Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
William Fletcher Wheeler papers, 1859-1894
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Wheeler, William F., 1824-1894
- Title
- William Fletcher Wheeler papers
- Dates
- 1859-1894 (inclusive)18591894
- Quantity
- 1 linear foot of shelf space
- Collection Number
- MC 65 (collection)
- Summary
- William Wheeler (1824-1894) served as U.S. Marshal and as Montana Historical Society Librarian in Helena, Montana. Papers consist of outgoing correspondence (1859-1860, 1869-1871), including discussion of problems of Montana Territorial law enforcement; and biographical writings on Montana pioneers. [Portions same as MF 12].
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
William Fletcher Wheeler was born in Warwick, New York, July 6, 1824. After attending several New York academies, he moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1842, at the age of eighteen. For several years he worked for the Ohio Statesman as a printer and reporter, and studied law in his spare time. In 1848, he was admitted to the bar. In 1853, Wheeler married Charlotte Jersey. Three years later the Wheelers moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Wheeler obtained the post of private secretary to Colonel Medary, newly appointed Minnesota Territorial Governor. Wheeler also served as territorial librarian. By September 1861, Wheeler had helped to raise a company for the Fourth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He fought in the Civil War battles at Iuka and Corinth, and later was part of the Vicksburg campaign. As a result of illness, Wheeler was discharged from the service in the spring of 1864.
In June 1869, Colonel Wheeler arrived in Montana as the newly appointed U.S. Marshal. He served in the position for three successive terms until 1878. During this time he was also ex-officio superintendent of the U.S. Penitentiary at Deer Lodge.
For the next decade Wheeler worked as a journalist and writer and was employed in 1884 by the Montana Historical Society to interview and write the biographies of former employees of the American Fur Company. In 1889, he accepted the position of librarian of the Montana Historical Society. He filled this post until his death in June 1894.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The papers consist primarily of biographical and historical writings done by Wheeler. Also included are correspondence (1859-1894) concerning personal business, his service in the Civil War, and his service as U.S. Marshal; materials related to the Meagher County vote fraud (1874); miscellaneous financial records and legal documents, and scrapbooks of writings, letters, and clippings.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Library and Archives. The Library and Archives does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library and Archives, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged by series. Some material housed in oversize folder in archives map case. See inventory below for more information.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
Biographical Material Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 1 | Biographical sketch of William F. Wheeler, by
Charlotte J. Wheeler |
1899 |
Incoming Correspondence Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 2 | A-N (correspondents include C. C. Bateman, E. S.
Bennett, Alex C. Botkin, J. M. Bronson, A. J. Falls, Herreshoff Manufacturing Company,
Hezekiah L. Hosmer, Hiram Knowles, Martin Maginnis, James H. Mills, Minnesota State
Historical Society, George W. Newkirk) |
1872-1894 |
1 / 3 | Benjamin F. Potts |
1870-1872 |
1 / 4 | S-W (correspondents include Lucy W. Stedman, Ed
Stone, U.S. Office of Indian Affairs, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Bob Wilson, unidentified) |
1871-1894 |
Outgoing Correspondence Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 5 | Letterpress books |
1859-1871, 1875-1878 |
1 / 6 | Letter to his wife Charlotte J. Wheeler from Oxford,
Mississippi, and LaGrange, Tennessee, during Civil War |
1862-1863 |
1 / 7 | Letter to R. R. Cowan |
1874 |
Financial Records Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 8 | Receipts (includes some for Wheeler Estate and
Charlotte J. Wheeler's purchase of a lot in Great Falls) |
