Thanks to Wayne Wheeler of Texas we now know where Wiley E. and Mary "Polly" Wheeler were buried. Wayne is a descendant of Hiram William Wheeler, son of Wiley and Mary "Polly." Hiram moved with his family to Izard Co., Arkansas between 1860 and 1862. After Hiram's death, his wife moved to Howell Co., Missouri with her son Robert.
Miraculously a copy of a letter written six days after Wiley died has survived for 136 years! The letter was from Benjamin Martin Wheeler to his brother Hiram telling him of their father's death. The copy was made by Hiram's son, Robert. Wiley and Mary "Polly" were buried at Hamilton Methodist Church which is located at 3105 Hamilton Church Road near the intersection of Murfreesboro Pike and Hamilton Church Road, southeast of Nashville. The burials at Hamilton's Church cemetery have been transcribed and are posted on the internet. I recently spoke to a lady at the church. She told me there were about a dozen unmarked graves in the cemetery. Two of these graves are Wiley E. and Mary "Polly" Wheeler. Another of the unmarked graves is their daughter Elizabeth Ellender Wheeler Jarratt. (Her death certificate gives this location as her place of burial.) It is possible, or even likely, that Benjamin Martin Wheeler is also buried in one of the unmarked graves.
Below is a copy of the letter as sent to me by Wayne Wheeler:
LaVergne, Tenn Oct 30, 1870
Mr. H. W. Wheeler
Dear Brother, Sister & family.
I will write you a few lines to tell you I received your letter Oct 29th and was truly glad to hear from you all. We are all up and about but not well. Father is dead and buried, he died the 24th and was buried 29th Oct. He said he was willing to go and he suffered so he prayed to go. His request was for Brother ?ransell to preach his and Mother’s funerals. He choosed the text the 14th Chapter & 10th verse of John. He was buried by the side of Ma at Hamilton’s church. I received a letter on the 23rd from Dow for papa but he was speechless but he was in his right mind until he died, we read the letter to him and he seemed to know what it was. He did not want for anything that could be done for him. He was taken very bad on the 16th about midnight and got worse until he died. We do not know when their funerals will be preached yet. Crops are very good corn is worth $2.00 per barrel Wheat is 90 to 1.00 Bacon 20 to 29 cents Pork is 5 cents I cannot think of anything more at present. I want you to write soon.
Yours
B. M. Wheeler & fam.
To H. W. Wheeler & family
The following is a letter from Elizabeth Ellender (Wheeler) and Sandy Jarratt to Hiram:
Dear Brother Sister & family
We will write you a few lines to let you know we are all well as common. We have no news worth writing but will say all the connection is well on both sides as far as I know. Goods & groceries are very low cotton is worth 13 cents to 13 1/2 We haven’t got no place for another year. We do not know where we will go. Tell us all the news you can and write soon.
Your sincere well wishes
S. B. Jarrett & family
To H. W. Wheeler & family
Bob Wheeler July 13, 1880 [This is Robert P. Wheeler, son of Hiram]