Wheeler article by Karen
Lionel Eugene Wheeler
By Karen Cuccinello
He pretty much always went by Eugene and sometimes Gene Wheeler and was a WWI Veteran.
Eugene was born December 12, 1898 in Stamford, the only son of Louis/Lewis E. Jr. (1864-1900) and Susan/Susie M. (Peters 1876-1966) Wheeler. He had one older sister Alta (Mrs. Eugene H. Myers 1897-1976) and they usually lived together in Stamford, sometimes with the Peters family. His father was born a few months after his grandfather Lewis Sr. died in the Civil War and grew up in the household of his mother Emily/Emma’s (1842-1928) mom, widow Ann Reynolds. 1875 census Davenport- Ann Reynolds age 60 Wd (widow), children: Libbie 25, John 23, Edward 21, Alice 18, Emily Wheeler 30 Wd daughter, Lewis Wheeler 10 grandson.
History of the 9th Volunteer Cavalry- Wheeler, Lewis E, age 23, enlisted October 29, 1861 at NYC. Appointed Corporal August 1, 1863. Wounded at Trevillian Station, VA, June 11, 1864. Died of wounds June 12, 1864.
September 10, 1864 Delaware Republican, Delhi- … Died- Corp. Lewis E. Wheeler of East Davenport, aged 25 years, was a highly esteemed member of Co. M. 9th N. Y. Cavalry. He was wounded on the 11th, and though lingering amid the most excruciating agonies, no murmur escaped his lips, no word of fear for the great cause in which he suffered, or of doubt as to its final success. Late on the second night of his sufferings, and sinking under their heavy weight he seemed to slumber, but when morning came, both he and a wounded comrade at his side were among the dead. His grave, which probably no friend will ever see or know, is on the soil of Virginia…
Back to Eugene; his mother Susan supported the family as a nurse and his sister was a saleslady and telephone operator.
Abstract WWI service- Lionel E. Wheeler of Stamford, enlisted at Fort Slocum, NY April 27, 1917 age 18y4m, Co. E. 77 FA and Co B 337, was overseas May 19, 1918-April 4, 1919, honorably discharged April 15, 1919.
Eugene married Mildred Lord, of Sidney, NY, December 29, 1920 and she died of tuberculosis April 14, 1924. No children came of this union.
Eugene’s grandmother: July 12, 1928 Stamford Mirror-Recorder- Mrs. Emily (Reynolds) Wheeler died at her late home in Stamford June 29th, aged 86 years. Mrs. Wheeler was born May 2, 1842 in the township of Franklin and attended Franklin Academy, later removing to Davenport where she lived for many years. For the past 50 years she had resided in Stamford, having built and operated for several years the Rosemont, now known as the Virginia, a summer boarding house. She married Lewis Edward Wheeler, November 19, 1863, who was killed in the Civil War, battle of Travillion in 1864. A son, Lewis H., was born October 10, 1864, and died May 6, 1900. Those surviving are two grandchildren, Mrs. E. H. Meyers and Leonel Eugene Wheeler of Stamford; two brothers, Birney Reynolds of Dayton, Ohio, and John Foote Reynolds of Stamford; two nieces, Mrs. J. F. Baugh of Pineville, Ky., and Mrs. G. C. Wirtz of Stamford and a nephew, E. Blaine Reynolds, of Stamford.
Eugene was an actor or singer in plays/skits such as “Henry’s Wedding” and Minstrel Fancies from the late 1920’s into the 30’s. He went on some hunting trips to the Adirondacks. He listed his occupation as carpenter in the census reports and he was an employee of the American locomotive works in 1943 and later Catskill Craftsmen.
In 1935 Eugene spent months home sick; in 1954 he is a patient at the Veterans Hospital in Albany and in 1964 he is a patient at Sun Mount Veteran’s Hospital at Tupper Lake where he dies August 10, 1964. He was a member of Lt. Harry Pruden Jr. V.F.W. Post, and former member of I. H. Maynard Hose Co. Burial in Stamford Cemetery.
Photos housed in the Stamford Village Library history room.