The Wheelock Family of Sugargrove, Pennsylvania

The Wheelock family of Warren county, Pennsylvania, are the direct descendants of Ralph Wheelock, a Puritan, who was a descendant of Hugh de Wheelock, in the reign of Henry II. The name appears as early as about 1200, sometimes as de Ouelok, de Whelok, Whelok, and latterly Wheelock. The Wheelock family has been prominent for several hundred years. In the early days there was a marriage between the Wheelocks and Leversages, and the two families have been associated with the village of Wheelock, in England, from ancient times. The Wheelock coat-of-arms was adopted in 1285, and is described: Argent chevrons between three Catherine wheels, when the name was Whelok, a cut of which accompanies this sketch.

(I) Ralph Wheelock

Ralph Wheelock, above referred to, was born in Shropshire, England, in 1600, in the town or parish of Wheelock. He was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, graduated in 1626, taking his master’s degree in 1631. He was a relative, perhaps a brother, of Abraham Wheelock, who was the professor of Arabic at Cambridge and later the librarian. He held title to the village of Wheelock, Cheshire county, England. He was ordained in the Church of England, but became a Puritan soon after leaving college and joined the ranks of the non-conformists. He doubtless suffered much in the persecutions of the Puritans. In 1637, accompanied by his wife and daughter Rebecca, he migrated to New England, residing first at Watertown, Massachusetts, and later removing to Dedham, Massachusetts, being one of the proprietors of Dedham in 1638-39. His house lot was the first one granted in the town, at the corner of Main and North streets, and contained twelve acres of land. He served as a selectman, 1651-55, for several years was deputy to general court, taught the first public school there, was appointed by the general court a commissioner to end small causes, the local magistrate, and was appointed to join persons in marriage. He was one of the founders of the church of Dedham, learned, devout, unselfish, and practical. He built a house in Dedham in 1652, on the north side of Main street, and became one of the founders of Medfield, an adjoining town, in 1649, and removed there a few years later, continuing his career of usefulness and prominence. He was one of the signers of the famous Dedham Covenant, July, 1637, his being the tenth name on the list of one hundred. This instrument was the constitution of that body of settlers, first colony laws; known as the Body of Liberties, 1641. He was also on the committee to collect funds for Harvard College. He died in November, 1683. His children were:

1. Rebecca Wheelock.
2. Gershome Wheelock.
3. Eleasor Wheelock.
4. Benjamin Wheelock (of whom further).
5. Samuel Wheelock.
6. Record Wheelock.
7. Experience Wheelock.
8. Mary Wheelock.
9. Peregrine Wheelock.

(II) Benjamin Wheelock

Benjamin, born in Dedham in 1639-40, was the first Wheelock born in America, son of Ralph Wheelock, married, and his children were:

1. David Wheelock (of whom further).
2. Jonathan Wheelock.
3. Paul Wheelock.
4. Silas Wheelock.

(III) David Wheelock

David, son of Benjamin Wheelock, married Lydia White, and reared a family, among whom was:

1. Abner Wheelock, of whom further.

(IV) Abner Wheelock

Abner, son of David Wheelock, was born June 19, 1747, and died May 11, 1831, aged eighty-four years. He was one of the first settlers of Charlton, Massachusetts, and marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, serving in the revolutionary war. He married Mary Blanchard, born March 30, 1754. His children were:

1. Rachel Wheelock.
2. Lucy Wheelock.
3. Daniel Wheelock.
4. Esther Wheelock.
5. Calvin Wheelock.
6. Betsy Wheelock.
7. Abner (2) Wheelock, of whom further.

(V) Abner (2) Wheelock

Abner (2), son of Abner (1) Wheelock, was born in Charlton, Massachusetts, October 9, 1796, died May 22, 1886. He migrated to Genesee county, New York, where he married, and located for a number of years. About 1830 he removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, and settled on a tract of land three miles north of Corry. He purchased a farm of one hundred acres on Hare Creek, now Wheelock, Wayne township, cleared up the place, and resided there till 1850, when he disposed of the same and removed to Sugargrove township, Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he resided, but spent the last fifteen years of his life with his son Edward R., at the village of Sugargrove. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a Republican in politics. He married, in the town of Wales, Genesee county, New York, October 29, 1818, Lydia Tillottson, born January 19, 1801, died 1871. His children were:

1. Charles A. Wheelock (of whom further).
2. George G. Wheelock, born November 23, 1823, died September 7, 1894
3. Betsy A. Wheelock, born November 21, 1825, died July 24, 1826
4. Edwin Ruthven Wheelock (of whom further).
5. Matthew G. Wheelock, born August 22, 1839, died December 20, 1895.

