Hattie Eula (Wheeler) Tow (1902 - 1996)

Born 24 Feb 1902 in Lamar County, Alabama, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Claude Tow — married 6 Apr 1919 in Fleetwood, Oklahoma, USA

Died 5 May 1996 at age 94 in Porterville, Tulare, California, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Vicki Wheeler [send private message]

Biography

Hattie Eula Wheeler (Tow) was born February 24, 1902, in Lamar County, Alabama in the little community of "Simmon Town". Route 2, Millport was the address. Eula was the second child of W. D. and Jane (Tate) Wheeler. She attended a little country school (one teacher) called Mt. Zion, four miles away, walking the distance with the brothers, Johnnie, Palmer and Roy. Chestnut Grove was their second school. A large chestnut tree graced the school yard. Water for the school was carried from a spring one half mile away. All drank from the same dipper.

In 1916, the family moved to a farm near Columbus, Mississippi. There the Wheeler children attended another country school, Rual Hill. Lucile Shirley was their memorable teacher. The family then moved to Fleetwood, Oklahoma, a small farming and ranching community. Eula attended the Fleetwood school. Her teacher there was Miss Bertha Ream Challey, who had a great influence in Eula's life. It was at Fleetwood that Eula met her husband to be, Claude Tow. Their courtship was consummated in marriage one year later, April 6, 1919. Eula was 17 at the time of her marriage and Claude was 21. Claude owned a Briscoe car and a beautiful horse and saddle and a little two room house, Eula had 7 quilts she helped her mother make. They farmed in the Fleetwood community for several years.

Their first child was born Aug. 21, 1920; Mildred Jane, named for her grandmother, Jane Wheeler. The second child was born October 13, 1923; Bertha Lee, named after her grandmother Tow and Eula's teacher Bertha Challey. The third child was named Lollie Dean, after Loiie, J. E.'s wife, whom all the family adores.

Eula and the family moved to the Union Valley Community, where she became a member of a gospel quartet. She sang with Emmitt and Lotus Burgin and Jack Camron. They sang for conventions and funerals. Then the family moved to Oscar, Oklahoma to a farm near the Red River. Here she became a member of another gospel quartet signing alto with Jack and Dell Terry, and the superintendent of Oscar schools, Professor Dunham.

The family moved to Antlers, Oklahoma, Pushametaha County in 1938, near the Darwin area. It was there that Eula sang with her dad, W.D., and her uncle Josh Wheeler, and an Indian called Anasi, himself a real good singer. This group made up a real good quartet and was very much in demand for singings, programs of many sorts, and funerals.

In 1940 the Tow family moved to Porterville, California where Eula soon joined her brother, J.E. and Homer and Harold Mills in singing for conventions, funerals and radio. She soon began singing with the brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews as a group for radio and T.V. programs and church activities. They sang for the program "The One Way" occasionally, and many, many funerals, Eula, Beulah, and Edith form a trio of distinction, the Wheeler Sister's Trio. They entertain for different activities in the area, singing many of the songs written by their brothers, Palmer and Roy. They get together often and really, Sing Up a Storm". Beulah and Edith take turns playing the piano.

Claude was working in Lakeport, Calif., where they spent their summers. On Aug. 18, 195?, Claude was hit by a car, an accident that required surgery of the brain, which left him partly paralyzed. Eula thanks God for giving her the strength to care for him while he was crippled. Even so, Eula took time for many singing appointments and funerals. Claude passed away October 28, 1973. The grandsons served as pallbearers. The nephews furnished the singing. Eula and Claude lived together for 54 years. Eula was baptized into the Body of Christ in 1927, in the Red River by John Raynon of Nacona, Texas. She still enjoys working with the church and living near most of her talented family. ^[1]

Research Notes

Eula was born February 24, 1902.^[2] She was the daughter of WD Wheeler and Gertrude Tate.

Hattie Eula Towe died May 5, 1996 in Tulare County, California. Her father was listed as Wheeler and her mother Tate.^[3]

Eula Towe is listed in the May, 1996 United States Social Security Death Index. She had received her Social Security number in California. Her last place of residence is noted as Tulare, California.^[2]

As listed in the Find A Grave Index,^[4] Hattie Eula Wheeler Towe is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Porterville, Tulare County, California, USA.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ First-hand information written by Eula and self published in their family biography book "Down Memory Lane with the Wheelers." 1977. Edited for typos and content by Dennis Wheeler.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J1BT-72J : 20 May 2014), Eula Towe, May 1996; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
3. ↑ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VG5H-DBN : 26 November 2014), Hattie Eula Towe, 05 May 1996; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
4. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPS-218W : 11 July 2016), Hattie Eula Wheeler Towe, 1996; Burial, Porterville, Tulare, California, United States of America, Hillcrest Cemetery; citing record ID 135593983.
5. ↑ Find A Grave website

See also:

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K96V-3T9 : accessed 21 November 2016), Eula Towe in household of Claude Towe, Porterville Judicial Township, Tulare, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 54-54, sheet 33A, line 21, family 753, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 359.

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