Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County
              Originally published 1885
              Chapman Bros.
              Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
                          Tampico Area Historical Society & Museum
                          www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

 Page 714, 717

ANDREW J. WHEELOCK

Andrew J. Wheelock, one of the energetic as well as progressive farmers of Whiteside County, residing on section 14, Erie Township, and the owner of 323 ½ acres of land, was born in Genesee Co., N.Y., June 1, 1827. His father, Rew Wheelock, was a native of Massachusetts, in which state he was born in 1794. His mother was a native of Vermont. The father was a farmer by occupation and also a manufacturer of potash. They were the parents of eight children.

A. J. Wheelock was the seventh child of his father’s family, was reared on a farm, and received the advantages afforded by the common schools. When five years of age, his father’s family moved to near Ann Arbor, Mich., where his father purchased a farm, and cultivated it for a period, and then moved to Bridgewater Township, Washenaw County. Andrew left home when a boy of 12 or 13 years, and went to Ypsilanti, where he engaged in working in a livery stable, which occupation he followed for about two years; then, when about 20 years of age, he opened a livery stable in Grand Rapids, and conducted the same for his own individual benefit, for about six years. In 1853 he came to Rockford, Winnebago Co., this state, where he engaged as a runner for a stage company, in which business he worked for a time, then went to Kane County, and afterwards worked on a railroad at Rochelle, and La Salle.

About 1855, Mr. Wheelock came to Sterling, this county, and engaged in the grocery business. He was married at that place, Aug. 14, 1855, to Miss Bridget Evans, a native of Ireland, in which country she was born Dec. 27, 1826. They are the parents of five children, two of whom are living. The record is as follows: William A. Born July 31, 1856, died when six years old; Mary E., born Nov. 21, 1858, is the wife of Eugene Chainberlain, a resident of Newton Township and is a teacher; George H., born Oct. 28, 1860 and teaches school during the winter season; he is a graduate of the Fulton College, and Mary E., of the Davenport Academy. Rosanna, born Dec. 23, 1862, died aged seven years; Charles J., born in 1864, died in 1869.

After marriage, Mr. Wheelock was engaged in railroading one year, and afterward kept boarders for about five years. About 1865, he came to Erie Township and purchased 128 acres of the farm he at present owns. Three years later, he left and again engaged in keeping boarders on the cars, building the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad. He then returned to the farm, and has resided upn and cultivated the same ever since. He has erected a fine residence, good barns, planed an orchard, and fenced his land and has from 50 to 60 head of cattle, and from 30 to 40 head of hogs, and is meeting with success in his agricultural and stock pursuits.