born, and where he was left by his father an orphan in very early youth.

The widow and children were without any property whatever, but got along somehow.

Wheeler got an education, spending two or three years in college, and became the foremost man in his part of New York.

The people of his district were in character and way of thinking very much like our best Massachusetts constituencies.