| Gregory "Ace" Wheeler | |
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| Portrayed By | Andy Whitfield |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of Birth | March 22, 1849 |
| Age | 35 |
| Zodiac Sign | Ares |
| Aliases | Ace, Cards, Lucky |
| Place of Birth | New York City, NY, USA |
| Occupation | Gambler |
| Known Relatives | Maryann Wheeler (Mother, Deceased), William Wheeler (Father) |
| Significant Other | None |
History
Childhood
Gregory "Ace" Wheeler could fall under many categories of existance in his life. Hero, desserter, murderer, savior, and most likely any class inbetween. However if one were to ask Ace what he was, the answer would be rather simple and straight forward: a gambler. But it is not simply the title or occupation that makes the man, but often times how that title came to be.
A famous phrase attributed not to Ace but rather to his father will resound throughout his existance. 'What about Wheeler?' This simple little tribute to his father in the year 1876 will change the life of Gregory, but not before several other events would lead him forward. In Ace's mind, it is this phrase that truly acts as the turning point in life, the before and after of 'What about Wheeler'.
Born in 1849, Gregory was the only son of Willian Almon Wheeler and his wife Mary King Wheeler. Both parents were a bit on in their years with his father, William, a consumate politician in the New York area having already established himself as a respected if unknown regional mover. The opporunities this presented Gregory were quite numerous as he was able to get an education at a young age and was afforded the priviledges of an upper movement family as well as being an only child. Despite these possibilities however, his father William was considered an honest man who was down to earth and well respected because of this, principles which filtered in to Gregory.
The time of his childhood was a troubling time in the country. Although Gregory was well insulated against the oncoming tides of conflict between the staunch defenders of slavery and the rising tide of abolishinist support, he still saw the effects in his home and amongst those he encountered. His education was a bit above what other children usually got but due to his nature of getting into trouble, and being a rather spoiled child, Gregory often shriked his learning and adventured on the family lands.
Often his mother would take him into the city proper, where he could witness the joys of city life along with the suffering of the people. It was his mothers gentle touch with others that he often noticed, sparing a coin here and helping out an individual there. The mentality of giving became engrained into Gregory, so much so that despite being a spoiled brat he still seemed to always attempt to take advantage in sharing. The contradiction was often noticed by others who would comment upon how the Wheeler boy made such a show of being a snobbish child, then turn around and amaze with a kind, generous act.
When he was eleven, the war began and although he lived just outside of New York City, watching from a distance there was pressure from within the political allies of his father to make sure to make a good show of supporting the North. Four years later, the good show would take the form of Gregory joining the war at the young age of Fifteen.
Civil War
The recruitment was certainly not the cause, but rather the draft. The north, short on soldiers began instituting a selective service process, one that caught up the young Fifteen year old Gregory. Despite his mother's arguing, William decided it would be best if he joined as that would prevent the most political issues but he would press for Gregory to be placed in a relatively safe location. After taking the standard short training (made so due to the shortage of soldiers) Gregory was dispatched to join William Sherman's forces shortly before his attack on Atlanta Georgia. During the months leading up to the assault, young Gregory quickly lost the edges of spoiled child when confronted with the realities of war. Suffering of his fellow soldiers along with the taking of life turned the boy into a man in short order. So much so that when he found himself in his first firefight, despite simply being a dispatch carrier, there was only the moment of hestitation before his pistol put down the Confederate soldier.
Many men would cry at such a moment later that night. Gregory merely evalutated it for what it was then resumed eating the hard tack and coffee.
Sherman's March
After the capture of Atlanta, Gregory — who had earned the nickname 'Ace' due to his rather proficient ability to play cards with the other soldiers — joined the march across Georgia to the Carolinas that would be the turning point of the war. Although many of the Northern soldiers had an acceptance of the negro population, Gregory made efforts to do what he could for them, often sharing what food he had with those suffering and attempting to convince others to do such as well. Even Sherman himself observed this upon one day, noting the 'rich boy cares more about the slave children then feeding himself anymore'.
