SARAH JANE HOOPER WHEELER BUTLER SCOTT-MY GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER

Photo above is of Sarah Jane Hooper Wheeler Butler Scott

and her third husband Robert Scott.  This photo is in an antique "bubble" frame

and belongs to my Aunt Rowena Joyce Howell Shirley.

My Great Great Grandmother Sarah Jane (Hooper) Wheeler Butler Scott was born  on February 12, 1841 in Bedford County TN, to William Houston Hooper born 1801 VA Died 1891 TN and Elizabeth Parnell born 1810 in GA (parents unknown) Died TN unsure of death date sometime after 1880 census). 

Sarah Hooper was a neighbor to George Washington Wheeler Sr. She marries him October 13, 1859, she only 18 he 20 years older.

She also inherits three boys from George's prior two marriages. The oldest boy is James Gideon Wheeler now about 14 and the only living child from George's first marriage.   The other two boys are William Washington age 6 (from what we can tell William never marries or has children.  He dies while falling from a horse in a horse race Sept 9 1876)and David Franklin (Frank) age 4 (Frank marries Eliza Jane Cooper 1878 and they have 7 children: George Louis Wheeler 1878-unknown, James Ammon Wheeler 1881-unknown, William Dallas Wheeler 1884-1973, Mary Wheeler 1888-unknown, Minnie Wheeler 1890-unknown, and Allie L Wheeler 1894-1868). Both of these boys are from her new husbands second marriage.  Both marriages left George Sr. widowed with children.

Sarah must now be step mother to a teenage boy close to her own age. This must cause strife in the family.  It's my belief that she and James do not get along from the start. 

George and Sarah have their first child Elijah Benjamin July 25, 1860, almost exactly 9 months from their wedding night.  Elijah marries when he is 18 to Margarate Monroe Cheek on January 12 1879 Pope County Ill.  They have three children 2 boys, Lon and Charles (neither survive to age 20) and a daughter Eunice Izona Wheeler who is born 1882 just before her father dies in 1883.  She lives to 1939.

Next comes Minerva Anna "Annie" Wheeler born September 3 1862.  She marries James Thomas "Tom" Elam January 4 1885 Pope County Ill. She and Tom have 6 children and live out their lives in Pope County Ill. She dies May 26, 1947.  Their children are:  Charles Arzo Wheeler 1885-1966, Otis Jackson Elam 1888-1960, Della Mae Elam 1891-1963, Audie Jane Elam 1900-1997, Everitt Winfield Elam 1903-1904.

Photo above is of Minerva Ann "Annie" Wheeler and Tom Elam family.

It's interesting to note that the two son's on the left top, look like my brother's Butch Howell and Melvin Howell. They would be 3rd cousins I think.

The family has now moved from Bedford County TN to Pope County Ill to escape the War. Next to be born is little Robert Lee Wheeler February 12 1865.   His half brother James Gideon wheeler returns home from serving almost a year in the Union Army during the Civil War.  He is carrying Small Pox.  Little Robert contracts it as well and succombs on March 28, 1865.  A letter was found on Ancestry.com that belonged to a friend of Minerva Anna "Annie" and was correspondence between the two.  In the letter Annie tells the above story and adds that the house was "quarantined" and so poor Sarah Jane had to bathe, dress and prepare her infant son's body, place it in the casket put it on the porch. And then the neighbors came to take the little boy away to bury him.

John Henry Wheeler is born February 12 1866 a year to the day of little Robert Lee's birthday.  And only 11 months after his death.  Tragedy strikes again when little John Henry is kicked in the stomach by a horse.  He dies February 19, 1875.

Joseph Richard Wheeler is born August 20, 1868. He dies March 7, 1874. Interesting to note that he dies just about 6 weeks after his father passes.  One can summise both deaths may have been due to some plague of the times. In those days Small Pox, Influenza, and many others were deadly.

My Great Grand father George Washington Wheeler Jr. is born January 20, 1871 Pope County Ill.   Dies  November 6th 1949 Reydon Oklahoma. George marries a neighbor girl who I believe was from close friends of the family.  (I find the Pylands on some of the same census records in Granville Co NC, Bedford, TN and now Pope County Ill as this family) Ursula Pyland is born March 23, 1874 to William Jacob Pyland born 1847 Perry Co TN and Mariah Jane Farmer born 1844 Pope County Ill.  She dies December 6 1959, Erick, Beckham County Oklahoma.  George and Ursula marry December 20, 1893 in Dixon Springs Ill at the home of Ursula's parents.

