Chester H. Wheeler was born around 1791 in Massachusetts and appears in historical records as early as 1840, when he was living in Willsboro, Essex County, New York. At that time, his household consisted of nine individuals: four males under the age of 10, two males between 10 and 23, one adult male (likely Chester) between 36 and 54, one female under 10, and one adult female aged 36 to 54—presumably his wife. Two members of the household were employed in agriculture, and all were recorded as free people of color.
By 1850, Chester had moved to Peru in Clinton County, New York. He was listed in the U.S. Census as 59 years old and identified as mulatto. His wife, Margaret, appeared alongside him, and together they were raising six children: Henry, Almira, Avery, Warren, Melissa, and Russel, whose ages ranged from 5 to 19. Chester worked as a laborer, though no specific industry was noted. He was unable to read or write, which was not uncommon for people of color during that time.
The final census record of Chester H. Wheeler is from 1870. By then, he was living in Lewis, Essex County, New York, with his daughter Almira (recorded as “Edmira”) Hanson, her husband Emery Hanson, and their son John. Chester’s age was recorded as 78, though census records suggest his birth year varied between 1791 and 1792—indicating he may not have known his exact birthdate. In this record, he was identified as Black.
The 1870 Census is the last known record of Chester H. Wheeler, a man whose life reflects the resilience and migration patterns of free African American families in 19th-century New York.