Elisha Pearl Wheeler
by Carl Detwyler
Special Thanks to John Deserto for contributing and editing this
article for the website
In the
local rail fan "Fraternity" it is more or less common knowledge that E.P.
Wheeler was the driving force that built the Middletown, Unionville and
Water Gap Railroad. Other than that not too much is known about him and his
other enterprises. At the M&NJHS meeting I borrowed a book that was given to
the society by Ray Brown's sister. Middletown, A biography. by Franklin B.
Williams. Published by Lawrence A. Toepp, Middletown N.Y. 1928
This book makes several references to Mr. Wheeler. I have tried to put them
in chronological order.
WHEELER, ELISHA PEARL, (1807-1876): Son of a Connecticut
carpenter, Wheeler in early life learned the stove and foundry business. In
1830 he went to Montgomery, soon engaging in the stove and tin business.
During 1842 he with J.F. France, EM Madden, and J Lemon organized the Orange
County Furnace. An iron foundry which was located between Center St. and
North St.
In 1852 he became the Director of the Middletown and
Bloomingburg plank road. He helped organize and was elected President of the
New York and Erie Insurance
Company. This endeavor failed during the
Civil War. In 1853 he was appointed a director of a company that was forming
to construct a plank road from Middletown to Deckertown NJ (Sussex NJ) 1856
he became a trustee of The Southerland Falls Marble Co. In 1862 he chairs a
committee to raise funds and found the Orange Blossoms Regiment. (124th New
York)
1865 It is reported that he invested in the King Oil Company.
1866 He is part of a committee that is investigating the possibility of
building a railroad from Middletown NY to Sussex County New Jersey. He also
supplies most of the money to build the transepts of Grace Episcopal Church
of Middletown. 1867 is a busy year. He becomes a Trustee of the Middletown,
Unionville and Water Gap Railroad. Also became a member of the Wallkill
Bonding Commission for the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad as well as
being elected President of the Middletown Board of Education.
In 1868 our Mr. Wheeler becomes a director of the Middletown and Crawford
Railroad.
1870 Finds him being appointed trustee of the Homeopathic
Hospital for the Insane. When the state assumed control the name was changed
to The Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital.
In 1873 as former Vice President, he drives the last spike of
the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad at Westfield Flats. Under the date
of July 4, 1876 a list of parade participants were the Wheeler, Madden and
Clemson Guards. No mention of what they were guards of.
The rear half of the book is given over to biographies of prominent
citizens. The following are exerps of additional information.
Wheeler engaged in so many enterprises that it is impossible
to list them here. He was the first President of the Wallkill Bank, First
Vice President of the Oswego Midland Railroad, Member of the Board of
Education, and prominent in the Lyceum and fraternal organizations. He was
connected with all the local railroads and plank roads, Village Trustee,
etc. He was the builder of the Gothic Hall. Staggered by the collapse of the
Midland, the failure of the Wallkill Bank, and the general bussiness, he
failed a few years before his death. Wheeler was a remarkable man.
Only three of Mr. Wheelers endeavors are still in existence.
1 - The State Hospital is a shadow of what it has been in the past.
2 - Grace Episcopal Church is a functioning parish with a soup kitchen for
the needy. This would please him I think.
3 - Of the three railroads he was involved with only the MU&WG is still
operating. It is now the Middletown and New Jersey Ry. in its third life.
