Amos Dean WHEELER

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His father dying when he was three years old, he was adopted by James Udall, Esquire, of Hartland, Vt., with whom he lived until seventeen yeas of age, receiving instruction in the common schools and at Thetford Academy. In 1820 he went to Leicester, Mass., where his relatives resided, and attended Leicester Academy for a while, subsequently teaching school until he entered Williams College, from which he graduated in 1827. he then taught the academy at Marlboro for two years, at the expiration of which time he was elected principal of the Latin Grammar School in Salem, He remained in that position for three years, studying theology, meantime, with the Reverend Charles Upham, D.D., who was then pastor of the First Church in Salem. Resigning his school in 1832, he spent a year at Harvard Divinity School, graduating therefrom in 1833. From Cambridge he went to Meadville, Pa., to supply the pulpit of the unitarian Society, and remained there seven or eight months. While at Meadville he received a call to settle over that parish, but declined on account of the distance from his relatives and friends. In 1834 he was invited to and was settled over the unitarian Society in Standish, Me. He continued in that place until 1839, when he received a call to settle in Topsham, Me., where he ever after lived. For fourteen years he preached in the Unitarian Meeting-house in Topsham. At the end of that time the Unitarian Society of Topsham and the universalist Society of Brunswick were united under the name of "The Mason Street Religious Society," in Brunswick, and Mr. Wheeler was invited to become pastor of the new organization. He preached to this society until 1865, when he resigned and was soon after appointed missionary for The American unitarian Association to the State of Maine.

In 1860 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Bowdoin College. He was a member of the Maine Historical Society and for many years was a member of its standing committee. Soon after coming to Topsham he was elected a member of the superintending school committee of the town and held the position until within a few years of his death. He was also for many years on the committee of examination of Bowdoin College. "He was a man of unquestioned ability, of cultivated, and literary tastes, an easy graceful writer and ready in extempore address. Few of his contemporaries excelled him in mathematical scholarship. He kept well up with the college curriculum in all its departments. He had a poetic taste and faculty beyond the average of cultivated men. Of clear mental vision and acute argumentative powers, he was strong as he was also fair and good-natured in general debate."

"Calm habitually, even to sedateness, self-governed and judicious, he could yet make merry with the gayest within the bounds of right and reason. Of singular purity of life and conversation, possessing a heart as tender and true as that of a child, scorning all equivocations, pursuing the right with unflinching purpose, leading the life of the humble and devoted Christian he won the love and esteem of all who knew him."

His wife, now eighty-four years of age, is living with her son Henry in Brunswick, Maine.

Amos married Louisa Amelia WARREN on 25 Aug 1830. Louisa (daughter of Elijah WARREN and Mary Belcher WHEELER) was born on 18 Aug 1807. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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It is said of Amos Wheeler that he was naturally active and energetic, but that early cares and disappointments discouraged him and he became somewhat shiftless, or at least lost some of his energy and perseverance. Among other causes was his early marriage. His first 2wife was an intellectual woman, of excellent moral character, but she was extravagant in the management of her household affairs and she was, besides, somewhat of an invalid, which necessitated the employment of hired help and this, with their rapidly increasing family, made his expenses lager than he could easily meet.

In early life he lived with his father on the farm in Worcester. Later he was employed in a neighboring town as a cabinet-maker and was esteemed a good workman. Subsequently he removed to Woodstock, Vt., where he lived at the time of his death. His moral character is said to have been without reproach.

His second wife was a smart, active woman who was a real help to him during the few years of their married life.

