Biography of Monroe Wheeler
Judge Monroe Wheeler is not only known as one of the essentially representative legists and jurists of his native county, where he is now serving on the bench of the surrogate court, but he is also a scion of one of the old and distinguished families of Steuben county, where the family name is perpetuated in the town of Wheeler, where he was born on the 16th of August, 1849. Judge Wheeler is a son of Grattan H. and Nancy D. (Sayre) Wheeler, whose marriage was solemnized on the 30th of March, 1837. Grattan H. Wheeler was born in the town of Wheeler on the 12th of March, 1813, and was a grandson of Silas Wheeler, who served as a valiant soldier in the Continental line in the war of the Revolution and who also took part in the war of 1812. Silas Wheeler was a native of Concord, Massachusetts, and he took up his residence in Steuben county, New York, about the year 1799. Here he purchased a tract of land in what is now the town of Wheeler and he and his son, Grattan H., added to their landed estate from time to time until its area was more than four thousand acres. Silas Wheeler became the father of two daughters, who were twins, and one son, Grattan H. The son was nineteen years of age at the time when the family settled in the town of Wheeler and there he continued to reside until his death. In politics he was a stanch adherent of the Whig party and he was called upon to serve in offices of distinctive public trust, including that of representative in Congress and a member of the state legislature. He married Miss Frances Baker, of Cameron, this county, and they had three children, -- Mrs. Sarah Brundage, Silas and Grattan H., Jr. Grattan H. Wheeler, Sr., died on the 11th of March, 1852, at the age of sixty-eight years, six months and sixteen days, and his cherished and devoted wife was summoned to eternal rest on the 22d of March, 1813, only ten days after the birth of her only son.
Grattan H. Wheeler, Jr., father of Judge Wheeler, was afforded the advantages of the common schools of his day and he continued to be actively identified with agricultural pursuits in the township of Wheeler until December 9, 1857, when he removed to Hammondsport, this county, and engaged in the raising of grapes and the manufacturing of wine. He was one of the founders of the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, which built the first wine cellar in this section and which has long held wide reputation for the production of high-grade wines. He was president of the wine company for nine years and then established an individual cellar, which was known as the Hammondsport Wine Cellar and which continued to be operated under this title until 1880, when the title of Hammondsport Wine Company was adopted. He was the owner of a large and well improved landed estate and was a man who wielded much influence in local affairs while he so ordered his course as to well merit the unqualified confidence and esteem so uniformly reposed in him. In politics he was originally a Whig but upon the organization of the Republican party he identified himself therewith, ever afterward continuing a stanch advocate of its principles and policies. He served one term as supervisor of Wheeler township and was at one time the candidate of his party for the state legislature. Grattan H. Wheeler, Jr., was summoned to eternal rest on the 10th of April, 1901, and his wife passed away on the 27th of May, 1889. They became the parents of ten children, of whom two sons and four daughters are now living.
The name of Grattan, which has been borne by various members of this old and honored family, has its origin according to the following record. Silas Wheeler was taken prisoner by the British after the historic "Boston tea-party," with which he was supposed to have been identified, and he was confined in Kinsale Castle, Ireland, from which he was assisted to escape by Lord Henry Grattan, who requested Mr. Wheeler to name his son in his honor. This name has been perpetuated in the various generations.
Judge Monroe Wheeler gained his preliminary educational training at Hammondsport Academy and later he took a partial course in the literary department of the famous University of Michigan. He then began the study of law, under the preceptorship of Honorable David B. Hill, later governor of New York, at Elmira, and thereafter he continued his technical studies under the direction of Hon. David Rumsey, of Bath, where for three years he was managing clerk for the law firm of Rumsey & Miller. In October, 1874, he was admitted to the bar and thereafter he was engaged in the active practice of his profession at Hammondsport until 1906. He served as village attorney of Hammondsport and there he built up a very successful practice, in which he continued until 1906, when he removed to Bath, establishing his home on Liberty street. In 1900 he was elected surrogate of Steuben county and upon the expiration of his first term, in 1906, he was elected as his own successor, his present term expiring in 1912. On the bench of this court Judge Wheeler has given a most able administration and he is one of the most prominent and influential representatives of his profession in his native county. He is a stockholder in the White Top Champagne Company, in which he formerly served as treasurer and a director, and he is the owner of valuable real-estate at Hammondsport and Bath, as well as in other sections of the county. He has been identified with the early development of aviation, being president of the Curtiss Exhibition Company, and he is general counsel for Mr. Glenn H. Curtiss, the famous aviator.
In politics Judge Wheeler is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor and he has done effective work in various campaigns. He is identified with several fraternal and social organizations of representative character and he holds a secure place in popular confidence and esteem.
In the year 1877 was solemnized the marriage of Judge Wheeler to Miss Emma White, a daughter of the late John White, of Cohocton, Steuben county, New York, and the two children of this union are David Rumsey and Harrison Sayre.
by Hon. Harlo Hakes, 1896
Monroe Wheeler, the second son of Grattan H. and Nancy D. Wheeler, was born
on the old Wheeler farm in the town of Wheeler, August 16, 1849, and lived there
with his parents until they moved to Urban a, December 9, 1857.
He was educated at Hammondsport Academy and Michigan University, and
studied law his first year at Elmira with Judge G. L. Smith, and .Senator David B.
Hill. The firm was then Smith & Hill. He spent the last two years of his law
course with D. & W. Rumsey at Bath N. Y., and was admitted to the bar at Rochester,
N. Y., October 22, 1874. For three years thereafter he was managing clerk
of the law firm of Rumsey & Miller at Bath.
On October 24, 1879, he married Miss Emma G. White, of Cohocton, N. Y., and
on November 1 of that year he opened a law office at Hammondsport, where he
has ever since practiced. During which time he has built up a large and profitable
practice, and is now considered one of the best lawyers of his age in the county.
He has always been an active Republican and one of the leaders of his party in
the county for the past twelve years. He has placed many others in office, but he
prefers for himself the practice of law to office holding.
He has been village attorney for many years and counsel for the large wine companies
at Hammondsport, and also attorney for the railroad and steamboat companies
there. He is also treasurer of the Lake Keuka Wine Co.
He has an adopted daughter and two young sons.