Laura Richards was known familiarly by her family as "Janey", but called "Laura" by John until after they were married. Laura 's home was in Smithville, Michigan in Wayne County. Smithville, a small town whose name was changed to Waltz in 1872, was located in eastern Sumpter Township. John's home was in Oakville in Monroe County, near the Washtenaw County line. Other letters in the collection are from Laura's uncles, Davis Richards and Alonzo E. Ford. There are also letters to and from other relatives and friends. Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865 has the following account, "Wheaton, John M., Oakville, Enlisted in Company K, First Cavalry, September 2, 1861, at Trenton, for three years, age 20. Mustered September 26, 1861. Taken prisoner at Rapidan, Va., August 8, 1862. Paroled. Transferred at Co. B, March 6, 1864. Discharged at expiration of term of service August 22, 1864. present residence Sumpter, Mich." History of Monroe County by T.E. Wing, 1890, has the following biographical information about the Wheaton family, "John Wheaton Jr., a retired carpenter and joiner of London, was born in Burlington, Otsego county, New York, April 15, 1808. His parents were of American birth. John jr. lived at home on a farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and being a natural mechanic, soon mastered his trade. During the winter he worked at the shoemaker's trade. June 19, 1831, he married Eliza Miller Ball of Exeter, Otsego county, New York, who was born in Exeter, New York, February 10, 1809. In the year 1852 he moved to Oakville, where he has since resided. They have ten children: Eliza M., born April 14, 1832; Sarah Electa, born February 15, 1834; Esther M., born February 13, 1836; Eveline M., born April 22, 1838; Emiline M., born June 8, 1840; John M., May 20, 1842; William Penn, September 30, 1844; Mary L., August 30, 1846; Albert M., July 23, 1850; Melva J., January 9, 1852. John, a son of Mr. Wheaton, enlisted September 20, 1861, in Co. K, 1st Mich. Cay. (Broadhead's Regiment). He was captured at the battle of Cedar Mountain and was confined in Libby prison seven weeks. He had two horses shot from under him, and carries the marks of war to-day upon his person."
From the description of Laura E. Wheaton papers, 1861-1882 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 551142154
