Angelia (Peterson) Patterson (great-granddaughter of James Wheeler)               

As part of my Sabbatical studies, I am meditating upon the immediate season ahead of us in my local church.  (click here for a connecting point: James Wheeler: a Christian)
A significant percentage of our core members are Seniors. As their pastor I have always affirmed their great value and commitment to 'care' for them as they age while gleaning wisdom from their riches of histories.

I begin my introduction to Angelia Peterson by considering a letter written to her by her mother, Minnie (Cleveland) Peterson on Angelia's 35th birthday.

Minnie knew the pain of divorce and separation when her own mother, (Mary) Angelia (Wheeler) Cleveland parted ways with her husband and brought the children from Kansas back to Moscow, Michigan. Minnie's father, John Cleveland, was a veteran of the Civil War.

Minnie's baby brother, Edgar, had died; mother and children had the hooping cough; food was scarce. Regardless of the reasons Angelia Cleveland left John Cleveland, Minnie was hurt in life by decisions made upon the death of her baby brother. Click here to read a letter that tells of the tragic story

 

 May 12, 1934

 My Dear little Girl,

 How well I remember thirty five years ago when you came to gladden
our home.

How I wish
you was
little again.

I would try and do better by you. But we cannot undo our mistakes.

I hope you
will see
many returns of the day.

Now take care of yourself and send Richard out when you want to do what you want to do with what I am sending you.


   With lots of love to all,     
             Mother

    Frank and Minnie Peterson at the farm on Cronk Rd.            Thomas W. and Angelia Peterson were born there.

      CLICK HERE: For more of Frank Peterson's Family History (written by his daughter, Angelia).

On August 23, 1926 Angelia married Robert White Patterson,
                         the son of Robert C. and Lura Mahala (White) Patterson

 

                       Coming to this page soon: a 'courting letter' to Angelia from Robert White Patterson


Robert C. and Lura Mahala (White) Patterson with "Robbie"
 

     Tin Type of Angelia's great grandmother
  Margaret (Gamby) Shafer
   wife of Philip Shafer (Philip: born in 1790)   
                            

Philip Shafer's father was Peter Shafer
who died in 1848.

Peter was married to Catherine Magdalena.


Margaret's father was George Gamby.
George was married to Susan Snyder.

The families of Gamby and Shafer attended Grubb's Church in Chapman Township,
Snyder County, Pennsylvania.
 

Death of Mr. James Wheeler  (The Hillsdale Democrat, Hillsdale Michigan January 23, 1891)

   Died, at his home in the township of Somerset, January 17, 1891, of paralysis of the heart, Mr. James Wheeler, aged 70 years, 5 months, and 4 days, having lived his allotted time of three score years and ten.

   He was the youngest of ten children, all of whom lived to be over seventy years old. Three of these, one sister and two brothers, survive him.

   Mr. Wheeler was born in Columbus County, New York, August 13, 1820, where he lived until after his marriage, September 14, 1843, to Miss Mary Nutten. Soon after his marriage he followed the tide of emigration westward to Michigan. He lived here until 1850, when he returned to his native state. In 1860 he again returned to Michigan, since which time he has lived in different parts of the state, but the greater share of the time in Hillsdale County. About a year before his death he purchased the farm on which he was living.

    He commanded the respect of his neighbors there, as at other places, by the example of his pure and noble life. Always cheerful, he was a good companion for both young and old. The deceased in early life gave his heart to God. His religion was to be seen in his every day actions, not cast aside merely to be donned for Sunday wear. The Bible was his guide, and he always labored for Christianity, was never found idle nor off duty when an opportunity presented itself.

    He was ready at his Master's summons, which came very suddenly, as he was taken ill on Friday forenoon and death relieved him Saturday morning.

    He leaves three children--one daughter, Mrs. Mary Cleveland, and two sons, Wilbur and Frank Wheeler, to mourn him as a kind father and counselor, beside many other relatives and a host of friends.

    The family have the sympathy of the entire community, and may they in him see and example from which to pattern.

    The esteem in which he was held was shown by the large concourse of people that were gathered at the funereal which took place at Moscow January 19th, 1891, Monday afternoon, at 1 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Mr. Tuthill. The remains were taken to North Adams to be beside those of his wife, who died some years before. Mr. Wheeler was radical in all things, inasmuch as he never did anything by halves, but put his whole soul into the work. In politics he was a staunch prohibitionist, being not afraid to be one of the first to vote for that party. November, 1889, he united with the M. E. church at Moscow by letter from North Adams, but he did not come as a stranger, for he had belonged to the same church years before, and so received a warm welcome. Of Mr. Wheeler it has been truly said: "There would have to be the first person found to speak ill of him, as none knew him but to love him."

The Nutten Family Reunion  Angelia Peterson (girl standing at far right) between her grandmothers: Mary Angelia Cleveland (Shipman) and Susan Shafer Peterson. Tom W. Peterson is crouched in front of Grandma Peterson.

(click here for another connecting point: James Wheeler: Mary Angelia Cleveland's father--a Christian)