Wheeler Palmer M. D. Biography Transcribed by Judy Morgan
"Richfield Springs & Vicinity Historical, Biographical, & Descriptive" by W.T. Bailey, A.S. Barnes & Co, NY & Chicago, 1874
Wheeler Palmer, M.D., son of Christopher Palmer, was born in Colchester, Connecticut, on 7/13/1791. While still a child, his parents emigrated to the State of New York, and settled in the town of Exeter, Otsego County. At the age of nineteen he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. John B. Elwood, of Warren, afterwards with Dr. Seldin Graves, of Richfield, and subsequently with Dr. Joseph White, of Cherry Valley, comprising a period of three years; and graduated with the highest honors of the censors of the Otsego County Medical Society at Cooperstown, in May, 1817, Joseph White being president of the society. He immediately commenced the practice of medicine and surgery in company with Dr. Graves, of Brighton, his former preceptor; and at the expiration of six months bought out the entire interest of his partner, and continued a successful and growing practice alone. Relying entirely upon his own resources, without the adventitious aids of fortune, he soon found himself the master of an extensive field of usefulness in the medical profession. In March, 1818, he was married to a Miss Betsey Brown, of Plainfield, who died in 1832, leaving two sons. In 1834, he was again married to Mrs Frances Hartwell, of Richfield Springs, who died in October, 1858.
When Dr. Palmer was about sixteen years of age, while driving a yoke of oxen for his father, accidentally one of them stepped on his foot, but nothing serious was apprehended from the slight injury, although it remained painful at times; but a small tumor finally appeared. He at once consulted Dr. Delos White and other distinguished surgeons, with a view to its removal; but nothing was done, and it continued many years without material change. At length it began to enlarge and became extremely painful, bleeding profusely at times. In October, 1859, he went to Albany, where it was operated upon by Dr. March, at the medical college; but inflammation supervened, followed by typhoid fever, which terminated fatally, January 5, 1860.
His remains were buried at Church St Burying Ground, Richfield Springs. In the death of Dr Palmer, the medical profession lost on of its most worthy and honored members; the church a consistent and devoted Christian, the community in which he lived a beloved, worthy citizen and eminent physician, whose tender sympathy in their hours of affliction, will long be remembered by many families in this vicinity, who cherish his memory with the most sincere affection and esteem.
