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Neighbor News

February Historic Events in Wheaton

This is what was happening in Wheaton long ago

February 1, 1903

Death of Warren Lyon Wheaton, one of the original founders of Wheaton, in Wheaton. He is buried at Wheaton Cemetery.

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February 4, 1992

Death of Norbert “Ned” Locke, actor, television personality and radio announcer. Ned performed as Ringmaster Ned on the television show “Bozo’s Circus” from 1961 until 1976. A Wheaton resident from 1957 until he retired from “Bozo’s Circus,” Ned’s house on James Court, Wheaton was designed by Mid-Century Modern architect Floyd Zarbock.

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February 14, 1857

The Wheaton Cemetery Association was formally incorporated by a special act of legislature passed by the Twentieth General Assembly convened January 5, 1857, Springfield, Illinois. Orlando Wakelee, Erastus Gary, Jesse C. Wheaton, Lyman E. DeWolf, Avery Chadwick, Peter Northrop and Warren L. Wheaton formed the original Board of the Wheaton Cemetery Association.

February 16, 1967

Death of James Howard Monroe, U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient. He was a graduate of Wheaton Central High School and namesake of James Howard Monroe Middle School. Monroe was drafted into the Army in 1966 and sent to Vietnam and served as a medic. He died while crossing “through enemy fire to treat wounded soldiers and smothered the blast of a grenade with his body, sacrificing his own life to protect those around him.” The medal is on display at the school. He is buried at Wheaton Cemetery.

February 14, 1877

Birth of William A. Gamon, Mayor of Wheaton 1917-1918 and 1943-1954.

February 21, 2018

Death of Billy Graham, Evangelist Leader graduate of Wheaton College, and former Wheaton resident

February 24, 1859

Wheaton was first incorporated and operated as an Illinois village with Warren Wheaton serving as its first President

February 24, 1918

Death of Norman James Tweedie at Camp Taylor, KY; Cause of death: influenza pneumonia. Norman, the son of Herbert J. Tweedie (one of Wheaton’s pioneer golf course designer and golfer) was the first Wheatonite to die in WWI. 500 men from Wheaton enlisted in WWI; 13 died. Norman’s obituary was carried on the front page of the newspaper with much public mourning. He is buried at Wheaton Cemetery.

February 25, 1895

Death of Jesse Childs Wheaton, one of the original founders of Wheaton, in Wheaton. He is buried in Wheaton Cemetery.

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