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    Russell Canfield Wheeler

    Birth: 12-1-1795

    Death: 8-13-1847

Biography

YALE COLLEGE, CLASS OF 1816

RUSSELL CANFIELD WHEELER, elder son of Dr. Elijah Wheeler, a practicing physician of Southbury, Connecticut, was born on December 1, 1795. His mother was Mary Matilda, eldest daughter of the Rev. Jehu Minor (Yale 1767), of Southbury, of South East, New York. Her mother was a daughter of the Rev. Thomas Canfield (Yale 1739), and granddaughter of Colonel John Russell (Yale 1704). In 1806 his father, having studied theology, became pastor of the Congregational church in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. A brother was graduated at Williams College in 1825.

He entered Yale with the Class of 1815, but withdrew during Junior year, and joined the next class a year later.

He studied law in New York City, and after his admission to the bar in 1820 practiced his profession there with success until the last year of his life.

He married, on October 23, 1833, his second cousin, Theodosia, second daughter of John A. Davenport (Yale 1802) and Eliza M. (Wheeler) Davenport, of New York City.

In the spring of 1847 the progress of consumption obliged him to relinquish business, and on May 1 he removed to Brooklyn, where he died on August 13, in his 52d year.

His widow removed in 1852 to New Haven, where she died on September 14, 1883, in her 73d year.

Their children were two sons and two daughters. The elder son was graduated here in 1858 with the degree of Ph.B.; the younger (B.A. 1855) was killed in the Civil War. The daughters married respectively, Selah B. Strong (Yale 1864) and Franklin B. Dexter (Yale 1861).

— Franklin Bowditch Dexter, Biographical Notices of Graduates of Yale College (New Haven, CT, 1913), pp. 13-14. 

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Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
YALE COLLEGE, CLASS OF 1816 RUSSELL CANFIELD WHEELER, elder son of Dr. Elijah Wheeler, a practicing physician of Southbury, Connecticut, was born on December 1, 1795. His mother was Mary Matilda, eldest daughter of the Rev. Jehu Minor (Yale 1767), of Southbury, of South East, New York. Her mother was a daughter of the Rev. Thomas Canfield (Yale 1739), and granddaughter of Colonel John Russell (Yale 1704). In 1806 his father, having studied theology, became pastor of the Congregational church in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. A brother was graduated at Williams College in 1825. He entered Yale with the Class of 1815, but withdrew during Junior year, and joined the next class a year later. He studied law in New York City, and after his admission to the bar in 1820 practiced his profession there with success until the last year of his life. He married, on October 23, 1833, his second cousin, Theodosia, second daughter of John A. Davenport (Yale 1802) and Eliza M. (Wheeler) Davenport, of New York City. In the spring of 1847 the progress of consumption obliged him to relinquish business, and on May 1 he removed to Brooklyn, where he died on August 13, in his 52d year. His widow removed in 1852 to New Haven, where she died on September 14, 1883, in her 73d year. Their children were two sons and two daughters. The elder son was graduated here in 1858 with the degree of Ph.B.; the younger (B.A. 1855) was killed in the Civil War. The daughters married respectively, Selah B. Strong (Yale 1864) and Franklin B. Dexter (Yale 1861). — Franklin Bowditch Dexter, Biographical Notices of Graduates of Yale College (New Haven, CT, 1913), pp. 13-14.
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Title of Webpage: 
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Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, November 7, 2016 - 11:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, November 7, 2016 - 11:30