According to William Vick Wheeler, son of John D. Wheeler, John Deskin Wheeler was born 27 April 1827 in Wilson (or Smith) County, TN. His father's name was believed to be William or Newton (Nathan?) Wheeler, but that is not certain. It is believed that John D. Wheeler's parents lived in Grant, Smith County, Tennessee. Both of his parents died when he was young. His father probably died when he was about 3 [if correct, that would be in about 1830] and his mother probably died when he was about 5 [if correct, that would be in about 1832]. [None of these dates match the available records.]
According to William Vick Wheeler, John D. Wheeler became a "bound boy" to a family who lived at Tucker's Crossroads in Wilson (or Smith) County; but, he later ran away to Kentucky since the family he was bound to would not continue sending him to school. He came back to Tennessee and became a clerk in Nashville, where he made $90.00 per month. [Tucker's Cross Roads is located 7 1/2 miles east of Lebanon on the Trousdale Ferry Pike]

The following is a list of relatives of John Deskin
Wheeler from family information:
half-brother COONROD who lived in Arkansas.
half-brother WHEELER who lived in Missouri. His son lived in Edgemont, South Dakota, and was visited there in the 1890's by Lena Wheeler, J.D.'s daughter.
brother, Henry WHEELER, who lost one of his arms just below the elbow. Henry lived in Shelbyville, TN. (Information pertaining to Henry Wheeler and his descendants was obtained in the 1950's from his great-granddaughter, Emma Gill Thompson, now deceased. Henry Wheeler's family Bible was in the possession of his granddaughter, Ida Taylor, in 1952).
cousin Jim WHEELER from McMinnville, TN
cousin Tom WHEELER, a doctor, lived in Nashville (This info is from Marie Talley Denny, who has a picture of him)
cousin Jim DOUGHTY of Tennessee [the 1850 Census shows a James A. Doughty, 27, in Blount County with wife Sarah A. 27, and son Marcellus, 7 months..?]
cousin Sallie SWAN
cousin Emmitt SWAN, alive in 1951. (Info from Emma GILL Thompson.)
first cousin Nathan OAKLEY from Statesville, TN.
cousin Edward OAKLEY, living in 1951 (This info from Emma GILL Thompson, whose great-grandfather was John Deskin Wheeler's brother Henry.)
cousin John T. OAKLEY, Baptist minister, deceased before 1951 and buried in Commerce, TN, which is 4 miles from Grant as you go to Watertown (info from Emma GILL Thompson)
cousin Bill OAKLEY, John T.'s brother, who also was a preacher, buried in Commerce, TN. (Info from Emma GILL Thompson.)
cousin Kerg OAKLEY, never married, buried in Commerce, TN. (Info from Emma GILL Thompson.)

According to Marie Talley Denny, one of John Wheeler's sons was a U.S. Congressman or Senator. (It is possible this is a reference to the Wheeler's of Campbell County, who are believed to be related, who were Tennessee State senators and congressmen).


Census 1860
DeKalb County, Tennessee
District 1

John D. Wheeler 33 Tennessee Merchant
Mary T. 30 Tennessee
Martha A. 9 Tennessee
Elizabeth 1 Tennessee

Real estate valued at $2000
Personal property valued at $12,000


Census 1870

John Wheeler 43 Farmer
Mary 37 Tennessee Keeping House
Martha 17
Mary 10 At school
Ella 6
John 5
Joseph 1

Real estate valued at $1600, personal property at $1600.

Census 1880

J. D. Wheeler head 53 Tennessee Farmer
married.
B. B. wife 29 Tennessee Keeps House
Ella daughter 18
John C. son 14
J. H. son 11
Belle daughter 6
Hard, Ella niece 12
Johnson, M. servant 21 black female

J. D.'s parents born in Virginia
B. B.'s parents born in Tennessee


Census 1900

Wheeler, John D. head 73 Apr 1827 Tennessee Farmer
Drusilla wife 49 Jan 1851 Tennessee
Willie V. son 19 Jan 1881
Linan daughter 14 May 1886
Nettie daughter 3 Jan 1897
Floyd, Ella grand-daughter 12, Jan 1888

John D.'s parents born in Virginia.
Drusilla's parents born in Tennessee.
Drusilla mother of 6 children, 3 living.
John & Drusilla married 20 years.
Owns farm free.

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In a letter to William Givans Hudson of Liberty County, Texas on June 9, 1850, David M. Graves described John "B." Wheeler, husband of Mary Tennessee West, "A merchant and a fine man ... lives about 30 miles from me." David M. Graves and wife Mary Ann Hudson, were Mary Tennessee West's aunt and uncle. David M. Graves was a farmer and, when this letter was written, he lived in what is now termed the Paradise hill area near Nashville.

Was a Captain in the Tennessee Cavalry--The 2nd (Smith's) Tennessee Cavalry Regiment was organized as a battalion February 1862; increased to regiment April 1862; disbanded May 1862. Field Officers: Colonel E. S. Smith, Lt Colonel Zachariah Tomason. This regiment had a short life, and little is known of it. It appears to have been organized as a battalion at Camp Cheatham with eight companies which had been mustered into Confederate Service between November 1861 and January 1862. A ninth company was added March 13, 1862 and it was constituted as a regiment in April 1862. The original companies were as follows: ... John D. Wheeler. Mustered into Confederate Service at Camp Cheatham December 23, 1861. The battalion was at Camp Cheatham on February 14, 1862 as evidenced by a requisition for sabres, belts, and shotguns, signed by Lt Col E. S. Smith. It was next reported as being near Chattanooga on March 14, 1862. A report from a Federal scout dated April 6, 1862, placed Rankin's Company, 80 men, on the south side of the Tennessee River, opposite Bridgeport, Alabama. The last record found was in instructions sent by Major General E. Kirby Smith to Brigadier General D. Leadbetter, commanding at Chattanooga, dated April 28, 1862: "Colonel Smith should be arrested on the first pretext, and his regiment placed under the command of an efficient officer. If this cannot be done, select the best companies and organize them into a battalion, and report the remaining ones that they may be dismounted or some other disposition made of them." The regiment was disbanded, two of the companies (Capt Rankin's from Marion Co. and Capt. Thompson's from Wilson and Smith Co's) were transferred to the 4th (Starnes') Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. A number of individuals from other companies (Captain Lea's and Thomason's companies consisting of men from Marion County) later served in Alabama organizations. Capt J. D. Wheeler was apparently captured by Federal forces sometime in May 1862.

