Washington Irving Wheaton

Wash, as he was known, was born in 1850 and was an 1876 graduate of Wheaton College. His class gave the first senior class gift to Alma Mater of arborvitae planted in the shape of "76."  He served on the college's board of trustees, like his father, Jesse, and his uncle, Warren. He lived in the family homestead near present-day Roosevelt Road and West Street. He managed the farm which was dissected by "the great Roosevelt Highway" as it was known. One of the families barns was on one side and one on the other. He died from a traffic accident that occurred on Roosevelt Road. He died December 17, 1935 (Wheaton Alumni News, January-February 1936, p. 2).