Following the end of the March, the force swung towards the North and Virginia as the end of the War drew near. Despite having been drafted, Gregory had found himself believing in the cause, believing within himself in the need for equality for all people. The spoiled, rich brat who had lived only for himself, before learning to care for others had found a vision for his mind: an equal world for all. A vision that simply did not exist in reality as he was soon to find out.
Following the War
After the war, Ace returned home to New York, a war hero to friends and family for his acts during the war. What he did not anticipate was the complete and total hate directed towards all the minorities that had returned. As the months passed following the war, Post-traumatic Stress settled in. Booze became a more common outlet for the sixteen year old and a bit of opium topped that off. At home, he was treated like a child despite having lived more of an adult life than many others. The euphoria of victory slowly faded away as he realized nothing had truly changed. There was no equality, only words.
It came to a head two years later, following a fight with his mother and a stint in a tavern, Ace got into a fight with a local political mover in Irish town. A pair of lackeys ended up dead and Ace had the blood on his hands along with a bullet in his leg. Fleeing from New York to avoid prosecution he headed north. The flight draining his energy despite being a tough, durable young man until he passed out just across the border in Canada to awaken feverish and in a hut, his leg severely infected.
Life in Canada
As he healed, Ace came to realize that he was in the care of Ojibwa Indians along the St. Lawrence river in the Quebec region. He lived there with them for several months fitting in well. His personality seemed to mesh well and it was during his time with the Indians they helped him overcome the Opium addictions that had plagued him. While amongst them, Ace was able to slowly begin accepting a bit more of his life, enjoying the time there but as the months turned into years he found the need to move on. Saying goodbye to his friends having felt he had worked off the debt for his life, he proceeded back across the border into the Chicago region where he found work with the railroads.
Railroad Work West
For the next several years of his life, Ace lived on the railways, helping to build them extending West. It wasn't the desire for money but it was the desire to get away from who he was. It is tough to say if the rail work made him a better man or not, he certainly became far more of the sort he is today however. Cold demeanor, bitter, but yet despite the gruff outward exterior he maintained that same nature of helping out others. As the years went by, he would settle into towns then move on again to work on new rails. Booze and cards, gambling what money he made eventually getting rather good. Fist fights were common, but so was the availability to talk to those who traveled and worked, allowing him to get to know a wide variety of people.
Returning Home — Election of 1876
As rumor eventually stretched west, Ace was shocked to discover that not only was his father's political career going swimmingly but he was running for Vice President under the nomination of Rutherford B. Hayes. Unable to resist, Ace would return to New York, finding his name had been cleared and the associates of the gang having long since been dispersed. Reuniting with his family, a touching moment they caught up. Over the next few months, Ace would lay low and help his father as much as he could. Eventually through political maneuvering, Hayes would become President. However shortly after the election, Ace's mother passed away. Bitterness at home began to rise as she had been the neutral factor in between the father and son. With the election won, Ace opted to head back out west rather than to endure the price of being his Father's son, convinced at last to strike out on his own once more.
Westward Bound
Over the next eight years, Ace would meander his way from New York further west, making stops along the riverboat towns and train stations, settling through ranches and cattle towns as he progressed further into the 'heartland' of the country. From Texas to North Dakota, Ace never settled in although he came across quite a few individuals. He often would leave before getting to close, never revealing his past or his real name and simply wandering. His life was spent living on cards and dice, although occasionally when a streak of bad luck would hit he would apply some of the old skills gained during the military years to help him get back on his feet before setting out once more. Now, in 1884 he finds himself arriving in Colorado for a stay.
Chronology
- Character's time line.
Quotes
- Memorable quotes go here.
Trivia
He is the son of a former Vice President of the US. Go figure, huh?
He's very racist. He just hates everyone equally. (Whites included)
