History of Wheaton Mansion

The Wheaton Mansion as we know it today is 148 years old. It is on the original property that it was built on in 1860. Dr. Theodore Corson Wheaton purchased the mansion for $5,000.00 in 1887, from Furman Mulford's son-in-law, Samuel Hilliard. The home originally had nine bedrooms, one bathroom on the second floor and a wrap-around-front porch.

Dr. Wheaton moved his wife, Mrs. Bathsheba Lancaster Wheaton and one child, Frank into the homestead. The youngest two children, Theodore and Ada, were born in the house. Dr. Wheaton lives out the rest of his life in the home, until his death in 1913 at the age of 79. He lived in the house for 44 years.

Dr. Wheaton's daughter Ada married a lawyer from Philadelphia, PA named James B. Anderson. They resided in Philadelphia. The Anderson's had five girls; Ada in 1923, Elizabeth in 1924, Elma in 1926, Bathsheba in 1927 and Mary in 1929.

Ada Wheaton Anderson traveled home to Millville to give birth. All five girls were born in the homestead. After the death of Dr. Wheaton, Ada's father, Ada and her family moved into the homestead. At this time they added a second bathroom off her mother's bedroom. Mrs. Wheaton resided in the home with her daughter and family until her death in March 1941.

The Anderson's resided in the home until the death of Ada, Dr. Wheaton's daughter. Mr. James B. Anderson sold the home at this time to Gene Wyble to be turned into offices for Wyble Advertising in the late 1950's, early 1960's.

Wyble Advertising remodeled the home into offices for their advertising business, but also tried to keep the rich history of the house. Gene Wyble sold the home to Mr. Edward Lee, New York investment banker, in 2004.

Mr. Lee's mother, Sue Lee, has taken on the task of remodeling the home to its original glory. She has remodeled the home to have six bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. The home has most of its original hardwood floors, wooden windows, doors, trim, cabinets, fireplace, closets, three chandeliers and one medallion in the entertainment room. There are many more things throughout the home that make it a treasure of history for the city of Millville.

History of the Wheaton Family

Theodore Corson Wheaton was born in Tuckahoe, NJ on August 24, 1852. In September 1872, Theodore enrolled at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. Upon graduation in 1876 he enrolled at the Medical College of the University of Pennsylvania. He finished medical school in 1879.

In April of 1880 he married Miss Bathsheba Brooks Lancaster. The Young couple resided in South Seaville and Dr. Wheaton practiced as a country doctor. On March 16, 1881, their first child was born Frank Hayes Wheaton. Dr. Wheaton moved his family to Millville in 1882. There he purchased 18-20 Broad Street, opened a drug store and general store. They lived in the upper floors of the stores.

In the summer of 1887 Dr. Wheaton purchased the residence at 516 N. High Street. On September 30, 1888, Theodore C. Wheaton Jr. was born. A daughter, Alvea B. Wheaton, was born in 1892 and died the same year. Ada Bathsheba Wheaton was born January 1, 1894. Dr. Wheaton resided at this address until his death in 1931.

Dr. T.C. Wheaton's venture into glassmaking was launched in 1888 with the construction of a small pot furnace on one and a half acres in what was then the northern outskirts of town. In 1890 Dr. Wheaton had abandoned his private medical practice in order to focus all of his energies on developing the glass industry. The firm was incorporated in 1901, thereupon becoming known as T.C. Wheaton Co. Dr. Wheaton was president of the company until his death.

Frank H. Wheaton Sr. attended the public schools of the city and graduated from Millville High School in 1898. After the death of Dr. Wheaton, his eldest son Frank Hayes Wheaton Sr. was elected president of the company and chairman of its board of directors. On June 12, 18911, Mr. Frank H. Wheaton married Edith Gutelius of Northumberland, PA. Their marriage produced two sons; Frank H Wheaton, Jr. and laur Don Wheaton.

Theodore C. Wheaton, Jr. studied at the Worchester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. He served on the domestic front of WWI, primarily in Washington, DC. He eventually became vice-president of the company. He married and had three children; Theodore C. Wheaton III, Elizabeth Wheaton Cobden, and Edward C. Wheaton.

Ada Wheaton Anderson married a lawyer from Philadelphia, PA named James A. Anderson. They had five daughters; Ada Anderson Strasenburgh, Elizabeth Anderson Straubmuller, Alma Anderson Staehle, Bathsheba Anderson Veghte and Mary Anderson Blake.