Amos married Lydia RANDALL on 18 Jun 1803. Lydia (daughter of Capt Benjamin RANDALL and Hannah DEAN) was born on 14 Sep 1767 in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died on 29 Sep 1856. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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After his marriage, as before, he lived with his father upon the old homestead, until 17 Fe 1764, when he purchased one half of the homestead and his father went to Hardwick to live with another son who resided there. Subsequently he purchased additional land in the vicinity and after the death of his father he came into full possession of the homestead. A deed executed 14 April, 1769, from "Daniel Wheeler, gentleman, of Hardwick, Nathan Wheeler, yeoman, and Thomas Wheeler, yeoman, both of Hardwick, for and in consideration of ninety-four pounds eleven shillings and eight pence," deeds to "Amos Wheeler, yeoman, of Worcester, all the right, title and interest we ever had, now have, or should have in and unto a certain tract or parcel of land laying and being in Worcester aforesaid, containing by estimation twenty-six acres, more or less, and is part of the home stade which was our honored fathers Thomas Wheeler late of Hardwick deceased and lays and bounds as follows, vx. southerly on land of Amos Wheeler foresaid being pate of said home stade, westerly partely on land of Jabes Green and partly on land of said Amos northerly on land of said Amos Easterly on said Amoses land partly and partly on our land being part of said home stade left us by our father aforesaid by will together with the dwelling hous the barn and other Buildings thereon standing, to have and to hold," etc.

Amos Wheeler was a large, portly man, over six feet in height, with a high forehead and a bald head. He was a man of excellent judgment and of more than ordinary intelligence for the time in which he lived, and his advice was frequently sought in business and other matters. he was of an argumentative disposition, and was fond of discussing political and religious questions; and although he was earnest in his discussions and strong in his convictions, he was good-natured and charitable toward his opponent.

In middle life he was in excellent circumstances. He owned a large and valuable farm, well stocked, and with a good dwelling-house and farm buildings. His house was well furnished, and he is said to have owned the handsomest carriage in Worcester. he was very hospitable, and his guests were from the wealthiest and most cultivated families in Worcester and Boston.

About the year 1790 he had a severe attack of rheumatism, which left him lame and obliged him to use crutches the rest of his life. this misfortune prevented his working upon his farm or having a proper oversight of the work which was performed by hired help. Subsequently he leased the farm to "halves," but for want of proper supervision it rapidly deteriorated, the buildings were neglected, and at last, in 1814, his son-in-law, Elijah Warren, in order to save the property from further depreciation, prevailed upon him to sell it. This was done, and Amos, his wife, daughter Charlotte and granddaughter Mary B.H. Wheeler, whom he had adopted, went to Leicester and lived in a part of Mr. Warren's house.

Mrs. Wheeler was a very superior woman. Rev. Dr. Nelson, in his remarks at her funeral, said of her: "It was her happiness to be born of parents who knew the value of education, and who were capable of forming her mind to habits of intellectual exertion, refinement and virtue. At the same time they impressed upon her mind and walked before her in all Christian example. Her only intercourse was with the higher classes in society. Her associates were the intelligent, the accomplished and the religious. Hence religion with her had peculiar charms. Being associated with all tat was graceful and winning in its exterior deportment, it was set off, if we may so speak, with the graces of affability, kindness and good breeding."

Before her marriage she had received attentions from both the brothers Charles and Amos Wheeler. Both tried to win her, and being compelled to choose between hem, she accepted Charles who was a physician and well educated, and therefore was, perhaps, more congenial to her than Amos, whose education was more limited. The doctor, however, died before their wedding day arrived. After the death of Charles, Amos renewed his suit and was accepted. Several silver tablespoons now in the family marked "C. W. to M.B.H.," were given by Dr. Charles Wheeler to Miss Mary Belcher Henshaw in anticipation of their intended marriage.

Amos married Mary Belcher HENSHAW on 2 May 1762. Mary (daughter of Daniel HENSHAW and Elizabeth BASS) was born on 20 Jun 1739 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; died on 20 Nov 1824. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Daniel Henshaw and Elizabeth Bass

Benjamin married Hannah DEAN on 13 Aug 1748 in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. Hannah was born on 04 Dec 1730 in Raynham, Massachusetts; died in Feb 1809 in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]