Death Take Mrs. Laura Wheeler 88, Valley Pioneer Came Here by Ox Team in ’71.
Death this morning took one of the oldest pioneers of Yakima County, Mrs. Laura E. Wheeler, 88, in Sorensen Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Wheeler died of complications of old age after having been in the hospital seven weeks. Mrs. Wheeler was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. McEwen and was born in Shelton in 1867. In 1871 she accompanied her parents by ox-team and horseback over the Cascade mountains to the Kittitas Valley. At that time Indian war scares were frequent, a it had not been long since Gov. Isaac Stevens had subdued the Indians of Central Washington. The Perkins murders in the Yakima Valley and the Bannock war was yet to come.
Mrs. Wheeler generally was known as ‘Aunt Laura’ to her many friends and relatives. She married the late Abe Wheeler in 1888, and she was the last survivor of her immediate family. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler were married 53 years. They lived on a farm south of Kittitas, but of late years Mrs. Wheeler has been living with a daughter, Mrs. John L. Harder of Ellensburg.
Mrs. Wheeler was a long time member of the Baptist church. Other survivors include another daughter, Mrs. P. B. Moran, Seattle, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A son, Charles Wesley Wheeler, died six years ago.
Funeral services have been set for 2 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Dan Rueb officiating. Burial will be in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Laura’s parents were John Hager McEwen and Jerusah Morrow. I have Laura’s birthday as November 28 1965. The headstone has 1866. She died May 7, 1955.
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman