View source for B. E. Wheeler

{{Infobox Officeholder
| name = Benjamin Ernest Wheeler
| photo = 
| caption = 
| office1= Board of Aldermen<br/>[[Charlottesville City Council]]
| district1 = Third Ward
| party1 = Nonpartisan
| election1 = 
| term_start1 = 
| term_end1 = 
| preceded1 =
| succeeded1 =
| office2= Mayor<br/>[[Charlottesville City Council]]
| district2 = At-large
| party2 = Nonpartisan
| election2 = [[1920 election]]
| term_start2 = September 1, 1920
| term_end2 = August 31, 1922
| preceded2 = [[E. G. Haden]]
| succeeded2 = [[John R. Morris]]
| birth_date = May 24 1870
| date_of_death = September 26, 1948
| birth_place = Albemarle County
| place_of_death = Charlottesville, VA 
| spouse = Lonnie B. (Wagner) Wheeler
| children = Myrtle Lavelle, [[Roy Wheeler|Roy W.]], Benjamin Ernest, Mary Belle and twin sons Herman Stuart and Harry Wagner.  
| residence = 
| alma_mater = 
| profession = Real Estate
| religion = Baptist
}}
'''Benjamin Ernest Wheeler''' (1870 &ndash; 1948), aged 78, has the distinction of being the last mayor of Charlottesville elected at-large.  On [[September 1]], [[1922]], the city was taken over by the Commission-Manager form of government wherein mayors were appointed by the [[Charlottesville City Council]].

'''B. E. Wheeler''', as he was known, was very active in the local democratic party and a leading real estate dealer in the early 20th century <ref>https://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2117546/view#openLayer/uva-lib:2117547/5206/1239.5/3/1/0</ref>. Wheeler was elected on his party ticket as member of the City Council from the [[Third Ward]], and in [[1920]] was elected mayor of the city.    

Benjamin was born on May 24, 1870 to David Hening Wheeler and Mary Frances Foster in the Crozet section of Albemarle County. His father having died when Benjamin was in his 13th year, leaving him the oldest of a number of children. He worked on the family farm, attended the local county schools and later took on the nursery and fruit-tree business. Wheeler removed to the city in about 1915 and opened the firm of B. E. Wheeler & Company - handling homes, farms and city property. 

Wheeler was elected to the [[1918-1920 City Council|City Council’s]] Board of Alderman from the Third Ward at the [[1918 election | June election in 1918]]. He was elected at-large to serve a four year term as Mayor on June 9, 1920.

In 1899, Wheeler married Miss Lonnie B. Wagner of Augusta County, Virginia and they had six children, namely: Myrtle Lavelle, [[Roy Wheeler|Roy W.]], Benjamin Ernest, Mary Belle and twin sons Herman Stuart and Harry Wagner.

Mayor Wheeler was instrumental in having the prosecution of violations of the prohibition law transferred from the state to the city. [[Jackson Park]], [[Lee Park]], and [[Roger Park]], donated by [[Paul McIntyre]], came to the city during his administration. As an alderman and mayor, Mr. Wheeler’s accomplishments with the $950,000 bond issue provided for a filtration plant on [[Observatory Mountain]], and sewer and street improvements. 
	
Burial in [[Maplewood Cemetery]]
==Quotes==
“I feel that the time has come when the administration of the city’s affairs should b conducted along the lines of progressiveness, common sense and fairness. I am committed to this program and on this basis solicit the votes and support of the citizens of Charlottesville.” Source: Candidacy announcement card of May 8, 1920.
According to the 1940 census, he lived at [[702 Ridge Street]]. 
[[Image:|right|thumb|200px|]]

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==References==
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==External Links==

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