admin HON. CHARLES BARKER WHEELER, Justice of the Supreme Court, is one of Buffalo’s ablest jurists, and prior to his elevation to the bench had won high reputation as a lawyer of erudite attainments and superior capability.
Mr. Wheeler is of New England descent and Puritan stock. The first ancestors of the American branch of his family were John Wheeler and Ann, his wife, who in 1634 came to Massachusetts Colony in the ship “Mary and John.” Henry Wheeler, son of John Wheeler, had a son, James, who had a son, James, who had a son, Jeremiah, who had a son, Jeremiah, whose son, Cyrenus Wheeler, Sr., was the grandfather of Hon. Charles B. Wheeler. For generations the family were farmers and cultivated the same farm at Rehoboth, Mass. The New England Wheelers were a patriotic family. Several of the name appear in the records as Revolutionary soldiers. To this day the ancient homes of the family show traces of British ravage. Cyrenus Wheeler, Sr., married Thirza Dillingham Evans, a daughter of Robert Evans of Bristol, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., was born near Rehoboth March 21st, 1817. When twelve years old the lad went to work in the cotton mills, and became master of the cotton weaving industry. Upon the removal of his father to New York State, young Cyrenus Wheeler began to learn farming. In the intervals he busied himself inventing hay-forks, hay-cutters and other farm implements. Soon after reaching his majority Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., became the owner of a farm, and for many years he was a skilful farmer, having a scientific conception of agriculture altogether remarkable for that day. But he was always more of a mechanic than a farmer. In the summer of 1852 there was held at Geneva, N. Y., a trial of a mower which proved unsatisfactory. Mr. Wheeler thereupon set about making a successful horse mower and reaper, and for practically the rest of his life devoted himself to the invention, manufacture and improvement of reapers and mowers.
Mr. Wheeler was four times elected Mayor of Auburn, serving from 1880 to 1890. For years he also served as Chairman of the Auburn Board of Water Commissioners. While Mayor he became convinced that the city should own its own water works, and when he left office he began and carried to success a struggle to this end, being made President of the Water Commission, which office he held for the rest of his life. For many years Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., was one of the most prominent and useful citizens of Auburn. As a financier he held relations with many of the Auburn banks. He strongly encouraged the National Guard movement, and the Wheeler Rifles of Auburn are named after him. For a long period he was a trustee of the Auburn Central Presbyterian Church, to which he was a liberal contributor.
In 1838, Mr. Wheeler married Susan Kendall, daughter of Charles Kendall of Cayuga County. Their children were Lucy M., and Dexter Wheeler. In 1842 Mrs. Wheeler died, and a few years later Mr. Wheeler married Susan Frary of Bethany, N. Y. Their issue was one daughter, Harriet. After a few years of wedded life Mr. Wheeler’s second wife died, and on the 26th of December, 1850, he married Jane Barker, daughter of John A. Barker and Phoebe Ogden of Ledyard, Cayuga County. Mrs. Jane (Barker) Wheeler, was a sister of the late Judge Barker, Justice of the Supreme Court of New York. Of the children of Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., only Charles B. Wheeler of Buffalo survives.
Charles Barker Wheeler was born at Poplar Ridge, Cayuga County, N. Y., December 27th, 1851. He enjoyed superior educational advantages, studying at Williams College, from which he graduated with the class of ’73. After his graduation, Mr. Wheeler came to Buffalo and entered the office of Sprague & Gorham, with whom he read law for three years. In 1876 he was admitted to the bar; immediately thereafter beginning the practice of his profession in Buffalo. The early maturity of Mr. Wheeler’s legal talents and his exceptional thoroughness and industry attracted the notice of elder lawyers and led to his connection with those eminent practitioners, Sherman S. Rogers and Franklin D. Locke, by whom he was admitted to partnership in 1882, the association lasting three years. In. 1885 Mr. Wheeler began practice alone, and continued until his elevation to the bench, by appointment to succeed Hon. Daniel Kenefick, who resigned, assuming office December 1st, 1906. Mr. Wheeler was appointed a member of the Civil Service Commission, by Mayor Becker, and he served so acceptably that he was reappointed by Mayor Bishop. During the administration of Mayor Jewett he again served two years, and being reappointed by Mayor Diehl he served another two years, resigning on the expiration of his tenth year in office. Again appointed a member of the Civil Service Commission, by Mayor Knight, he served three years more, making a total of thirteen years. For ‘ten years Mr. Wheeler acted as Chairman of the Board. Ever since the organization of the Civil Service Reform Association in 1883, Judge Wheeler has been a member of that body. He has been extremely active and influential in securing legislative measures for the advancement of Civil Service and has effectually blocked many bills tending to destroy the merit system. In 1906 Governor Higgins appointed Mr. Wheeler a member of the State Tax Commission authorized to revise the tax laws of the State.
Judge Wheeler is a Director of the J. N. Matthews Company, and President of the New York and Buffalo Title Insurance Company. He is a life member of the Young Men’s Association, and has served several terms as its Director. He has been connected with the University of Buffalo ever since its organization, and is Professor of Corporation Law in the Buffalo Law School. He is a member of the University Club, has served two terms as a member of its faculty and one term as its Vice President. He belongs to Buffalo Chapter Sons of the Revolution, and for two terms was its President. He is connected with the Historical Society and the Society of Natural Sciences. Judge Wheeler attends Trinity Church.
June 28, 1883, Judge Wheeler married Frances Munro Rochester, daughter of Dr. Thomas F. Rochester and Margaret De Lancey Rochester of Buffalo. Dr. Rochester was for many years one of the most prominent physicians of Western New York. Mrs. Rochester was a daughter of the late Bishop William H. De Lancey of the diocese of Western New York. Judge and Mrs. Wheeler have two children, Thomas Rochester Wheeler, born April 29th, 1885, and Jane Barker Wheeler, born April 3d, 1887.
SOURCE: Memorial and Family History of Erie County New York; Volume I