Honorable S.C. Wheeler. & Mrs. Delora Ashley Wheeler.

S. C. Wheeler, who ably represented the counties of Republic and Cloud in the senate during the Alliance movement, is one of the best-known politicians as well as one of the most prosperous and energetic men of Cloud county. Mr. Wheeler was born in Greenfield township, Huron county, Ohio, in 1846, and lived in the home of his parents until he responded to the call for more troops and enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Ninety-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in February, 1865. He was discharged the following June for disability, while in a hospital at Perryville, Maryland.

After regaining his health he emigrated to Iowa, where he purchased a small farm and engaged in agriculture for three years. After three years of western life Mr. Wheeler removed to Berrien county, Michigan, where he became a tiller of the soil, remaining three years. He then located in the town of Pentwater, Michigan, which is situated in the timber region of that state, and worked in a lumber camp. Three years later he was appointed Superintendent of the Berrien county farm for the poor.

Accepting the position he returned to his former home and superintended that institution four years. But his vigorous nature longed for broader fields and the boundless prairies of Kansas, where his ambitions could soar unrestrained and where he could build a home for himself and family. He came to Kansas during the era of emigration in 1879, and on the 7th day of March landed in Buffalo township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of what is now his present farm. He has since added another quarter, making a half section of land second to none in the county in point of fertility and productiveness.

Politically Mr. Wheeler is a Populist. He joined the Alliance movement in 1889 and was elected state senator for Cloud and Republic counties at a special election held for the purpose of filling the vacancy caused by the death of E.E. Swearengin. He was the only Populist senator at that session. In 1897 Governor Leedy appointed Mr. Wheeler member of the state board of charities for Kansas, which position he filled with satisfaction to the state and commendable credit to himself for two years and two months, or until his term expired and the office succeeded to by a Republican. At the last city election, held in April, 1903, Mr. Wheeler was chosen mayor of Concordia.

The Pretty Cottage Home of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler.

On March 23, 1867, he was united in matrimony with Miss Delora Ashley, of Adamsville, Michigan. Mrs. Wheeler is a sister of John H. Ashley, whose biographical sketch appears in this volume. Although Mr. Wheeler has gained prominence as a public character he is what might be considered a home man and has always spent his leisure hours enjoying the domestic felicity of his family, which consists of two sons and a daughter. Their children are all married. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have retired from the farm and occupy a beautiful cottage home in Concordia, where they expect to spend the remainder of their days at ease. They also have a large circle of friends who enjoy their genuine hospitality. Mr. Wheeler is a man of public spirit, always doing his part toward promoting any enterprise which is calculated to benefit mankind.