Rev. Eli Wheeler, Sr., our ancestor affectionately called 'Papa" was born November 22, 1881, in Texarkana, Texas. Papa was married twice prior to his marriage to Mama, Addie Mae White. From these earlier marriages, three children were born: Reever Wade, Virgie, and a third child who died at birth, On February 12, 1912, he married his third wife, Addie Mae White,in Rusk, Texas. In his younger years, he worked as a section foreman and sniper for the railroad. Section foremen were highly classified positions then. They were responsible for railroad controls and maintenance. A sniper was a railroad laborer who worked with picks, shovels, rail spikes und railroad ties. Standing almost 6 feet tall, Papa was a great storyteller, aided in part by his very deep, compelling bass voice. He has been generally described as "graceful". His favorite activities included fishing and hunting, habits he developed initially to feed his family. Papa entered Christian ministry in August,1906, in a small community called Sand Ridge, located in Nacogdoches, Texas. After moving to Rusks, Tx. Papa was respectfully called "Preacher". Having an excellent shot his hunting methods included using a pistol to hunt small game such as rabbits and squirrels. With his two sons, Charles and Marion watching, Papa once broke up a gathering lynch-mob while exhibiting a single-shot 12-gauge shotgun. Papa died May 20, 1971, in Kansas City' Missouri.

​

Papa's Father: Calvin Wheeler was Papa's father. He was born about 1816. Calvin was half-Indian. His mother was from the Cherokee Indian tribe.His father was of African heritage. Calvin lived during the time of slavery, but was never slave. he worked various jobs, including farming and blacksmithing. He has a reputation of being "mean". A story is told of an incident where Calvin struck a man wuth a gun. In east Texas at the time, when a person wanted to buy a gun, the gunsmith would load the gun with a bullet before handing it to the customer. As a customer Calvin have been handed a gun. A dispute of rose with someone else in the gun shop. Calvin, thinking the gun he was holding was loaded, attempted to shoot the person involved in the dispute, but failed because the gunsmith had failed to load the gun. so, in anger, Calvin smacked the gunsmith with the empty gun because the gunsmith had not loaded the gun! Calvin had one sister who married a man name Jack Whittier. Calvin died in 1906 and his buried at Sand Ridge, near Nacogdoches, Tx. 

Papa’s Mother
Elvira Madison (Wheeler) was Papa’s mother. She was born in about 1850. She was a tall, extremely witty brown skin good looking woman Papa said she came from an African tribal stock called “Nebo” ( possibly Ibo, from Nigeria). She lived near Texarkana, Tx and may have been born in Louisiana. She was just 47 years old when her husband, Calvin died in 1906. Therefore, she was possibly just 13 or 14 years old when they married. They had seven sons and three daughters. In 1938, at the age of 78., Elvira died of bronchial pneumonia at Papa’s home. She is buried in Rusk, Texas.

Papa’s sisters and brother
Levi Wheeler was the oldest child of Calvin and Elvira ‘s Tim children. He was born in 1876 in Texarkana, Texas. He had no children known as uncle Lee Levi work as a section foreman for the railroad and was also a carpenter. He was double jointed, and extremely strong physically he was red skinned and had kinky hair he lived in San Bernardino California in 50 1951. Viola Wheeler was born in 1886 in Texarkana Texas. She had a red complexion and was about 5’7
Laureena Wheeler was born in Nacogdoches, Texas she stood about 5’7 and had a brown complexion. She was the mother of twin boys, Otha and Arthur. Bessie Wheeler was born in 1891 in Nacogdoches, Texas. She was about 56 with a red complexion. She was married to guy, Thomas. Adew Wheeler was born in 1893. He was about 6 feet tall and was a former Gus Wheeler was born in January 29, 1894. He was about 58 he was a former and a public worker before retiring he and his wife Mandy had the following children Leroy, Amanda, Leola. He died March 29 in 1997; he was over 103 years old Sylvester (a.k.a. vest) Wheeler was born in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was about 57 he lived in San Bernardino with his wife, Addie. Herman Wheeler was born in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was a cement finisher. He was about 58 with a brown complexion. His wife was Lillian. He was living in Los Angeles, California when he died his funeral was on March 15, 1983. 

​

White

Addie Mae White (Mama Wheeler) was born September 16, 1886 and Rusk Texas. She graduated from Prairieview College, which at the time was a 12th great school ( in those days Black people did not go further in school than the eighth grade) beginning in 1910 Momma taught school in Delmar Texas. She died May 20, 1975.

Momma’s father

Charles White was Momma’s father. He was born into slavery on March 12, 1863 and live Arp Texas. Charles became a former in blacksmith also known as a seer in his community. Charles collected information on his relatives and other families in the community people saw him out for advice and information. Charles died in Rusk Texas, September 17, 1940 and is buried in Plainview cemetery. Joe White was Charles’s father. Joe was born around 1782 and Georgia. Kizzie Evans was Charles’s mother. Kizzie was born in 1830 in Alabama.

