Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 211. HALVOR C. WHEELER For many years Halvor C. Wheeler has been regarded as one of the leading citizens of Lane county, where he has achieved noteworthy success as a farmer and he has also been active and influential in public affairs. A native son of Lane county, he has been a witness of the great strides that have been made in the development of the valley and has himself been a definite factor in its progress and advancement. Mr. Wheeler was born in Eugene on the 8th of June, 1864, and is a son of Jedediah and Amanda (Walker) Wheeler. The father, a native of Kentucky, came to the coast, by ox teams, in 1849, locating first in California, but shortly afterwards removing to Eugene, where he engaged in business as a tinner. Later he bought a farm at Jasper, where he lived for a few years, and then returned to Eugene. From there he went to Goshen, Lane county, where he made his home for twenty years, after which he went to Pleasant Hill, where he established and conducted a store and served as postmaster. He traded that property to Paul Bristow for a ranch, a pan of an old donation claim, and lived thereon until his death. His wife died in 1880. Halvor C. Wheeler secured his education in the public schools at Goshen and Pleasant Hill and was first employed in a store in Creswell. He then located on his present farm which he rented for about eight years, at the end of which time he bought one hundred and sixty acres. He was successful in his operations and later bought more land, being now the owner of five hundred acres in the home place and sixty-seven acres below Eugene. During all these years he has maintained his farm at a high standard of production, raising large crops of grain and hay, and also keeping about seventy-five head of registered Cotswold sheep, seventy-five head of pure-bred Angora goats and a large flock of grade sheep, which he runs on shares. He is progressive in his methods, thorough in everything that he undertakes, and is regarded as one of the best farmers in the district. In 1886, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Eliza C. Bond, of Irving, a daughter of Isaac William Bond, who came to the Willamette Valley in 1852, and acquired a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have been born nine children: Bruce, who was educated in the public schools and operates part of the home place, was married to Miss Minnie Fraley and they have four children. Prentice, Blanche, Noble and Lester; Leta C., who was educated in the Pleasant Hill school, lives at home; Jed W., who married Miss Ona Webb, lives on the home farm; Cecil H., who rents a farm near the home place, was educated in the Pleasant Hill school, and was married to Miss Hazel Webb, to which union were born three children, Reva, Reese and Verdin; Allen, who attended the Pleasant Hill high school, the Bible University at Eugene, and was a student in the University of Oregon for three years, being now an ordained minister, married Miss Erne Gibson and they have a daughter, Catherine; Lawrence, who graduated from the Pleasant Hill high school and attended the Bible University, is at home; Gladys, who graduated from the Pleasant Hill high school, taught school for awhile, later attended the State Normal School at Monmouth and is now teaching in Creswell; Hazel is a student in the Pleasant Hill high school; and Venice is attending school at Trent. Three of the children were valedictorians of their classes in high school. Politically Mr. Wheeler has been a lifelong supporter of the republican party and has taken an active interest in public affairs. In 1919 he was elected a member of the state legislature, and so satisfactory was his service in that body that he was reelected in 1923 and again in 1925. In 1927 he was defeated for senatorial nomination by a narrow margin. While in the legislature he served on a number of important committees and accomplished much definite work in the interest of farmers. He was especially active in his support of rural high schools and introduced the first income tax bill in 1923, known as the Grange bill. He has at all times shown a deep interest in educational affairs and has served for twenty-five years as a member of the school board. He and his family are earnest members of the Christian church, in the work of which they take an active part. A man of broad views, well defined opinions and with the courage of his convictions, he has exerted a marked influence in his community, and has stood consistently for all that is uplifting in life. Because of his business success, his splendid public record and strong personality, he commands to a marked degree the confidence and respect of all who know him. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.