CHARLES WHEELER
Was a son of Theophilus Wheeler, so long Register of Probate for the county of Worcester. He was born in Worcester, August 10th, 1793; was educated a merchant and kept a store for many years, on the east side of Main street, in the modern building next north of the Wheeler mansion. He was somewhat eccentric in his character, had no fondness whatever for womankind, and always lived a bachelor. He was very modest in his deportment, and strictly honest in all his dealings. He was admitted a member of this society July, 1823, and withdrew from it in April, 1826, and died in Worcester, March 6th, 1827.
SAMUEL B. THOMAS,
While he resided in Worcester, was a portly, polite and pleasant landlord. He succeeded Col. Reuben Sikes, one of the founders of the first line of stages from Boston to New York, as the proprietor of the public house on Main street, now called the Exchange Hotel. It may not be inappropriate to mention here, that all the fuel that Capt. Thomas used for heating his hotel for years, was Worcester anthracite coal, procured at two dollars a ton. This coal was found in the northeasterly part of the city, where there is an abundance, when the enterprise of citizens shall develop it. He was admitted to this society in October, 1824, and after his admission the society held its quarterly meetings at his hotel. The fare was crackers and cheese, ham, or tongue, and wine, and each member paid twenty-five cents for his entertainment. At the annual meetings a sumptuous supper was provided, with wines and liquors, and the charge was one dollar for each member.
Of course Capt. Thomas was a popular member, and remained an active member for sixteen years, until his death.
He was born in Brookfield in 1779, and died in Worcester, April 24th, 1840. Capt. Thomas was pleasant and agreeable in his manners, popular with his fellow citizens, and was chosen a representative to the General Court, from Worcester, in 1834, and had many warm admirers.
Gentlemen of the Society:
In obedience to a request of your Committee on Publication, I have hastily drawn up these historic sketches of the fifteen members of the Society next preceding the oldest living member. If I have been so fortunate in my sketches as to meet the approval of the members of the society, I shall feel myself amply compensated for the labor of gathering facts from history, and from the records of towns and counties, and taxing the recollections of our venerable citizens, in order to accomplish the object requested of me by the Committee.
ISAAC DAVIS.