Grafton County Turnpike

The Wheeler house was built in 1816. John Wheeler came to Orford in 1806 and became a successful merchant running the corner store and tavern in addition to other enterprises. He had three sons and two daughters. One of his daughters married Stedman Willard and resided on the Ridge.

Wheeler Tax Records

It appears from the 1820 tax records that John B. Wheeler was perhaps the richest man in town with a property value of $1000 dollars. He also owned carriages and had money in the bank. While attending his son's graduation, he learned of the attempt by New Hampshire to halt Dartmouth's status as a private school. John Wheeler gave $1000 to the college to help finance lawyer, Daniel Webster's Supreme Court case. John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, ruled in favor of Dartmouth and declared that King George III's charter was a contract that New Hampshire had no right to violate. John Wheeler also set up a $1000 scholarship to allow worthy men from Orford to attend Dartmouth. Dartmouth College named one of their buildings Wheeler Hall as a way of thanking John for his support.