Annie Early Wheeler, "Angel of Santiago"

DAR National # 13243
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Annie Early Wheeler, second of General Wheeler's children, was born on July 31, 1868. Her love of beauty and nature, coupled with a compassion for suffering people, were her trademarks throughout her life.

   The Wheelers spent almost 20 winters in Washington when the General was in Congress, and Annie was a popular member of the social set there. But even in her teens she felt the call to minister to sick and lonely children, and spent many hours reading or playing games with them. annien.jpg (47337 bytes)

   Her call to nursing took a more serious turn in 1898 when the Spanish-American War began, and Annie followed her father and brother to Cuba. Eventually, Clara Barton put Annie in charge of a newly organized hospital, where work with sick and wounded soldiers earned her the title of "Angel of Santiago."

[photo: Miss Annie Wheeler in her volunteer's uniform around the time of the Spanish-American War (right).]

   A year later she went with her father to the Philippines during the insurrection, and again nursed in a military hospital. Then, when World War I began, she joined the Red Cross and served in England and in France.

   After her father died in 1906, she returned to Wheeler to live, and she spent the rest of her life helping others. She established schools on the plantation, paying salaries herself for several years. She introduced the study of cooking and sewing into the schools, leading the way for Alabama to offer courses in home economics. Perhaps her greatest joy was working with crippled and sick children and ministering to the poor and needy.

   Miss Annie lived at Wheeler until her death in 1955. She is buried in the family cemetery at the rear of the house. 

Source: Downloaded 2010 from the website of the Wheeler Plantation, Wheeler, AL: http://www.wheelerplantation.org/annie_wheeler.htm

Annie Early Wheeler

Born 31 July 1868, Annie Wheeler was the second child of General Joseph "Fightin' Joe" Wheeler (CSA, USA).

Annie volunteered for the American Red Cross and followed her Father into many different skirmishes and battles. She was known as the 'Angel of Santiago' for her work in the Spanish-American War. She also served during World War I in England and France.

Annie was a well known in many places and held correspondences with many people. She was even presented to the Queen of England. Annie outlived all of her siblings, dying in 1955 after suffering an injury after a fall.

Source: Downloaded 2010 from Wikipedia.