Samuel P. Wheeler
Encyclopedia
Samuel P. Wheeler was a prominent Illinois
lawyer
of the nineteenth century.
on January 12, 1839, the son of physician
Dr. Alvan Wheeler. After high school
, he moved to Illinois
, initially finding work as a teacher
.
He was admitted to the bar of Illinois at age 20 and then established a law practice at Mound City, Illinois
. He later moved his practice to Cairo, Illinois
, where he was associated with William J. Allen
. Wheeler practiced law in Cairo until 1887, although he did move to Mount Carmel, Illinois
at one point to serve as a director of the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad
.
In 1887, Wheeler's longtime law partner William Joshua Allen was appointed as a United States federal judge
for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
by President of the United States
Grover Cleveland
. At this point, Wheeler moved to Springfield, Illinois
, joining the firm of Brown, Wheeler, Brown & Hay (the firm is still in existence, and has been known as Brown, Hay & Stephens since 1921). His colleagues there included Christopher C. Brown, John T. Stuart
, and Benjamin S. Edwards
. During his time at Springfield, Wheeler acted as receiver
for the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad
, the Jacksonville, Louisville and St. Louis Railway, and the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad
.
Wheeler was active in the Illinois State Bar Association
, and took a special interest in advocating on behalf of the act that created the Illinois Appellate Court
. When the constitutionality of this act was challenged, Wheeler, along with Anthony Thornton
and Harvey B. Hurd
argued successfully in favor of the act's constitutionality. Wheeler was elected president of the Illinois State Bar Association in 1893, succeeding Lyman Trumbull
.
Wheeler was active in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
and served as a member of the Board of Directors
of the Southern Illinois Normal School
for twenty five years.
Wheeler died on December 2, 1906.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
of the nineteenth century.
Biography
Samuel P. Wheeler was born in Binghamton, New YorkBinghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
on January 12, 1839, the son of physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
Dr. Alvan Wheeler. After high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he moved to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, initially finding work as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
He was admitted to the bar of Illinois at age 20 and then established a law practice at Mound City, Illinois
Mound City, Illinois
Mound City is a city located along the Ohio River in Pulaski County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 692. It is the county seat of Pulaski County.-Geography:Mound City is located at ....
. He later moved his practice to Cairo, Illinois
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
, where he was associated with William J. Allen
William J. Allen
William Joshua Allen was a U.S. Representative from Illinois during much of the American Civil War, and was later a United States federal judge....
. Wheeler practiced law in Cairo until 1887, although he did move to Mount Carmel, Illinois
Mount Carmel, Illinois
Mount Carmel is a city in and the county seat of Wabash County, Illinois, United States. At the time of the 2000 census, the population was 7,982, while the next largest town in Wabash County is Allendale, population 528. Located at the confluence of the Wabash, Patoka, and White Rivers, Mount...
at one point to serve as a director of the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad
Cairo and Vincennes Railroad
The Cairo and Vincennes Railroad was a 19th-century American railroad that connected Cairo, Illinois, with Vincennes, Indiana. It was chartered by the state of Illinois in 1867 through the efforts of former American Civil War General Green B. Raum, who subsequently oversaw the planning and...
.
In 1887, Wheeler's longtime law partner William Joshua Allen was appointed as a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is a Federal district court covering approximately the southern half of the state of Illinois....
by President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
. At this point, Wheeler moved to Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, joining the firm of Brown, Wheeler, Brown & Hay (the firm is still in existence, and has been known as Brown, Hay & Stephens since 1921). His colleagues there included Christopher C. Brown, John T. Stuart
John T. Stuart
John Todd Stuart was a lawyer and a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born near Lexington, Kentucky, Stuart graduated from Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, in 1826. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1828, and commenced practice in Springfield, Illinois...
, and Benjamin S. Edwards
Benjamin S. Edwards
Benjamin S. Edwards was an Illinois lawyer, politician, and judge.-Biography:...
. During his time at Springfield, Wheeler acted as receiver
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
for the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad
Cairo and Vincennes Railroad
The Cairo and Vincennes Railroad was a 19th-century American railroad that connected Cairo, Illinois, with Vincennes, Indiana. It was chartered by the state of Illinois in 1867 through the efforts of former American Civil War General Green B. Raum, who subsequently oversaw the planning and...
, the Jacksonville, Louisville and St. Louis Railway, and the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad
Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad
The Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad was a railroad in the U.S. state of Illinois that operated a main line between Pekin and Madison via Springfield...
.
Wheeler was active in the Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
The Illinois State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the country. Approximately 30,000 lawyers are members of the ISBA. Unlike some state bar associations, in which membership is mandatory, ISBA membership is not required of lawyers licensed to practice in...
, and took a special interest in advocating on behalf of the act that created the Illinois Appellate Court
Illinois Appellate Court
The Illinois Appellate Court is the court of first appeal for civil and criminal cases arising in the Illinois Circuit Courts. Three Illinois Appellate Court judges hear each case and the concurrence of two is necessary to render a decision. The Illinois Appellate Court will render its opinion in...
. When the constitutionality of this act was challenged, Wheeler, along with Anthony Thornton
Anthony Thornton (representative)
Anthony Thornton was an American attorney who served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois and a Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court....
and Harvey B. Hurd
Harvey B. Hurd
Harvey B. Hurd was a prominent Chicago lawyer, abolitionist, and social reformer.-Biography:Harvey B. Hurd was born in Huntington, Connecticut on February 14, 1828. He grew up on his family's farm...
argued successfully in favor of the act's constitutionality. Wheeler was elected president of the Illinois State Bar Association in 1893, succeeding Lyman Trumbull
Lyman Trumbull
Lyman Trumbull was a United States Senator from Illinois during the American Civil War, and co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.-Education and early career:...
.
Wheeler was active in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was a Presbyterian denomination in the United States. It was organized in 1789 under the leadership of John Witherspoon in the wake of the American Revolution and existed until 1958 when it merged with the United Presbyterian Church of North...
and served as a member of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Southern Illinois Normal School
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
for twenty five years.
Wheeler died on December 2, 1906.