(VI) Charles A. Wheelock

Charles A., eldest son of Abner (2) Wheelock, was born August 19, 1822, died at Warren, Warren county, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1892. After completing his studies he gave his attention principally to farming, which line of work he followed throughout the most part of his life. He was a resident of Wayne township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, residing on his farm until 1860, when he removed to Meadville, same state, and for one year engaged in the foundry business. The following year he purchased a farm one mile west of Lottsville, in Freehold township, Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a Protestant in religion, and a Republican in politics, and served in the capacity of constable and supervisor of the township where he lived. He was a member and past master of Freehold Grange, and at the time of his death was secretary of Lottsville Lodge, I. O. O. F. He married, June 7, 1851, Elizabeth M. King, born May 11, 1828, daughter of Ambrose and Dolly (Steele) King, died June 4, 1878. They had one child:

1. De Forest A. Wheelock, of whom further.

(VII) Major De Forest A. Wheelock

Major De Forest A. Wheelock, son of Charles A. Wheelock, was born in Wheelock, Erie county, Pennsylvania, July 27, 1855. He gained his preliminary education in the common schools, and this was supplemented by a course at the Teachers’ Normal Department of Chamberlain Institute, Randolph, New York, from which he graduated in 1877, and he pursued a commercial course at the same institution, completing it in the unparalleled time of four weeks, also a special course of civil engineering, which profession he has since followed. He has devoted his attention to civil engineering, and has repeatedly been summoned to various parts of his and other states to settle land and other important engineering questions and disputes, and is considered one of the most reliable experts on questions submitted to him. Prior to taking up the active profession of civil engineering he was engaged for several years as a teacher in common, graded and union schools, holding a state teacher’s certificate entitling him to teach in any part of the state of Pennsylvania. From 1875 until the present (1913), with the exception of six years, he has been the official surveyor of Warren county, Pennsylvania, and since March, 1895, has been the city engineer of Warren, Pennsylvania. At the present time (1913) he is chief engineer of the Hammond Engineering Company, which manufactures and erects water and sewage purification plants. He was for several years employed by the Pennsylvania State Department of Health as special engineer, to examine, report and recommend regarding matters of water and sewage purification that came before the department. He also acted, and does at present, as special engineer for the Pennsylvania State Railroad Commission. He was appointed by Governor Hastings in 1895 on the commission to determine the advisability of forming a new (Grow) county out of parts of Luzerne and other counties in the anthracite coal region. He was also appointed by the courts in 1886 to relocate the dividing line between Warren and Erie counties, in 1887 between Potter and Cameron, and Warren and Crawford, in 1895 between Center and Huntingdon, in 1909 between Crawford and Mercer, and in 1910 between Crawford and Venango counties.

