Bacon Chapel Neighborhood

Some Historical Events

31 January 1902

Clarence, Mo.

Editors SHELBINA TORCHLIGHT

ELD. WILLIAM BENJAMIN WHEELER

W. B. Wheeler is the youngest son living, of Mason Wheeler, and was born in 1854 on the farm. This farm was known by the old citizens as the John F. Benjamin farm, but now known as the Henry Shultz farm. Billie Wheeler the name, by which I know him best, was the first boy I formed the acquaintance of when I came to the neighborhood in 1861. While I was the older, he was much larger and has continued to hold his own, weighing from 225 to 250 pounds while I tip the beam at 120 to 135 pounds. While we hold in high esteem and respect all of our neighbor boys and school mates and stand ready to defend their good names, as we have always done in the past, we must confess there is an extra tie of mutual friendship and respect existing for him. Eld. W. B. Wheeler has risen to his present position through more difficulties and disappointments, than any other boy of old Bacon Chapel neighborhood, and today he stands at the head of the class. Eld. W. B. Wheeler lost his mother when about fourteen years old. At about twelve years of age he had a very severe spell of sickness, which resulted in the loss of an eye. He was afflicted with an impediment in his speech, which hindered him much in his progress at school. After his mother died, he and his father kept house alone. He was the support and stay of his father in his declining years till his death, which occurred when Will was about grown. When his father died he buried him beside his mother. He then sold all of the belongings of the estate, paid every debt, and realized the fact that he was a lonely boy without father or mother to advise and counsel him, without a home and not a dollar to begin life with. While this was true W. B. Wheeler was rich. He was a Christian boy, he was honest, truthful, industrious, and was ambitious to be a man. He had built a character that was now his bank account. He had an ambition for an education, but was not able to attend even the public school, as he should, owing to his affliction and the support of his father. He however, improved his spare moments by reading all the good books he could get, the Bible being his best book. His life had been of such character up to this time that he commanded the respect of all who knew him. Some of the men of the neighborhood came to his assistance in the way of counsel, advice and encouragement. So he entered the public school and in a short time he obtained a certificate to teach, and secured a school and taught a successful term. He then attended Shelbyville High School one term. After this, he taught school for some time. Eld. W. B. Wheeler made a profession of religion early in life and joined Bacon Chapel. He was licensed to exhort and soon after to preach and in due time his conference ordained him minister. Soon after this he went West and settled in Colorado. He engaged in mining and when opportunity permitted itself preached to the miners and cowboys. He was one of the incorporators, and at one time president of the Big Indian Silver Mining Company. The Methodist had a Female College at Las Vegas, N. M., which was on the decline for the want of a man of executive ability. They offered Eld. W. B. Wheeler the principalship of this college. He accepted and in a short time proved to be the right man, as the school was success under his management. Confinement in the schoolroom proved to be detrimental to his health, so he was forced to give up the school. In a short time after his retirement from the college, he came back to Missouri and joined the Missouri Conference and has filled some of the most important stations in the Conference. He was at Canton four years and at Carrolton four years and is now at Gallatin. Eld. Wheeler is a Master Mason, a Democrat, a preacher of ability, a man of whom the people of Bacon Chapel neighborhood are exceedingly proud.

STEPHEN RILEY GUNBY

Mr. Gunby was born in Worcester, Co. Maryland, in 1817. He came to Missouri in 1836. He went to Wisconsin and remained until 1843 when he returned to Missouri and settled in Walkersville. He lived there ‘till 1851, when he bought and settled on the Elbert J. King farm, where he remained till his death, which occurred in 1900. His wife still lives on the home farm. Mr. Gunby was a farmer most of his life. He was an active member of Bacon Chapel, filling positions in the church and community, such as steward and school director. Mr. Gunby was a respectable and worthy member of the neighborhood and left a worthy family of children, some of whom we will now mention.

WILLIAM KIRK GUNBY

This is the oldest son of Stephen R. Gunby. He was born in Walkersville in 1847; and remained on the farm till he was 18 years old (1865) when he joined the Unites States Army and was sent West, where he did duty as an Indian scout, and guarded the United States’ interest against the unfriendly Indians. On his return home he married Miss Perthrah Jackson and settled on a farm. He has followed farming ever since, owning a nice farm one mile west and one mile south of Bacon Chapel. W. K. Gunby is an active member of Bacon Chapel, being a worker in the class in and prayer meeting and Sunday school, holds a license from his conference to preach. W. K. Gunby reads a great deal and is one of the best-posted men in the neighborhood. He is familiar with the Scriptures, history of his country, politics and the current events of the day. He has an education above the average farmer of his age, which he obtained from the common district schools and one term of C. M. Kings select school in Shelbina. W. K. Gunby is a Democrat and a worthy citizen of the neighborhood. He is renting his farm and moving to Clarence to live a more retired life.

SAMUEL GUNBY

is a second son, who was born on the old homestead where to grew to manhood. He has farmed all of his life and owns the Isaac Wailes farm. Sam is a Democrat and a member of Bacon Chapel and an upright worthy citizen.

JAMES L. GUNBY

A third son was also born on the old farm. He married Miss Lucy Wailes daughter of Isaac Wailes. Soon after the marriage, he went to Colorado, where he took sick and died.

LEVIN GUNBY

Is the youngest son of S. R. Gunby, and was born and raised on the farm. Lev went to Illinois many years ago. He is a farmer and an old bachelor.

ELD. LANIUS GUNBY

This is a son of William K. Gunby and was born on the farm in 1873. He worked on the farm till grown, meantime attending the district school, taking one term at Clarence High School, and one term at Fayette College. He made a profession of religion early in life and joined Bacon Chapel. He was licensed to preach several years ago and has filled several important stations. In 1901 he was ordained by Conference and is now stationed at La Plata, Mo.

J. H. Pollard