Civil War Dip Pen engraved with the words DAVID E WHEELER CO C 27TH REG IA VOL. David Wheeler of the 27th Iowa Infantry died March 1863. Pen comes apart for easy carrying. Measures approx. 3 1/2 inches closed, and 5 1/4 inches open. Nib says, "L. Wood's Engrossing Pen". Came out of collection in Arkansas belonging to 80+-year-old man.
(Note the image and description was found on eBay and used with permission.)
Elaine Johnson:
The photos of the writing pen that belonged to David E. Wheeler are a wonderful sight. I am glad the pen is with someone who will care for it. I assume it is there with you and your historical group. (which I would like to know more about).
The pen was passed down through my family and as a youth I remember playing with it and marveling over the craftsmanship that went into a simple writing pen of that era.
David Edgerton Wheeler was the son of Jonathan Wheeler borne 1801, and Anna Edgerton Wheeler. He had two younger brothers Augustus Wheeler and Jonathan Judson Wheeler. Jonathan Judson Wheeler was my mothers grandfather.
I am sending you a photo of David E Wheeler in uniform.
The pen got away from us as a result of a misunderstanding where a relative took it upon himself to sell the remaining things from my parents house. (the 80+ year old man) They lived their last years in Mountain View Arkansas. The house where the things were sold from was in Luber, a little settlement south of Mt. View.
I had David's Army issue pocket knife too but I loaned it and several other things to a "friend"who had a little museum on Petit Jean Mountain south of Morrilton Arkansas. The friend later told me he couldn't find any of the things, as he had moved some things around. So I lost it. (Some friend I know)
It was a two blade jack knife with a normal taper point 4 inch blade opening on one end and a two point fork opening fron the other. The metal in the fork was so fine that when you closed it it would ring like a tuning fork for several seconds.
I would appreciate hearing from you and learning more about your site.
Thanks
Charles Young