Was a Captain in the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry--Headquarters, 1st Brigade, Chattanooga, May 15, '62. Captain Wheeler's Company, 2d Tenn Cavalry having been disbanded under orders from Dept. Headquarters, I feel called on to say that Capt. Wheeler himself appears to have conducted himself always in a highly creditable manner. D. Leadbetter, Regiment Commander
[CIT:]Original paper in the possession of Alice Wheeler Rebotham.[:CIT]

Will:

I J. D. Wheeler a citizen of Wilson County State of Tennessee do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void any and all wills heretofore made by me ...
Secondly, I hereby give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Drucilla B. Wheeler during her natural life, the farm on which we now live known as the McMillen land, with all of its improvements, containing one hundred and ten acres more or less, lying in the 13th Civil District of Wilson County Tenn., bounded on the north by the Alexandria & Statesville Road and the land of R. H. Barry, East by the land of J. T. Quarles, south by the lands of Thomas Neal and R. Marler, west by the land of R. Marler ...
Thirdly I direct that my old farm where I formerly lived in the 13th Civil District of Wilson County Tenn. bounded north by the lands of Preston Phillips, east and south by the land of R. Marler, west by the land of Jordan Barry, formerly the Esq. Elic Young farm, containing one hundred and thirty acres more or less, be sold ...
Fourthly I direct that my three children Willie, Lena and Nettie Wheeler, the issue of my marriage with my said wife Drucilla B. Wheeler, have four hundred dollars paid to each of them out of my estate exclusive of my other heirs herein after mentioned. My reason for making this provision for said three children are that I am carrying a life policy of two thousand dollars for the benefit of my other heirs and said three children cannot share in said policy. This bequest is to make them equal to that extent with my other heirs. I further direct that my infant child Nettie Wheeler, the youngest of said three children have paid to her out of my estate two hundred dollars before any general distribution, said bequest is on account of her age and not having the advantage of an education. I also direct that my three children Willie, Lena and Nettie Wheeler have paid to them out of my estate six hundred dollars making $200 each for them exclusive of my other heirs. Said bequest I make to cover the balance of the money that came into my hands as trustee for their mother Drucilla B. Wheeler not here to fore invested in land.
Fifthly I direct that all the residue of my property ... be equally divided among all of my heirs. Said bequest to all of my heirs includes Dicksie and Ella Floyd, children of my deceased daughter Ella Floyd, said children to represent their mother's interest in said division and equally share her interest in all of my estate with my other children as follows: Lizzie Flippen, wife of S. H. Flippen, Bell Jones, wife of R. F. Jones, J. C. Wheeler, Joe H. Wheeler, Willie, Lena and Netie Wheeler. ...
Seventhly, I hereby appoint my said wife Drucilla B. Wheeler guardian for my three minor children during their minority, she not being required too make bond as such guardian.

I hereby nominate and appoint my son J. C. Wheeler my executor ....
This February 27th. 1898

The "Esq. Elic Young farm" mentioned in John Deskin Wheeler's will as his old home place was the land of Alexander (Alex) Young, son of David Young whose sister, Elizabeth Young, married Edward B. Wheeler. Alex Young sold that land to a Mr. Barry who subsequently sold it to John D. Wheeler.

The Obelisk inscription reads: In the Memory of Capt. J. D. Wheeler born Apr 27, 1827 died Mar 18, 1901 (Masonic Symbol on upper obelisk)

• Married: 19 DEC 1849 in DeKalb County, Tennessee
• Note: "John B. Wheeler and Mary T. West. Issued 19th Dec 1849. This is to certify that I solemnized the right of Matrimony between the within parties December 19th, 1849. A. W. Beams, M. G." (They were married on the same day as Mary's second cousin Isaac Alexander Dale.)

1. Martha A. Wheeler b: 22 JUL 1852 in Tennessee
2. Sarah Tennessee Wheeler b: 9 JUL 1854 in Wilson County, Tennessee
3. Thomas M. Wheeler b: 20 OCT 1856 in Wilson County, Tennessee
4. Mary Elizabeth Wheeler b: 29 MAR 1859 in DeKalb County, Tennessee
5. Ellen Wheeler b: 16 NOV 1862 in Tennessee
6. John Charles Wheeler b: 6 SEP 1865 in Alexandria, DeKalb County, Tennessee
7. Joseph H. Wheeler b: ABT. 1869 in Tennessee
8. Belle Briggs Wheeler b: ABT. 1874 in Tennessee

• Married: 18 DEC 1879 in Alexandria, DeKalb County, Tennessee

1. William Vick Wheeler b: 20 APR 1881 in Alexandria, DeKalb County, Tennessee
2. Lenan Wheeler b: 5 JUN 1885 in Alexandria, DeKalb County, Tennessee
3. 3 Children Wheeler b: ABT. 1888 in Tennessee
4. Nettie Wheeler b: 6 SEP 1896 in Tennessee