John Wilson Wheeler, whose name is familiar to every housewife who owns
or wants to own a sewing machine, was born in Orange, Franklin county,
Massachusetts, November 20, 1832, being the second of nine children.
He was the son of a carpenter-farmer, and was educated in a district
school. When about fourteen years of age he began to follow the trade
of his father, and continued to do so until he was twenty-three
years old. But he was not satisfied with his narrow surroundings, and
so when the opportunity came for him to accept a place in a little
grocery store in Fitchburg at one hundred and twenty-five dollars a
year and his board he gladly accepted it. Returning to Orange some
time later, he became a clerk in the store of one Daniel Pomeroy,
finally succeeding the latter in the business, which he conducted for
three years longer. Selling out, he became clerk in the claim agency
of D. E. Chency, one of the leading men of the village. By this time
he had established a reputation for ability and integrity, and so it
came about that Mr. Chency and another of his friends loaned him two
thousand dollars on his personal security to buy a grocery store. The
venture was successful and was only given up in 1867, in order that
Mr. Wheeler might become a partner in the firm of A. E. Johnson & Co.
that had just started in a small way to make sewing machines. After
some years of struggling the firm was turned into a corporation under
the name of the Gold Medal Sewing Machine Company, Mr. Wheeler being
secretary and treasurer. In 1882 the name was again changed to that of
the New Home Sewing Machine Company. Of this corporation Mr. Wheeler
was vice-president, as well as secretary and treasurer. He later
became president, but subsequently resigned, but retained the office
of treasurer, as well as being a member of the board of directors. How
the business has grown from small beginnings to its present extensive
status is a story that is familiar to everyone who knows somewhat of
the sewing machine industry. The company employs nearly six hundred men
and turns out about four hundred machines daily. Mr. Wheeler is also
president of the Orange savings bank and of the Orange national bank,
and has been president of the Orange Power company and the Orange board
of trade. He has furthermore held office with the Boston mutual life
insurance company, is the director of the Athol and Orange City railway
company, is president of the Leabitt Machine company, of the Orange
good government club and is vice-president of the Home Market club. He
married Almira E. Johnson, by whom he had three daughters, only one of
whom survives. He is the owner of much real estate, and is erecting a
mansion near Orange at the cost of $150,000.