And the final child of George Sr. and Sarah is Robert "Bob" Clury Wheeler born April 4, 1873 Pope County Ill. Dies January 29, 1938, Kokomo, Howard County Indiana. Robert marries Julia Ann Cooper 1878-1963.  They wed July 16, 1893. They have 7 children: Ella Viola Wheeler 1895-1959, James Henry Wheeler 1897-1968, Bessie Jane Wheeler 1902-2000, Charles Lee Wheeler 1906-1966, Anna Elizabeth Wheeler 1909-1986, Carrie L Wheeler 1915-unknown, Eula Mae Wheeler 1916-1950. 

Bob and Julia live in Rankin Oklahoma for a while near his brother and sister in law (George and Ursula) for a few years and several of the above children are born in Rankin, Oklahoma. Bob later moves his family to Drumwright (1920 census) Oklahoma during an early oil boom and becomes a truck driver for a while. Probably for the oil field. By 1930 he and family are living in Indiana.

The above is the wedding photo of Robert Clury Wheeler and Julia Ann Cooper. Photo taken in Golconda Ill.  Golconda was the nearest town to where the Wheelers lived in Pope County.

Sarah is left a widow when my Great Great Grandfather George Washington Wheeler dies February 16, 1874.  He is only 52 years old and Sarah is only 34.  

 The above photos are copies of the Estate and Probate paperwork of George Washington Wheeler Sr.  Notice Sarah's "Mark" as she could not read or write.

It's also interesting to note that James Gideon Wheler (only living child of George's first marriage is not listed in this paperwork.  He is now 28 years old and keep in mind that Sarah is giving the information here.  This is not a Will but Estate and Probate paperwork that is completed after death. James is the only living child of George Srs. that is not listed. 

Sarah now has 4 small children to raise on her own.  So she marries a neighbor who is also widowed Samuel P. Butler October 28, 1877.  Sarah and Samuel have one child, a daughter Alice Mae Butler 1878-1943.  Samuel leaves Sarah a widow again when he dies January 23, 1879.

Sarah must now work to support her growing family.  And we find her on the 1880 census as head of household and occupation "Weaver".  Cotton was grown in Southern Illinois mostly for the home weaver until the civil war when it was exported. 

You can see above that Sarah Jane (now Butler) is living next door to her brother Joseph Hooper with her children, Minerva, George, Robert, and Alice.  She lists herself as widowed and occupation of "Weaver".

Sarah marries for the third and final time to another neighbor Robert Scott (1827-1910) on September 16, 1880.  They will remain together until Sarah's death May 22, 1906 Pope County Ill. They also have two children:

Dr. Winfield Scott, Ph.D 1881-1952 who marries Elizabeth Moulton 1891-unknown. They wed on January 20, 1922 in Des Moines Iowa. To their union is born two daughters Penelope Scott 1923-unknown and Barbara Elizabeth Scott 1926-2009.  Dr. Winfield Scott spends most of his life serving as a Professor of Science at the University of Northern Iowa.  He meets his wife there and is quite the character and well loved throughout the years.  He is an avid "bee keeper" and his passion is education for the rural farm children.

 

Sarah and Robert's second son is William Sigismund (affectionately known as "Gis") Scott 1883-1944. It seem as though he never marries as we find no wife or children on any census records with him. He is either living alone or as a boarder. 

On this photo is written "Uncle Gis Scott"

 Headstone of Sarah Jane Hooper Wheeler Butler Scott

 A few months ago I was "googling" on the internet and discovered this:

   http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/84218/print

About This Artwork

Woven by Sarah Scott
American, active c. 1880
United States, Southern Illinois
Coverlet, 1880
Cotton and wool, plain weave with supplementary patterning wefts (overshot); two loom widths joined
213.6 x 167.7 cm (84 x 66 in.)
Repeat: 14 x 13.4 cm (5 1/2 x 5 3/8 in.)
Gift of Mrs. Winfield Scott and her daughter, Barbara Elizabeth Hollerorth, 1955.812

Exhibition History

The Art Institute of Chicago, "American Coverlets," July 14–October 14, 1973

Publication History

Mildred Davison and Christa C. Mayer Thurman. Coverlets: A Handbook on the Collection of Woven Coverlets in The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago: 1973), p. 41.