The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

IV. Wheeler-First Adventist Minister to Accept Sabbath

The town of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, is not far from the birthplace of Daniel Webster. Here also lived FREDERICK WHEELER (1811-1910), of “kindly eye and bearded face,” Methodist circuit rider of that section of the Granite State in those rugged days. Wheeler was born in Massachusetts and ordained by the Methodists in 1840. By 1842 he had become interested in the Advent Movement through reading William Miller’s works, and soon began to advocate the doctrine of the soon coming of Christ. Residing at Hillsboro, about twelve miles from Washington, and serving the Christian church at Washington—which was now almost entirely Adventist—he was the first Adventist minister to accept the seventh-day Sabbath, through the influence of Seventh Day Baptist Rachel Oakes Preston- in March, 1844. ¹⁵ PFF4 951.1

We have already noted the incident of the communion service that started him on the road to Sabbathkeeping. However, his personal observance of the seventh day did not seem to interfere with successful cooperation with the Millerite leaders in proclaiming the coming of the Lord in 1844. He did not at that time make the Sabbath part of his public presentations. In 1857 Wheeler moved to Brookfield, Maine, and in 1861 to West Monroe, New York, which became his home. A slight impediment in his speech kept him from prominence in public ministry, but he was a faithful shepherd and wholesome counselor. PFF4 951.2