Mama’s mother
Margie Tremble was Mama’s mother, she died in 1940 and RusK Texas and is buried in Plainview cemetery. Marion Tremble was Margie’s father. He was born and died and rusk Texas.

Mama’s brothers and sisters
Jay White was born in 1885 prior to his marriage to Mama’s parents, Charles and Margie, Jay and his wife Eugenia had the following children Jimbo, Mabel, two daughters Elma and Irma (a.k.a. Daut & Bill) and Addie Mae. John Ben White. ( a.k.a. James Bradford.) was born in 1893 and Rusk, Texas. He and his wife Esther were the parent of Helen Margie Nora Carolyn, Dorothy “ baby sister” in a son J. B. He died in 1977 in Houghton Louisiana. Robert Marion died in 1937. Charlie (Uncle Doc) white Jr. Was born in 1900 he and his wife. Lavetta, had the following children. Hazel, Venora (aka Bill) Eunice, Helen, Charles, a.k.a. Buster Bobbie, Laverne and Betty Jean. In 1965 he was robbed and killed on the street in Kansas City, Missouri.

Papa’s & Mama’s Children

Rev. Charles Calvin Wheeler ( Henritta Mitchell) was born November 25, 1913 and Russ Texas. He was named after his grandfathers Charles White mamas father and Calvin Wheeler, papa‘s father Charles Pastor Westminster Baptist Church, Kansas City, Missouri. He earned the bachelors degree from Roosevelt College and Chicago, Illinois, a bachelors of divinity degree from central Baptist theological seminary in Kansas City, Missouri in a masters of sacred theology from Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa Charles served in World War II in the Calvary as a buffalo soldier he died on February 17, 1973 in his buried in Lincoln cemetery Kansas City, Missouri Reverend Marion II Wheeler Senior (Nora Lee) affectionally called Uncle chunky was born February 21, 1915 in Rusk Texas. He passed several Baptist churches he earned a bachelors degree from Hillsdale College and Hillsdale Michigan a bachelors divinity degree from Grand Rapids theological seminary in Grand Rapids Michigan a matches of theology degree from Chicago theological seminary, Chicago, Illinois and at the age of 84 years old, a doctor of divinity South Pacific University he died August 18, 2005 in Taylor, Texas and was eulogized as Pulpit Warrior and buried in east Caney community cemetery near Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Margie Wheeler was born October 16, 1917 and Rusk Texas. She died of double pneumonia February 1928 in Russ Texas at the age of 10 Herman dewitt Wheeler. Was born January 6, 1919 in Palestine, Texas. He choked to death on a fish bone when he was 15 months old. Marie Wheeler was born August 19, 1921 in Palestine Texas. She died in October 19 40 and Taylor, Texas at the age of 19. She is buried in Russ Texas Revan, Eli Wheeler Junior. (Margaret Brown ) was born April 24, 1923. He received a batches of theology degree from Western Baptist seminary Kansas City, Missouri. The family could always count on Eli to tell a joke he served in the army during World War II it was deployed to Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Eli was pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Kansas City, Kansas at the time of his death September 26, 2006. Levi Wheeler Senior. ( Lula Mae Sharpe) was born June 21, 1924 in Palestine, Texas. He earned associates of arts degree from Western Baptist seminary Kansas City, Missouri. He was an excellent athlete, especially basketball in football. Levi served in the Navy during World War II. His bravery was. steadfast when his ship came under attack and he alerted it also search to the location of a bomb on board he was pastor of new Zion missionary Baptist Church at the time of his death November 7, 2006. Lula Mae Wheeler. ( Georgetta. Mother Sharpe) was born March 30, 1928 in Rusk Texas. He was a tremendous high school athlete while living in Fort Fort Scott Kansas became a semi truck driver and the loving and. Dutiful father of 11 children 10 who were female Lela Lois, Iretta, Jamesetta, Pamela, Bertha, Bonita Vanessa, Cynthia Michelle and James Junior. James was known for his hospitality and having fish fries. The Friday family reunion dinner is named in his honor. He died August 28, 1989 Jean A Wheeler Stevens. ( John Steven.) was born August 2, 1929 in rust Texas Jean was a dedicated musician at Westminster Baptist Church. She was known as the kindest person you would ever meet. She live with her family in Kansas City Missouri into her dad July 4, 1983. Lela Elvira. (Wheeler) Collins( Jeremiah Collins) was born September 30, 1930 in Rusk, Texas. She and her husband had six children between 1974 and 1991. She worked for Trans World Airlines. She was known for her beauty and fashion but mostly missed for her kind spirit and her ability to remember everyone’s birthday. She lived in Kansas City Missouri until her death November 9, 2022 at the age of 92.

Postscript: the information above was provided by multiple sources some relying on best recollection and is considered a living history. We send a very special thanks to you. Marion Wheeler Jr for collecting this information and we look forward to adding to the Wheeler white family history.

​

​