Arthur C. Wheeler

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Arthur Canfield Wheeler
3rd Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut
In office
1895–1897[1]
Preceded byJames T. Hubbell
Succeeded byCharles L. Glover
Personal details
Born(1856-08-26)August 26, 1856[2][3]
Norwalk, Connecticut[2][3]
DiedOctober 5, 1941(1941-10-05) (aged 85)[4]
Norwalk, Connecticut[4]
Political partyRepublican[3][4]
SpouseSusie Cousins[3][5]
ChildrenErnest Cousins Wheeler, Harold Arthur Wheeler[3]
Residence(s)Arch Street
Norwalk, Connecticut
Occupationhatter[6]

Arthur Canfield Wheeler (August 26, 1856 – October 5, 1941) was a two-term Republican[3] mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut from 1895 to 1896. He was a manufacturer of straw hats for over thirty years.[4]

Early life and family[edit]

He was born in Norwalk in August 1856 and attended public schools.[2] He was the son of Charles H. Wheeler, and Anna Eliza Canfield Wheeler.[3][5] He graduated at age 14.[2] He soon thereafter joined John P. Beatty & Company, manufacturers of straw hats.[2][3] On June 23, 1880, he married Susie Cousins.[3] In September 1888, Wheeler took possession of the factory at 13 Butler Street, where he expanded the business and employed over 200 workers.[3][6] He engaged in the hat manufacturing business until 1919. He conducted the Braid and Novelty Company until his death.[4]

Political career[edit]

When the Borough of Norwalk was first incorporated as a city in 1893, he was a member of the first City Council.[2] He served on the City Council in 1888, 1894, and 1895.[3] In 1895, he was elected mayor.[2]

In 1902, he was a member of the Norwalk School Board,[2] president of Hour Publishing Company, the publisher of the Norwalk Hour, and a member of the board of directors of the Fairfield County Savings Bank.[2]

Associations[edit]

  • Freemasonry:
    • Member (1884), St. John's Lodge No. 6; Worshipful Master (1894–1896)
    • Grand Master of Connecticut (1902)[2][4][7]
    • Member and High Priest, Washington Chapter of Norwalk Number 24[2][4]
    • Knight (1891), Commander (1897), Clinton Commandery Number 3[2]
    • 32nd Degree Member, Lafayette Consistory, S.P.R.S., A.A.S.R. of Bridgeport[2]
    • Member, Pyramid Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Bridgeport[2]
  • Grand Patriarch, Odd Fellow of Connecticut[2]
  • Member, Norwalk Club[2]
  • Member, Algonquin Club of Bridgeport[2]
  • Member, Norwalk Kiwanis Club[5]
  • Member, Everyman's Bible Class[4][5]
  • Norwalk Braid Club[5]

References[edit]

Preceded by Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut
1895–1896
Succeeded by
Charles L. Glover