HON. CHARLES WHEATON, a leading member of the bar of Aurora, Illinois, was born in Warren, Rhode Island, May 29, 1829, and is the son of Nathan M. and Content B. (Maxwell) Wheaton ...
... The early life of Charles Wheaton was spent at Warren, Rhode Island, and until sixteen years of age he attended the Episcopal school at Warren. He then came west, and entered the college, at Robin's Nest, known as Bishop Chase's Jubilee College, in Peoria county, Illinois, where he remained one year. To assist Bishop Chase, his father had bought two scholarships, one of which he used for his son. Upon leaving that college, he entered Trinity College at Hartford, Connecticut, from which he was graduated in June, 1849.
After his graduation, Mr. Wheaton entered the law office of Hon. Benjamin F. Thomas, at Worcester, Massachusetts, where he spent two years, and was admitted to the bar, in September, 1851. He there began practice, which he continued for three years, and in October, 1854, again came west, locating at Batavia, in January, 1855, then one of the most promising towns in the Fox River Valley, where he opened his office. He practiced there until 1859, when he removed to Aurora, opened an office, and has here continued in active practice. His first partner was S. W. Burns and then A. G. McDole, the firm name being Wheaton & McDole. In 1873, he opened an office in Chicago, which was run under the firm name of Wheaton, Canfield & Smith. This partnership continued until 1875, when it was dissolved, since which time he has been alone. Since 1875, his time has almost entirely been devoted to the trial of cases, and there has been but few cases of importance, in this or adjoining counties, that he has not been on one side or the other.
Mr. Wheaton was united in marriage to Miss Sarah H. Brewster, July 17, 1860, at Middlebury, Vermont, of which place she is a native, born October 1, 1830. ...
Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton are members of the Congregational church, and in politics he is a Republican. In 1864 he was elected mayor of the city, but resigned before the expiration of his term. For four years he served as a member of the board of supervisors, and in 1870 was a member of the constitutional convention, in which body he was an active factor. He resides in a beautiful home, at 297 La Salle street, which he had erected for himself, and around him are all his family, to whom he has given a home, and in whose society he finds much enjoyment.
In his long professional career, Mr. Wheaton has much to be proud of. He has been eminently successful in the trial of cases, rarely losing a cause he espoused, and his arduous labors have brought him a liberal competency. His professional career has been free from trickery and questionable practices, so often resorted to by members of the bar. His strength has been in a good education, a sound knowledge of law, a careful study of cases placed in his charge, the completeness of his briefs, his skillful management, and his able, logical and eloquent pleading, having always the respect of the court and the confidence of the jury. His private life has been as pure as his professional one, and he holds the esteem and confidence of the community in which he has so long dwelt.
