Mrs. Maria wheeler, pioneer of the ’70s, is called by death. Was mother of 11 children, and leaves 28 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Crossed plains in 1850. Funeral to be held tomorrow from baptist church-well known among pioneers.
Mrs. Maria (Grandma) Wheeler, aged 84, one of the earliest pioneers of the state, and a resident of Kittitas Valley since 1871, passed away last evening [May 27, 1917] at the home of her son, A. L. Wheeler of Kittitas. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. Cline reading the service. Interment will take place at Odd Fellows’ Cemetery.
Mrs. Wheeler was born in Millersberg, Ohio, in 1835 [headstone reads 1832], the last of eleven children. She was married in Ohio to Chas. Wheeler, and in 1853 the family started across the plains, arriving in Olympia in 1854. For seventeen years they lived at Yelm prairie, and were there during the Indian uprising of 1855. In 1870 Mr. Wheeler and his eldest son, George came to Ellensburg, and one year later they were followed by the family, settling on a place 8 miles east of Ellensburg and one mile south of Kittitas. Mr. Wheeler died in 1882.
Mrs. Wheeler is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Catherine Morrison of Kittitas and Mrs. Samantha Curtis of Brewster and two sons: A. L. Wheeler of Kittitas and George W. Wheeler of Ellensburg, besides 28 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. She was the mother of 11 children.
Mrs. Wheeler was one of the best known of the pioneers who crossed the plains in the ’50’s, settling at Olympia and her death will be regretted by a host of friends.
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman
