WHEELER, William Almon, statesman, born in Malone, Franklin County, New York, 30 June, 1819; died there, 4 June, 1887. He studied at the University of Vermont for two years, but was compelled by the death of his father to leave college without being graduated.

He then began the study of law under Asa Hascall in Malone, New York, was admitted to the bar in 1845, and succeeded Mr. Hascall as United States district attorney of Franklin county, which post he held till 1849. At that time his political sympathies were with the Whig party, by which he was chosen to the assembly in 1849, but in the early part of the Fremont canvass in 1856 he supported the newly formed Republican party, remaining in it until his death.

An affection of the throat compelled him to abandon the practice of law in 1851, and from that year till 1866 he was connected with a bank in Malone. He became president of the Northern New York railroad company about the same time, and for twelve years was supervisory manager of the line from Rouse's Point to Ogdensburg, New York.

 He was a member and president pro tempore of the state senate in 1858-'9, and was chosen to congress in 1860 as a Republican, but, after serving one term, returned to his railroad and banking interests. He was president of the New York constitutional convent ion in 1867, returned to congress in 1869, and served continuously till 1877.

During that time he was chairman of the committees on the Pacific railroad company and commerce, a member of those on appropriations and southern affairs, and was the first in either house to cover his back-pay into the treasury, after the passage of the back-salary act. He was also the author of the famous "compromise" in the adjustment of the political disturbances in Louisiana, by which William Pitt Kellogg was recognized as governor, and the state legislature became Republican in the senate and Democratic in the house.

In 1876 he was nominated for the vice-presidency by the Republican national convention, and he took his seat as presiding officer of the senate in March, 1877. On the expiration of his term in 1881 he returned to Malone, and did not again enter public life. Mr. Wheeler was a man of most excellent character and of great liberality.

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 Virtualology^TM

WHEELER, William Almon, statesman, born in Malone, Franklin County, New York, 30 June, 1819; died there, 4 June, 1887. He studied at the University of Vermont for two years, but was compelled by the death of his father to leave college without being graduated. He then began the study of law under Asa Hascall in Malone, New York, was admitted to the bar in 1845, and succeeded Mr. Hascall as United States district attorney of Franklin county, which post he held till 1849. At that time his political sympathies were with the Whig party, by which he was chosen to the assembly in 1849, but in the early part of the Fremont canvass in 1856 he supported the newly formed Republican party, remaining in it until his death. An affection of the throat compelled him to abandon the practice of law in 1851, and from that year till 1866 he was connected with a bank in Malone. He became president of the Northern New York railroad company about the same tram, and for twelve years was supervisory manager of the line from Rouse's Point to Ogdensburg, New York He was a member and president pro tempore of the state senate in 1858-'9, and was chosen to congress in 1860 as a Republican, but, after serving one term, returned to his railroad and banking interests. He was president of the New York constitutional convent ion in 1867, returned to congress in 1869, and :served continuously till 1877. During that time he was chairman of the committees on the Pacific railroad company and commerce, a member of those on appropriations and southern affairs, and was the first in either house to cover his back-pay into the treasury, after the passage of the back-salary act. He was also the author of the famous "compromise" in the adjustment of the political disturbances in Louisiana, by which William Pitt Kellogg was recognized as governor, and the state legislature became Republican in the senate and Democratic in the house. In 1876 he was nominated for the vice-presidency by the Republican national convention, and he took his seat as presiding officer of the senate in March, 1877. On the expiration of his term in 1881 he returned to Malone, and did not again enter public life. Mr. Wheeler was a man of most excellent character and of great liberality.

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