BIOGRAPHY: James V. Wheelhouse; Meridian, Cayuga co., New York

transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com)

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA
COUNTY NEW YORK
BOSTON
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY
1894

JAMES V. WHEELHOUSE, one of the most prosperous business men of the village
of Meridian and a substantial representative of the mercantile interests of
Cayuga County, is a self-made man in every sense implied by the term, his
success in life being due to his own unaided efforts. At the age of thirteen
years he began life for himself, poor in pocket, but rich in energy and
ambition; and with sturdy industry and judicious frugality he laboriously
toiled onward and upward, rising by slow degrees from poverty to a condition
of affluence and influence. Mr. Wheelhouse is a Pennsylvanian by birth,
having been born in the town of Windham, Bradford County, December 13, 1856,
and on the paternal side is of English ancestry, his grandfather, William
Wheelhouse, Sr., having been a life-long resident of England.

 His father, William Wheelhouse, Jr., was a native of England, born in
1817, in Edenboro, where he remained until about twenty-six years of age. He
then emigrated to the United States, and, going to Pennsylvania, bought a
tract of wild land in Bradford County, his first work on it being to clear
space enough to build a log house as a dwelling-place. By dint of
persevering toil he succeeded in improving a very good farm, on which he
resided many years. He subsequently removed to Weltonville, Tioga County,
N.Y., and there entered the mercantile business, opening a store for general
merchandise, which he carried on until his death, in 1866. He married
Caroline Peck, who was born near Watertown, N.Y., and who died in Windham
Centre, Pa., in 1864, preceding him to the fair world beyond by two years.
They reared a family of seven children, five of whom are still living, the
following being their record: Margaret is the wife of Charles Lanning, of
Nichols, Tioga County; Mary A. married J. E. Hamilton, of North Orwell, Pa.;
Susan is the widow of Ephraim Matthews, of Nichols; James V. is the subject
of the present sketch; Catherine is the widow of Robert Coryell, of Nichols.
The deceased are as follows: Carrie, who died at the age of fourteen months,
and William, who died at the age of thirty-two years. Mr. William
Wheel-house was a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

 James was but nine years of age when his father died, and he removed with
his sisters to Nichols, Tioga County, N.Y., and there completed his school
life, which was begun in the place of his nativity. When thirteen years of
age, at a time when most boys need the watchful care and counsel of father
and mother, he, who had been doubly bereaved by the hand of death, began
life on his own account ; his first employment being on a farm, where he
received seven dollars a month. After working as a farm laborer for three
years, he learned the tinner's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three
years with A. A. Swinton in the town of Nichols. A youth of eighteen, he
came to Cayuga County in 1875, and' securing a position in the hardware
store of Chase & Hunt in Cato, he remained with them three years and a half.
The following six months he spent in Auburn; but, not satisfied with his
work in that place, he returned to Cato, and, entering the store of Chase &
Cole, successors of Chase & Hunt, remained in their employment two years.
Buying the store of D. L. Spoor, a hardware merchant of Meridian, in 1882,
Mr. Wheelhouse began his mercantile career; and, by his systematic methods
of conducting his business, his strict attention to all of its details, and
his thoroughly upright dealings, he has met with most gratifying success,
and made for himself an honorable record.  He has enlarged his trade, and
increased the value of his stock, which was seventeen hundred dollars at the
time of his purchase, to five thousand dollars, his store containing a full
line of first-class goods, the most complete of any in the village. In 1887
Mr. Wheelhouse bought an interest in the store of S. J. Chase, a hardware
merchant of Cato, and carried that on in connection with his store in
Meridian for six years, when he disposed of his interest there, and has
since given his entire attention to his business in Meridian. He is now
occupying a fine two-story building in the village, which he built last
year; and, besides this, he owns other property in the village, and bids
fair to become one of the wealthy men of the place.

 Mr. Wheelhouse was married in 1883, Miss Emma L. Smith, a native of Cayuga
County, born in the town of Ira, becoming his bride. Her parents were James
and Panthiea Smith, who were for many years esteemed residents of Ira, where
Mr. Smith was a successful agriculturist, living there until his death,
which occurred in 1870. His wife, who is still living, resides with her
daughter, Mrs. Wheelhouse, where she has a most pleasant home and everything
done for her that can add to her comfort or her pleasure. Two children have
been born into the family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Wheelhouse, only one of
whom, Una M., who was born May 27, 1886, is living, little May, the pet of
the household having died at the age of six years.

 In politics Mr. Wheelhouse affiliates with the Republican party; and,
although no aspirant for official honors, he has served as Village Trustee.
Socially, he is a member of Cato Lodge, No. 141, A. F. & A. M., and of
Meridian Lodge, No. 142, A. O. U. W., and belongs to the Knights of S. F. &
I., Lodge No. 81. Both he and his wife attend the Baptist church, and are
ever among the foremost in any good work.