Biography of Benjamin Blaine Wheeler, MD - Raleigh Co. WV The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 597 BENJAMIN BLAINE WHEELER, M. D. As chief of staff and surgeon of the King's Daughters Hospital at Beckley, Dr. Benjamin Blaine Wheeler occupies a recognized position of prominence in medical circles of Raleigh County. His ac- tivities, however, are not strictly confined to the limits of his profession, for he is likewise well known in public affairs and in business and financial affairs. He has contributed materially to the advancement and progress of the various communities in which he has lived and labored, and in all respects has proven himself a man of broad mind and ver- satile gifts. Doctor Wheeler was born at Clay Court House, Clay County, West Virginia, July 24, 1876, and is a son of Ed- ward B. and Sarah J. (Hamrich) Wheeler. Edward B. Wheeler was born at Jane Lew, Lewis County, West Vir- ginia, in 1836, and as a young man engaged in farming. When the war between the states came on his sympathies were with the North, and he accordingly enlisted in the Union Army and was assigned to Company F, First West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. At one time he was a pris- oner for six months, but escaped while being transported from one prison to another, and later took part in the heavy fighting around Petersburg and before Richmond, he also being present at Appomattox. At Droop Mountain, Pocahontas County, he was shot through the body, and this wound left him an invalid for the remainder of his life, although he still engaged in farming to some extent and rounded out a useful career. Always active in repub- lican politics, he served as postmaster at Clay, as justice of the peace and as a member of the County Court, and at one time was elected to the State Senate on the first count, but lost his seat in the recount of votes. He died in 1899, respected and esteemed. Mrs. Wheeler, who was born in 1856, at Braxton, West Virginia, died in 1912. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters, of whom three sons are now living: G. B., a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, who is now engaged in practice at Cressmont, near Lexington, Kentucky; J. B., who is assistant cashier of the Elk Valley Bank at Clay: and Dr. Benjamin BIaine. Dr. Benjamin B. Wheeler attended public school at Clay Court House, and during his spare time worked on his fa- ther's farm, cut and rafted timber on the Elk River, worked in construction camps for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company, and turned his hand to whatever honor- able employment came his way. He also taught two schools, and then entered Glenville State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1900, at that time becoming principal of the Clay schools, which he had attended as a lad. Doctor Wheeler spent only one term in educational work, and then entered the Medical College of Louisville Kentucky, from which he was graduated in 1904, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. This training was later sup- plemented by post-graduate courses in 1906 and 1908 in the New York Polyclinic, where he specialized in surgery. After leaving medical college he located at his boyhood home, Clay Court House, and in 1906 became superintendent and surgeon in charge of the McKendrie State Hospital, where he remained until 1917. In that year he became su- perintendent and surgeon of the Chesapeake & Ohio Hospi- tal at Clifton Forge, Virginia, resigning in September, 1921, to take charge of the King's Daughters Hospital at Beckley. Doctor Wheeler keeps fully abreast of the won- derful advancements constantly being made in medicine and surgery, and is a member of the Raleigh County Medical Society, the West Virginia Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons. He is a registered pharmacist in West Virginia. Doctor Wheeler has a number of prominent business connections and is president of the Elk Valley Bank, and a director of the National Bank of Thurmond and of the Carver Fork Coal Company of Clay County. An active and influential republican, as early as 1893 he served as general clerk in the West Virginia House of Delegates. In 1916 and 1917 he was chairman of the Fayette County Republican Central Committee, and in 1920 was delegate-at-large from Vir- ginia to the Republican National Convention at Chicago which nominated Warren G. Harding for the presidency. Fraternally Doctor Wheeler is a member of Warren Lodge No. 109, at Berry, West Virginia; Sewell Chapter, R. A. M., at Thurmond; Hinton Commandery, K. T., and Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Charleston, as well as West Virginia Consistory, S. R. M., thirty-second degree, at Wheeling. He is a life member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks at Hinton, and holds membership in the Clifton Forge Kiwanis Club. In 1903 Doctor Wheeler was united in marriage with Miss Fannie L. McMillan, of Louisville, Kentucky. They are members of the Clifton Forge (Virginia) Methodist Epis- copal Church. Submitted by Valerie Crook **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 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