This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jdjones124 Surnames: Harrison Wheeler Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.virginia.counties.russell/1043.1247.2.1.1.2.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: While I find it interesting to read other people's tress, I don't use them as research sources. I'm limiting my documentation to Census and other government records, even taking the info in family histories with a very large grain of salt. As a Records Management SME, I prefer original source records, then three or more unique other sources (i.e., letters, journals, etc.) in agreement. A process of elimination to isolate subjects (i.e., is this the only person by this name in this location, and does other evidence support the identification) is also acceptable to me. I have not seen anything like that to link Mrs. Wheeler to the possibility that W.H. Harrison is her brother. While I don't think it's impossible, there isn't anything published that supports it. Certainly, there was marriage between those individuals named, and they appear to have settled in Blaine, as supported by several different types of official records. Mrs. Wheeler's year of death is listed as 1851 in the many family trees. I looked at all the Wheelers in Lawrence on the 1850 Census, and there is no elderly widow of approximately 90 years in their homes...not in Lawrence, nor anywhere else in KY. In fact, I couldn't find a Mrs. Wheeler of that age in a broad search of 1850 anywhere in the USA. Surely, people make mistakes, but I also cannot locate a KY death record for her, or even a typical note that "Mrs. Wheeler, sister of Pres. Harrison, is buried in the Peaceful Meadows Cemetery near Blaine, KY." Presidential tourism is very popular with history buffs, and it seems unlikely this would be overlooked. The biggest void in this connection is that there doesn't seem to be even a note in one published family or area history regarding a Presidential sister living anywhere in the counties along the Sandy. I've had family in that area since the 1790s and have been researching the family history and genealogy since I was a youngster, and I have never run across anything about Pres. Harrison's sister living in that area. I would expect to have seen something like a feature article in a local paper or organization's newsletter by now, even reprinted for other historic observations. I'm not trying to burst anyone's bubble, really. The fact is, the lady in question apparently was *a* Harrison, and she very well may be related to the family of statesmen, even if not that exact family. Someone may even had validation of that relationship but has not shared it because they don't realize its significance, or maybe they don't want to upset other family members who treasure this bit o! f lore. On the other hand, if someone can share something that absolutely verifies she was a Presidential sibling, it would be nice if they'd do so. Were there no letters from siblings that survived? She is said to have outlived the Pres. by ten years, so did she do anything special such as attending the funeral, and is that in print? I would think there would have to be something, somewhere, if the connection is genuine. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.