Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1887 — WILLIAM A. WHEELER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WILLIAM A. WHEELER.

The Ex-Vice President Passes Away After a Protracted Illness. Brief Biographical Sketch and Portrait of the Deceased Statesman. Hon. William A. Wheeler, ex-Vice President of the United States, died at his home in Malone, N. Y., on Friday, the 3d day of June. Mr. Wheeler had been slowly failing throngh the last five or six years, until last winter, when the progress of the disease became more rapid, and his physician and friends began to fear the approach of the end. On the night of March 3he was seized with chills, followed by a sinking

spell, and Dr. Gay, his physician, thought for hours that he would die- He afterward rallied, however, but never again regained his former vigor and strength. Mental weakness gradually became apparent, and increased until first there were indications of insanity and then of softening of the brain. For the last ten days proceeding his death he was conscious and rational only at intervals. His death was painless. Biographical. William Almon Wheeler was born in Malone, N. Y., June 3', 1819. Fitting for college at the age of 19 he entered the University of Vermont at Burlington, but was unable for lack of means to compete his course, and left the institution at the end of his sophomore year. Upon retirement from college the future Vice President studied law in his native town, and at the age of ‘25 was admitted to the bar. Ms first office of trust was Town Clerk of Malone, to which position he was elected while preparing for the bar. He was. during the same period, elected School Commissioner and Inspector of Schools by the Whigs of the county. Soon after the adoption of the State Constitution of 1816 Mr. Wheeler was nominated by the Whigs for the office of District Attorney of the county and elected. In 1819, and again in 1850, he was sent to the Legislature .as a Whig to represent the countv in the lower House. On returning from the' Legislature Mr. Wheeler gave up the practice of law and accepted the position of cashier of the Malone Bank. This position he held from 1851 to 1865. In 1809 and 1860 he served as a member of the State Senate and was chosen President pro tern, of that body. In 1850, upon his retirement from the State Senate, he was chosen to represent in Congress, as a Republican, Silas Wright's old district. After serving one term he again retired to private life. In 1867 he was again called into the public service, this time as the Representative of his district in the State Constitutional Convention held in that year. In 1858 Mr. Wheeler was returned to Congress by his old district, and was thrice re-elected, practically without opposition. During these eight years of Congressional life he served upon the important Comm.ttees of Appropriations, Southern Affairs, Pacific Railroads, and Commerce, being Chairman of the two last named. In the Cincinnati Convention of 1876 Mr. Wheeler received the ballots of the Massachusetts delegat.on for the nomination to the Presidency. After the nomination of Hayes he was put in nomination for the Vice Presidency.