Jun
17
The Hero, the Skeleton and the Bandmaster
My historic research worlds collided last night with a bang. Not a real bang, mind you—although a rifle and a pistol were involved. The discovery I made while attending the opening of the Wheeler Collection exhibit at the Northfield Historical Society museum sent my mind reeling, and it sent me scrambling today to connect a few more dots.
I will explain further, but here’s the gist of it: I think my great-grandfather G. Oliver Riggs knew Henry Wheeler, one of the heroes who foiled the James-Younger gang’s attempted robbery of the First National Bank of Northfield on September 7, 1876.
I first learned about Henry Wheeler ten years ago, two years before I started researching my great-grandfather’s life and career.
I will explain further, but here’s the gist of it: I think my great-grandfather G. Oliver Riggs knew Henry Wheeler, one of the heroes who foiled the James-Younger gang’s attempted robbery of the First National Bank of Northfield on September 7, 1876.
I first learned about Henry Wheeler ten years ago, two years before I started researching my great-grandfather’s life and career.
