David Wheeler
was born in North Ogden, January 4, 1875, the son of Calvin Wheeler and Marion
Hutchinson. He passed away at the
Bannock Memorial Hospital, September 26, 1959 after suffering a heart attack a
few days previous. He is survived by
three brothers: Beniah Wheeler of Mesa, Arizona; Riley Wheeler of Salmon,
Idaho; Austin Wheeler of Blackfoot, Idaho; and one sister: Mabel England of
Moreland, Idaho. Also the following sons
and daughters: Florence, Leon, Roy, Edward, Elnora, Dora, Mearl and Max. Thirty-eight grandchildren and 62 great grand
children. He was preceded in death by
his wife, Ida, on January 4, 1959, and one son, James, who lived only a few
hours.
He married Ida
Weierman on December 4, 1895, in the Logan Temple. They lived together 64 years before death
parted them. He was called on a mission
to the Southern States just six weeks after their marriage. Throughout he suffered much persecution and hardship.
He also enjoyed many blessings of being a minister of our Father in Heaven. He was stoned, his life was threatened, and
rotten eggs were thrown at him, but by the Grace of God he was spared to
continue teaching the gospel. He became
a very fluent speaker while on his mission.
From this he gained the title of “kid preacher” by which many Elders,
non members, and the Saints knew him throughout his mission. Throughout his life he has dearly loved the
scriptures and in his later life studies them daily. The scriptures that he loved most were those
written by the Apostle Paul, who also was a very powerful speaker. It is the Apostle’s Paul own words that best
describe Grandpa’s own philosophy of life.
Acts 20:32-35
“And now brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace, which is
able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are
sanctified. I have coveted no man’s
silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye
yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to
them that were with me ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words
of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Grandpa was known
for his kindness and generosity and would give anything to anyone he thought
was in need. He also loved children; in
his later years when his grandchildren and great grandchildren would come to
see him they would take him by the hand and lead him into the bedroom where
they knew he would give them candy. He
played and sang to them, and each one loved him dearly.
After 30 months
in the mission field he returned home.
He and grandmother moved to Indian Valley, Idaho. During the trip, they had to stop and grandpa
mined gold to get enough money to go on to their destination. While living in Indian Valley, their first
two children born. During the winter
when their first child was born grandpa worked in the timber making ties. He had several accidents that winter and was
laid up much of the time. By the time spring came he had only two dollars
to show for his winters work. In these early years, they moved often and
suffered many hardships. After receiving
word of the serious illness of grandmother’s mother, she and her two small
children moved to Logan to care for her until her death. A short time later Grandpa sold all their
belongings and went to Logan to be with his family. They later moved to Mapelton and lived in an
old dirt roof log house.
In 1905 they
moved to Moreland and bought the Dave White place. From this time on they spent most of their
lives in Moreland. Grandpa farmed for
many years. He also spent much time in
the timber getting out logs and firewood.
He enjoyed good health and was a fast worker until just few years before
his death. When he was 75 or 76 years
old, my brother and I went with him to the woods for poles. He said he would
cut them if we would load them. He
worked so fast that he was finished cutting them before we had half of the
poles found and loaded. I heard it once
said that he would be cutting timber and stop to eat and be back to work before
those who were with him could even get their lunch sacks open. It was from Grandpa that I learned to love
the outdoors and fishing. He was a great
fisherman and always could catch his limit.
Some have said that he could catch fish even when no one else
could. Grandpa held many officers in the
church throughout his life. While in
Mapelton, he was Sunday School Superintendent.
At MacKay he was the branch President. While in Moreland, he worked in
the Sunday School and the MIA, the Old Folks Committee, Seven Presidency of
Seventies in the Blackfoot Stake.
He gave this
advice at the end of his life history.
“My advice to any one, interested is to settle down and not drag your
family all over the country.”
Given by Howard
Christiansen- Grandson of David Wheeler
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