Richard Wheeler

This picture provided by family researcher Diane Wheeler is believed to be of Richard Wheeler, son of James and Mary (Slingerland) Wheeler. Richard was born in Grantham Township, Lincoln County about 1825 and died at Harrisville, Michigan in 1906. He came with his parents to Lot 12, Concession 2 Walsingham Township north of Port Rowan by 1850.

Richard married in 1851, Emma Petheram, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Baker) Petheram (1836-1853). She came to Walsingham with her parents from Somerset County, England in 1843. Like his father-in-law, Richard Wheeler was a cordwainer. The couple had a daughter Emma Elizabeth before the mother’s death in 1853, just two years after their marriage.

After the passing of his first wife, Richard Wheeler married in 1853, Mary Procunier pictured here. Born in Walsingham about 1835 to David and Sarah Ann (Overbaugh) Procunier, Mary was a granddaughter of Long Point Settlers Peter Procunier and Hezekiah Overbaugh. Mary and Richard had eight children—George H. (1854), David Augustus (1856), Peter James Wesley (1858), Daniel S. (1860), Sarah (1864), William (1866), Mary (1869) and John (1873)




Peter James Wesley Wheeler (1858) on the left and his brother David Augustus Wheeler (1856). David moved to Mikado, Michigan and then settled in Lousana, Alberta in 1905. Peter lived in Alcona Co., Michigan then settled at Medicine Hat, Alberta in 1910.




Wedding picture of Peter James Wesley Wheeler and Nancy Fonger January 22, 1882.



James Fonger father of Nancy Fonger who married Peter Wheeler. James was born about 1836 probably in Halton or Wentworth County and after his father’s passing moved with his mother to Middleton Township, Norfolk County and married Elizabeth Edmonds in 1862. They lived in South Norwich Township, Oxford County.


The Peter James Wheeler family with their log cabin at Mikado, Michigan circa 1885. Peter is sitting at left with daughter Sarah in his arm and his wife Nancy (Fonger) Wheeler at right with son James Leslie in her lap. Standing behind them is Nancy’s half-sister Lazell Fonger.