From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 472-473.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


CHARLES H. WHEELER

Charles H. Wheeler, a veteran merchant tailor of Wheeling, and one of 
the valued men of that city, was born at Smithtown, Suffolk county, 
Long Island, July 26, 1819.  He is the son of Joshua Wheeler, also a 
native of that county, where the family has always resided since the 
original settlement in an early day by five brother's who came from 
England.  Charles H. was reared on the farm to his sixteenth year, 
when he began an apprenticeship of four years at the tailor's trade.  
That being concluded, in 1841, he left his native county and removed 
to Orange county, N. Y., whence after two years he went to Baltimore. 
In 1844 he made his home at Cumberland, Md., where he remained about 
nine years, during the latter part of that period establishing a shop 
of his own.  In 1853, he came to Wheeling, where he has since 
permanently resided, and in this city he embarked in business as a 
merchant tailor upon his arrival.  He opened in Washington hall, 
being the first business in that well-known establishment.  In 1860 
he sold out his business and returned to New York state with the 
intention of remaining there, but after eighteen months' absence 
returned to Wheeling.  In the fall of 1861, he engaged in the 
manufacture of clothing for various houses, and was so engaged until 
1865, when he took the position of foreman for one of the leading 
tailoring establishments of the city, with which he remained for 
thirteen years.  In July, 1879, he entered the establishment of 
Thomas Hughes, and remained there until January 1, 1889, when he and 
his son Charles opened their present rooms in the Reilly block.  Both 
are practical workmen, with thorough knowledge of their art, and in 
the short time they have conducted their establishment have met with 
much success.  In addition to their general business they carry a 
full line of suitings.  Mr. Wheeler was married June 5, 1849, to 
Henrietta Lakin, a native of Cumberland, Md., and they have had 
eleven children, of whom but two survive.  One of these, Charles H. 
Wheeler, Jr., the partner of his father, was born at Wheeling, July 
21, 1866.  He is a thorough master of his trade, which he has learned 
in all its details. 


(Linda Fluharty)