When the United States declared war against Spain in 1898, Major Wheelock, being loyal and patriotic, and also having had a military experience from December 2, 1882, when he enlisted in Company I of the 16th Regiment of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and having been promoted to corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain, he was one of the first to volunteer his services under the call for volunteers, ranking as captain of Company I, which was mustered into the service of the United States, May 10, 1898, after having been on duty at the call of the state authorities since April 27th. His was the only company from the state that volunteered with full ranks to a man. After camping at Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania, the company started for Chickamauga Park, Georgia, on May 15th, where he was joined by his son, Carl A., as corporal in his company, and subsequently ordered to Charleston, South Carolina, where they embarked July 22nd on the transport “Mobile,” No. 21, and arrived at Ponce, Porto Rico, July 28th. The following night Captain Wheelock was ordered with fifty picked men from the 16th Regiment to El Coto, about seven miles distant, with orders to prevent any of the Spanish forces located there from burning the town, which they had threatened to, or from committing any other hostile demonstration. As Captain Wheelock and his men entered the town the rear guard of the Spanish forces retreated from the town. Captain Wheelock immediately took possession of the barracks just vacated by the enemy and captured several prisoners, as well as a large amount of commissary and quartermaster stores. On July 31st Captain Wheelock, in command of his company, and being reinforced by Company A, of Corry, proceeded under orders to Juana Diaz, took possession of the public buildings, telegraph and telephone offices, and at once hoisted the United States flag over the former. While at Juana Diaz, August 2nd, Captain Wheelock learned that at the seaport town of Port San Isabelle was a large amount of commissary stores ready to be delivered to the Spanish forces at Aibonita, and promptly during the night sent a detachment to take possession of the same. The detachment arrived just as the loaded wagons were starting for the Spanish lines. The detachment took the stores and some prisoners, and returned to Captain Wheelock’s camp at Juana Diaz during the night, with stores, among which was a large amount of rice, which the captain at once turned over to the quartermaster of the 16th Regiment for the use of the men, which, as rations at the time were short, was a welcome accession. Guard duty was done there and outpost duty for two days, and a quantity of supplies and number of prisoners taken, among the prisoners being the Spanish war secretary from Port San Isabelle, whose commission and saber the captain has ever since retained. The remainder of the 16th Regiment joined Company I and A, and on August 4th moved to a point halfway between Juana Diaz and Coamo, encamping along the military road. During the night of August 8th the regiment made a flank movement to get to the rear of Coamo, camping in the mountains during the night, and the following morning (August 9th) reached the top of the mountain overlooking Coamo, about sunrise, with the battery of the United States troops opened fire on the block house about two miles outside of the town, when the Spaniards retreated through the town and toward Aibonita, opening fire on the United States troops of the 16th Regiment, who were double-timing down the side of the mountain to intercept them. The battle lasted about an hour, when the Spanish forces surrendered. The principal part of the fighting was done by the First Battalion of the 16th Pennsylvania troops, composed of Companies I, A, H, and C. Captain Wheelock after the battle found that he had three men slightly wounded, but otherwise no casualties. When the Spaniards surrendered, Company I, under Captain Wheelock, entered the town of Coamo, took possession of the Spanish barracks and a large amount of government military stores, among which was taken the Spanish flag that floated over the barracks at the time the battle began, and which has ever since been retained by Captain Wheelock, who prizes it very highly. They then went into camp just east of the town, on that part of the battlefield occupied by the Spanish forces during the engagement, remaining there until October 1st, when the regiment under orders started to march to San Juan, a seaport city on the north side of the Island, but after three days’ marching were ordered back to Ponce. During this three-day period Captain Wheelock, who had just reported for duty from the hospital, was placed in charge of 136 convalescents whom he furloughed home, and rejoined his regiment in time to go with it back to the United States, leaving Ponce October 11th and arriving at New York on October 17th. He reached Warren with his company October 19, 1898, and was mustered out of United States service December 28, 1898. He continued in the service of the National Guard, being elected major October 14, 1907, and served as such till January, 1909, when after over twenty-six years’ service he resigned and went on the retired list on account of long service.

Major Wheelock is a member of North Star Lodge, No. 241, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Occidental Chapter, No. 235, Royal Arch Masons; Warren Commandery, No. 63, Knights Templar, of which he is past eminent commander; Pennsylvania Consistory, 32nd degree, Valley of Pittsburgh; Presque Isle Lodge of Perfection, 14th degree, of Erie, Pennsylvania; Warren Lodge of Odd Fellows; due to his efforts, Lottsville Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized, he being its first noble and past noble grand; Warren Lodge, B. P. O. E., of which he is a past exalted ruler, and past trustee. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Engineers Society of Pennsylvania.

Major Wheelock married, May 1, 1878, at Columbus, Pennsylvania, Sarah Le Ell Smith, born July 11, 1854, daughter of David O. and Emily A. (Walton) Smith, who were the parents of five other children, as follows:

1. Albert J. Smith.
2. Eva A. Smith.
3. Winnie Smith.
4. Arta W. Smith.
5. Robert W. Smith.

David O. Smith was a farmer and justice of the peace. Children of Major Wheelock:

1. Carl Ayres Wheelock, of whom further
2. Harry O. Wheelock, born June 5, 1881
3. Bertha E. Wheelock, born August 22, 1882, married, June 25, 1912, Frank J. Lyons, district attorney of Warren county, Pennsylvania
4. Winnie C. Wheelock, born February 28, 1884, married, February 16, 1907, Kern W. McCray, superintendent of an oil and gas company in West Virginia.

(VIII) Carl Ayres Wheelock

Carl Ayres Wheelock, son of De Forest A. Wheelock, was born at Lottsville, Warren county, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1879. He attended the district school at Lottsville until ten years of age, then became a student in the Warren grade and high school, graduating from the latter in 1898, and during the years 1897-98 also attended a business school. In November, 1898, he entered the employ of the Warren Street Railway Company, remaining until July 31, 1899, when he was employed by the Struthers Wells Company, remaining until March 18, 1901, and from that time to the present (1912) has served in the capacity of accountant at the State Hospital for the Insane at Warren, Pennsylvania. During the Spanish-American war he enlisted his services in defence of his country, June 14, 1898, holding the rank of corporal in Company I, Sixteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He joined the company in Chickamauga, after completing his high school course, went with his regiment to Charleston, South Carolina, where a week later he took transport for Ponce, Porto Rico; he participated in the skirmish at Coamo, went with his regiment to Cayey when they received orders to return to Ponce and subsequently to the United States, arriving in New York City, October 20, 1898, and received his honorable discharge, December 28, 1898. Mr. Wheelock is an attendant of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of North Star Lodge, No. 241, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; Occidental Chapter, No. 235, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest; Warren Commandery, No. 63, Knights Templar, of which he is past commander; Venango Lodge of Perfection, of Oil City; Pennsylvania Consistory, of Pittsburgh; Zem Zem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Erie; Conewango Council, No. 115, Royal Arcanum, of North Warren, of which he is past regent and treasurer; Conewango Club, of Warren, and Deerhorn Fishing and Hunting Club, of Warren.