1869-1895 |
1 / 9 | U.S. Marshal's Office: accounts, receipts |
1874-1879 |
1 / 10 | U.S. Marshal's Office: weekly statements of public
monies received |
1877-1878 |
Legal Documents Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 11 | Appointments as Deputy U.S. Marshal; power of
attorney; Charlotte J. Wheeler's will |
1878-1879, 1890, 1901 |
Subject Files Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 12 | Meagher County vote fraud during 1874 capital contest |
1874 |
1 / 13 | Congressional reimbursement to Wheeler for losses in
Helena fire of 1874 |
1875, 1877-1878 |
Writings Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 14 | Biographical sketches: Baptiste Aeneas |
1885 |
1 / 15 | Biographical sketches: Louis Brown |
1885 |
1 / 16 | Biographical sketches: Joseph Cobell |
circa 1885 |
1 / 17 | Biographical sketches: Walter W. DeLacy |
circa 1894 |
2 / 1 | Biographical sketches: Robert Dempsey |
1885 |
2 / 2 | Biographical sketches: James Gemmell |
1881 |
2 / 3 | Biographical sketches: Caleb Ewing Irvine |
1889 |
2 / 4 | Biographical sketches: William Kennedy |
1885 |
2 / 5 | Biographical sketches: Benjamin Keyser |
1889 |
2 / 6 | Biographical sketches: Mortimer H. Lott (includes
capture of George Ives) |
1885 |
2 / 7 | Biographical sketches: George W. Lovell ("Captain of
the Miners Guard at the Trial of George Ives") |
1886 |
2 / 8 | Biographical sketches: Angus McDonald |
1885 |
2 / 9 | Biographical sketches: Eli W. McNeal |
1885 |
2 / 10 | Biographical sketches: Louis R. Maillet |
circa 1885 |
2 / 11 | Biographical sketches: Henry H. Mood |
1889 |
2 / 12 | Biographical sketches: Joseph O'Neill |
1885 |
2 / 13 | Biographical sketches: William H. Parkinson |
1884 |
2 / 14 | Biographical sketches: Henry Robert |
1884 |
2 / 15 | Biographical sketches: Sacajawea [typed copy] |
1893 |
2 / 16 | Biographical sketches: Francis L. Worden |
1885 |
2 / 17 | "Personal histories of early pioneers of Chouteau
County" (interview notebook for Charles Mercier, George Weippert, Louis Rivet, Joseph
Cobell, Antoine Juneau, and Henry Robert; and Fort McKenzie history) |
1884 |
2 / 18 | Unidentified fur trader biography |
undated |
2 / 18a | "The Battle of Corinth [Mississippi]: full account of
that battle" |
1862 |
2 / 19 | "How the Bitterroot or Coeur d'Alene Mountains Were
Made the Western Boundary of Montana" |
1882 |
2 / 20 | "The Keelboat" [typed transcript] |
undated |
2 / 21 | Libraries; educational institutions; and common
schools of Montana |
1889 |
2 / 22 | "The Mackinaw Boat" [typed transcript] |
undated |
2 / 23 | "Medicine Tree Hill: an Indian Legend" as told by
Caleb E. Irvine |
1889 |
2 / 24 | "Missoula" (re origin of the name) |
1889 |
2 / 25 | Montana names |
undated |
2 / 26 | "Story of course de Femmes" as told by Caleb E.
Irvine (re Indian women's foot race at Evaro, in 1840s) |
1889 |
Miscellany Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Oversize Folder | ||
MC 65-71 | Notary public certificate [Map Case-See folder MC
65-71] |
1879 |
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 1 | Notebook (includes "Extracts and descriptions from D.
D. Owens' Geological Survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota"; clippings of letters
to the editor; expense list for survey trip) |
1856-1860 |
3 / 2 | Scrapbook (includes clippings of letters to the
editor) |
1878-1890 |
3 / 3 | Scrapbook (includes clippings of articles re "Our
artist abroad"; Missoula county fair, Nez Percé War; Northern Pacific Railroad;
Helena; Sun River, Montana's forests, etc.) |
1878-1890 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Capitals (cities)--Montana
- Corruption (in politics)--Montana
- Elections--Montana
- Fur trade--Montana
- Law enforcement--Montana
- Missouri River--Commerce
- Prisons--Montana
- Salish Indians
- Steamboats--Missouri River
- Vigilantes--Montana--Virginia City
Personal Names
- Wheeler, William F., 1824-1894 (creator)
Geographical Names
- Alder Gulch (Mont.)
- Bitterroot Range (Idaho and Mont.)
- Bitterroot River Valley (Mont.)
- Chouteau County (Mont.)
- Deer Lodge (Mont.)
- Fort Benton (Mont.)
- Fort McKenzie (Mont.)
- Helena (Mont.)--Biography
- Jocko Valley (Mont.)
- Madison County (Mont.)
- Meagher County (Mont.)--Politics and government
- United States-- History--Civil War, 1861-1865.