Athens Weekly Review
April 1, 1937

Brownsboro Resident Passed 92nd Birthday;
Recalls Many Incidents Of Her Early Childhood

Brownsboro, Texas, March 29,
Reaching her 92nd birthday on March 17th, Mrs. J. T. Wheeler, affectionately known to her many friends as "Grandma," recalled many incidents of her early childhood.

Born in Mississippi, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Lindsey. They brought her to Texas when she was a mere babe, settling in Cherokee county. She has lived in the Lone Star State since.

Her grandfather was one of the pioneers who helped to rid East Texas of the Indians.

On January 3, 1860, she was married to T. J. Wheeler, who was a soldier in the Mexican war and later in the Confederate service. Mr. Wheeler served as a teamster, hauling supplies to the army camp. She was left at home with her father, who was very feeble.

Grandma recalled that she frequently walked a distance of six miles to the postoffice to get her mail, hoping for a letter from her soldier-husband, which were often many weeks apart. At that time they were living in Angelina county and Homer war her post office.

Grandma recalled that during the absence of her husband in the service she did all the work on the farm except splitting rails. However, she assisted in sawing the rail timber.

She said a bale of cotton in those days was a big crop and much of the cotton was carded and spun at home. Even as a child she helped with this work.

When the cattle were rounded up and branded Grandma recalled that she made a "hand" and helped do the work. She likewise helped in molding the tallow candles used in the early days.

She was a grown woman before she saw a cook stove and recalled that she had cooked many a meal on the fire place. Sewing machines made their appearance so late in her life that she never learned to use one. All the sewing she did for her family was by hand. She likewise knitted their socks and stockings, carding and spinning most of the thread. All lace used in garments was hand-made by her. Their first lamp was a little brass affair.

Grandma states that her uncle, Jake Lindsey, and her father with their families crossed the Neches river somewhere below Chandler, then called Stillwater post office. This was in 1857. Her uncle was a Baptist minister and preached in many of the early churches of the county.

One story she relates is that of the early days when she and her husband were traveling from Angelina to Cherokee county in an ox wagon. A wild bull attacked the oxen during the trip. She was frightened very much. Mr. Wheeler had her to get out of the wagon and run to a tree. Then getting his ax and having a stout whip, he got out to the heads of his oxen, fought with his ax until the wild beast gave up and went limping away.

Grandma had ten children, four boys and six girls. Only three are now living. They are Mrs. Emma Chatman, Dallas; W. J. Wheeler and Mrs. Houston Clary, of the Rock Hill community. She makes her home with Mrs. Clary.

Grandma has been living in Henderson county for forty-six years near where she now lives. She has spent 77 years of her life as a member of the Baptist church and has lived a pure, consecrated life as an example for all who know her.
(Note-- The Review is indebted to Mrs. Mary Eberhart for the above information--Ed)
1930 Census Henderson Co. page 100a
Susan P. Wheeler is living with Sam H. and Mary E. Clary and Susan's son William J. Wheeler.

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