Mr. Wheelock married, December 17, 1902, at North Warren, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth, born October 23, 1872, daughter of Robert and Mary (Jackson) Grier. Children:

1. Bertha Elizabeth Wheelock, born November 1, 1903
2. Carl Albert Wheelock, June 26, 1905.

(VI) Edwin Ruthven Wheelock

Edwin Ruthven, son of Abner (2) Wheelock, was born in the town of Wales, Genesee county, New York, August 24, 1827. When he was three years of age his parents removed to Pennsylvania, settling on a farm three miles north of Corry, Erie county, and there he spent his boyhood days. He was educated in the schools of the neighborhood, and later went to Waterford, Pennsylvania, where he attended the State Academy, having for his classmates many who later became prominent in the history of Waterford and whose descendants now reside in that locality. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Wheelock left the old home and took up his residence in Freehold township, locating at Wrightsville, where he became identified with the lumber industries. He boated on the river, and was successful in his various undertakings. He made his home in Freehold township until about 1871, when he moved to the village of Sugargrove and there erected a store, embarking in the general hardware business and later admitting his sons as partners, conducting for many years a successful and remunerative business. He was one of the influential and active citizens of Sugargrove, his residence on Main street being one of the best and most attractive. He retired from active pursuits in 1904 and then went to Decatur, Illinois, where he resides with a son. Almost every year he pays a visit to Sugargrove, where he is a most welcome guest, not only among his relatives, who are numerous, but in almost every home in the entire community. He was reared in the Methodist Episcopal faith, and is a Republican in politics, active in the affairs of his party, having served as county commissioner two terms, burgess of the borough of Sugargrove one term, and served for many years as councilman and school director.

Mr. Wheelock married, September 20, 1853, Betsey Allen, born in Freehold township, Warren county, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1833, died February 18, 1901, daughter of David and Fannie (Abbott) Allen. Children:

1. Frank De Forest Wheelock, of whom further
2. George R. Wheelock, born August 26, 1860, in Freehold township; he was educated in the common schools, spent his early life in Warren county, in 1884 went to South Dakota and farmed two years, returned to Sugargrove, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the hardware business, and subsequently removed to Decatur, Illinois, where he is working at his trade of tinsmith; he married Charlotte, daughter of George and Emiline (Green) Reynolds; one child:
   1. Bessie May Reynolds Wheelock, born in 1903.

(VII) Frank DeForest Wheelock

Frank DeForest, eldest son of Edwin Ruthven Wheelock, was born at Freehold, Warren county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1854. He attended the public schools of Freehold and Sugargrove, acquiring a practical education. Upon attaining his majority he engaged in the hardware business at Sugargrove, continuing in the same until 1892, when he went to northern Wisconsin and there served as manager for a lumber company until 1899, when he returned to Sugargrove and again embarked in the hardware business, purchasing his father’s store, which he has conducted to the present time (1912), being in receipt of an extensive patronage. He carries a full and complete line of hardware, and in addition deals in wagons and buggies, and ranks among the enterprising and successful merchants of the community. He adheres to the principles of the Republican party and has been the incumbent of several township and borough offices, in which he served creditably and efficiently. He is a member of Stillwater Lodge, No. 547, Free and Accepted Masons, of Sugargrove, in which he served as worshipful master for ten years.

Mr. Wheelock married, at Jamestown, New York, January 6, 1896, Rozella (Blodgett) McDonald, born at Sugargrove, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1857, daughter of Alden Divers and Helen (Brands) Blodgett, and widow of Archibald D. McDonald, by whom she had two children:

1. Anna B. McDonald, born June 4, 1878, at Sugargrove, married, August 1, 1906, Dr. William Hamilton Shortt. They reside at Youngsville, Pennsylvania. One son:
   1. William Hamilton Shortt Jr., born May 26, 1907.
2. Alden Blodgett McDonald, born January 26, 1880, at Sugargrove, is a specialist on diseases of ear, eye, nose and throat, located at Warren, Pennsylvania.

Alden D. Blodgett was a farmer and merchant; he and his wife were the parents of three children, as follows:

1. Jane Celia Blodgett.
2. Robert Brands Blodgett.
3. Rozella Blodgett, aforementioned.

Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock have no children.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.