William “W.W.” Wheaton

William W. Wheaton, 92, a former pioneer resident of Idaho and longtime Boise resident until 1955, passed away recently at his home in Menlo Park, California, as reported by his family on Tuesday.

Mr. Wheaton was born on February 29, 1864, in Schenectady, New York. He arrived in Idaho as a young boy and began working with survey crews on the railroad in the region. Later, he ventured into horse raising in Malheur County and eventually purchased a ranch on Hibbard Creek in Oregon. He operated this ranch until the 1890s when he acquired the E.A. Van Sicklin ranch at the mouth of Dennit Creek, where he focused on sheep farming. According to his family, he and Van Sicklin were among the first to successfully attempt winter lambing in Idaho.

On January 24, 1900, Mr. Wheaton married Ida E. Flynn in Boise. In 1904, they relocated to Weiser, where he constructed the Wheaton Theater. Later, they moved to New Plymouth, where he returned to the sheep business. In 1938, they settled in Boise, where they lived until 1955.

Survivors, besides Mrs. Wheaton residing in Menlo Park, include two sons, William Wheaton of Boise and Lee Ward of San Francisco, and three daughters: Mrs. Florence Rarick and Juanita Wheaton, both of Menlo Park, and Mrs. Catherine Prather of Boise.

From Idaho Statesman – Wednesday, March 14, 1956