MEMORIALS.

W. W. WHEELER.

BY H. D. KINGSBURY.

A review of the sources of heredity and the forces of environment that produced such a character as Willard Warren Wheeler, is a benefit to all thoughtful persons aside from the interest this Society feels in the life history of its deceased members.

In common with so many men of marked abilities, and masterful activities, his remote ancestors came from Old England, and his immediate ancestors from New England. Peter Wheeler, his grandfather, was a Vermont farmer. His son, Warren Wheeler, father of Willard W., was born there in 1798. At the age of sixteen he was enrolled in a military company for the defense of the northern frontier during the war of 1812, for which Mr. Wheeler received a pension during all his later years.

Early in 1817, Warren started on foot and alone to seek a home in the then justly famed Genesee country. Walking all the way, he arrived in due time at South Livonia, where be bought land, to which he returned the rext year and spent the rest of his long life.

In 1826, he married Marinda, daughter of Timothy and Sarah Gould Baker, of New Hampshire. They raised a family of four children,Maria, Willard W., Jane and Della, of whom Jane is the only survivor. Willard W. was born on the old homestead Dec. 15, 1829, and grew up a practical, working farmer. His education was what good common schools afforded, and no more; but it met all the requirements of a comprehensive, business life. His practical, business talent could not be confined to routine farming, so he bought and sold live stock making sheep a specialty. He also handled large quantities of wool and grain. From early manhood, Mr. Wheeler was an incessant worker. In 1885, his nervous system became strained beyond endurance, and compelled a rest. next five years, with only an occasional day to business, he spent on his farm at South Livonia, or traveled for recuperation. He died August 12, 1896, quite suddenly.

The

Seldom does the event of death come with less expectation, or such stunning effect, to any family or neighborhood. South Livonia has not been its old self since and cannot be again. Cheerful himself he strove to make others the same. With their wants and troubles his neighbors

came, and the extent of his helpfulness will never be known, so quiet and unobtrusive it was. Able, peaceful, manly, brave, --these were the traits his features told,-by them he gained the objects he sought with few words and little apparent effort. Republican in politics, he was Supervisor of Livonia two terms, and refused a third for want of time.

Mr. Wheeler's first wife was Mary, daughter of William Hart. His second wife, who still survives him, was Eliza, daughter of Jerothman and Speedy McDonald, of South Livonia, who enjoyed his companionship for the long period of thirty-six years.

ADONIRAM J. ABBOTT.

BY L. B. PROCTOR.

As years pass on new names are being added to the mortuary pages in the reports of the Livingston County Historical Society. One year ago, in a memorial before this Society, I called the attention of its members and the public to the great value and interest of its annual reports. These reports are fast becoming intellectual and historic treasures, that will adorn the Society and honor the County, which is favored with an organization that has already become a corner-stone in the history of Western New York. These reports will be sought for by future annalists, and by the descendants of those whose memories are enrolled in them. They will be used in determining the career of those who have long slept in the tomb and for useful information concerning the times in which they lived. I have such duty to perform on the present occasion, in memory of an eminent member of this Society, who since the last annual meeting has passed from the scenes of earth to realms of peace and beatitude, which his blameless life and virtues entitle him to enjoy forever. I refer to the late Adoniram J. Abbott.

Mr. Abbott was a true son of Livingston County, which he loved and venerated for its brilliant history in the annals of the State of New York, for the intelligence of its people, for the honored names that adorn its history, for the beauty and variety of its scenery, for the charming lakes and streams that embellish it and for its proud record in all that tends to advance education, religion and a high degree of intellectual improvement. Those were his sentiments, repeated almost verbatim, whenever he spoke of Livingston County.

It is pleasant for us to say that his life added much to the fame of his county. Mr. Abbott was born in Moscow, Livingston County, on Oct. 28, 1819. He drew his first inspirations of life from the beautiful scenes that surrounded his birthplace. The Genesee, winding its way through a valley unequaled in beauty and perfect cultivation, and rich in historic memories of the homes and of the hunting ground of the natives of the