Biography - WALTER A. WHEELER
No science presents a wider field for never-ceasing study, marvelous
skill and delicate artistry than that of dentistry and Dr. Walter A. Wheeler
is one who fulfills not only its requirements, but its splendid
possibilities successfully. Born and reared here, his loyalty is of
particularly high order and he has achieved the highest success of good
citizenship, possessing the spirit of civic altruism and the keen
recognition of individual obligation to the public weal. Dr. Wheeler was
born in the vicinity of Albion, August 10, 1872, the son of John Wheeler,
who was born in 1830 and passed away in 1875. He was a native of Wabash
county and of English descent, his father having been born in the Mother
Country. Dr. Wheeler's father was reared amid the rural surroundings of his
father's homestead farm and was a wheelwright by trade. He took as his wife
Isabella Schofield, who is living at the age of seventy-seven years and who
is likewise of English parentage. This admirable lady makes her home with
Dr. Wheeler, who is the youngest of a family of four children. Carrie
resides at Chicago; Samuel is a citizen of Mt. Carmel; and Alfred is located
at Trinidad, Colorado.
Dr. Wheeler was educated in the common schools and subsequently entered the
Southern Collegiate Institute, at that time known as the Albion Normal
University. In the meantime he determined upon his career and began his
preparation for dentistry in the Indiana Dental University from which he
received his degree in 1903, standing at the head of a class of over sixty
members. In Albion he hung up his professional shingle and in the ensuing
years has built up a lucrative and constantly growing practice.
On June 16, 1910, Dr. Wheeler entered the ranks of the Benedicts, the young
woman to become his wife and the mistress of his household being Sarah E.
Hodgson, daughter of Charles Hodgson, who was engaged in the milling
business in this place up to the time of his death, which occurred on March
30, 1912. Their union has been blessed by the birth of a son, Julian Carl.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Wheeler are aligned with the best interests of Albion and
popular members of society. They are valued members of the Methodist
Episcopal church and the doctor is affiliated with the 1 Knights of Pythias
of Albion.
The doctor's honored father, the late John Wheeler, was a veteran of the
Civil war, his enlistment taking place in April, 1861, when our gallant ship
of state was first threatened with destruction on the rugged rooks of
disunion. He was a member of Company B. of the Sixty-third Illinois Infantry
and he served until the last of the conflict, being mustered out at
Washington after the Grand Review in June, 1865. He was in many battles,
marched with Sherman to the sea and participated in the Atlanta campaign.
Extracted 11 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, pages 1584-1585.
