Wheeler was born at Farmers Creek in Lapeer County, Michigan and attended the common schools. He taught school until 1861 and the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted in the Union Army, November 1, 1861, as a private in Company C, Tenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to second lieutenant in June 1862, then first lieutenant of Company E in the same regiment, in April 1863. He was captain of Company F in the same regiment in April 1865. At the close of the war, he settled in Bay City, Michigan.