Family Century Farms

The William Wheelock farm, on the Levant-Kennedy Road, Town of Poland, has passed through four generations to the present owner during the past 121 years.

Eliab Wheelock, veteran of the War of 1812, decided to leave his home in Oneida County in 1932 and seek his fortune elsewhere. Eliab, a lieutenant during the war, wanted to obtain land near that owned by his captain, Norton B. Bill.

Captain Bill, a New England native, was owner of a farm at Poland. He had left Genesee County, New York, in 1830, and settled in the Town of Poland. He purchased Lot 36, in the northern part of the town, from the Holland Land Company.

Eliab, determined to follow his captain, left Floyd Corners, near Rome, and took the Erie Canal to Buffalo on the first stage of his journey. He was accompanied by his wife, Deborah Mace Wheelock, and his oldest son, William Wheelock.

From Buffalo, the family went by boat to Barcelona on Lake Erie. The Wheelocks met many friends from Oneida County, The family was given many inducements and offers to remain in Barcelona. Eliab resisted the offers and moved to the Town of Poland.

Eliab found the farm of Captain Bill on the crest of a hill and on the first road built for travel from Levant to Kennedy Mills.

Eliab bought Lot 39, adjoining the Bill property, from the Holland Land Company. He built the first Wheelock homestead in Chautauqua County on the property, a log house. Lot 39 covered a wide area along the Dry Brook section.

Opens Carpenter Shop

Eliab Wheelock and his son, Williams, opened a carpenter shop. The shop did work for many of the neighbors, including the shaving of shingles.

William built his own home, a log house, north of his father's home, on the present Dry Brook Road. Eliab built his second homestead, a frame house, at the corner of the present Dry Brook and Wheelock Road. He lived there until his death in 1854.

Frederick Wheelock, third generation of the Wheelocks in Chautauqua County and son of William Wheelock, was born in 1835. Frederick Wheelock and William Wheelock engaged in carpentry and farming. They cleared the first stand timber and planted wheat.

Frederick and William used money earned through farming and carpentry to buy Lot 30 of the Holland Land Company, the present farm site. Lot 30 included 115 acres of forest, broken by a glade. The forest consisted of pine and white oak.

The father and son cleared land for the shingle shop and a home for William and his family. In 1859 they completed a cattle barn on the natural clearing. They planted flax and wheat between stumps. The stumps were later removed and used as stump fences bordering the lands and fields.

The Railroad

In 1860, the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, now a part of the Erie Railroad, came through Poland on land near the Wheelock farm. County residents fro miles around drove to the farm and watched the trains whiz by.

In 1865, the present Wheelock homestead was built. Seven large pine trees were cut down and used to make clapboards for the house.

Frederick Wheelock was married to Emmogene Kazor in 1870. Emmogene, who was from Connecticut, came to the Wheelock homestead from Gerry. She was an accomplished melodeon player and the Wheelock family still has the melodeon she played at many singing schools and concerts many years ago.

In 1870, men of the Wheelock family built a home for William Wheelock and his family. This home is now occupied by Arthur Wheelock and his family. Wheat was the main farm crop until the Panic of 1873, during Grant's second term.

The family spun flax for their own use and raised sheep for wool. THe wool was at first carded by the family until several mills were located in the vicinity. Several maple trees and a chestnut tree were planted.

Horse Barn and Granary

In 1880 a horse barn and a large granary were built. In 1888, Canadian interests purchased two dozen pine trees. The trees were shipped to England and used for masts. The white oaks were sold to manufacturers of firkins, the wooden butter tubs common at the time.

Frederick and Emmogene Wheelock had two children. William, present owner of the farm, and Grace, teacher in Jamestown schools for 31 years.

William Wheelock was married to Caroline Waters in 1910. Mrs. Wheelock is a graduate of the Columbia School of Public Music, Chicago, and has been supervisor of music in Falconer and Lakewood schools.

The farm now derives most of its income from dairy farming and chickens. Several crops are raised for family use.

Source: "Jamestown Post-Journal" ¹¹⁷⁹⁵