WHEATON, MRS. W. G. – Biographies – History of Homeopathy

HEATON, MRS. W. G., M. D., of Kalamazoo, Mich., whose maiden name was Laura M. Wheeler, was born in the
town of Lyndon, Vt., May 8th, 1829. Like many other New England girls, she was early thrown upon her own resources. Obtaining by her unaided exertions a
good literary education, she became a successful teacher in the schools and seminaries of Vermont and other States. At the age of twenty-four, she was
married to Mr. William H. Fairchild, of New Haven, Conn., and was left a widow in less than two years. Resuming teaching, she became the principal of a
female seminary in Jerseyville, Ills., where she remained until the failure of her health compelled her to return to the East. She then commenced the
study of medicine with Win. B. Chamberlin, M. D., of Keene, N. H. ; attended her first course of lectures at the New England Female Medical College
of Boston, and finished her medical studies at the Penn Medical University of Philadelphia, where she graduated with high honors, in 1859. Immediately
after graduating, she accepted the, position of Resident Physician of an institution in New York city for the treatment of diseases of women. While
there, her popularity and success in her practice were such, that the managers of the Home for the Friendless secured her services as Matron and
Resident Physician of that noble institution. Her success as a physician in this new sphere was so great, that the directors voted her a donation of
great liberality in addition to her regular salary.

     When the war of the Rebellion commenced, she left the Home to accompany the 7th New York Regiment to
care for its wounded. Months passing without her services being needed, she accompanied a younger sister to Rushford, Minn. Here she soon acquired a
high reputation as a skilful and successful practitioner, and a wide spread practice extending for many miles around her home.

     In 1866, she was married to Colonel W. G. Wheaton, then of Illinois, and soon removed with her husband
to Michigan. She has preserved a good and successful practice to the present time.

     Mrs. Wheaton is a warm friend of her sex, liberal in sentiment, willing to give to every one a just
measure for all that is good and true. She is, nevertheless, conservative in her views, and decidedly opposed to the vagaries of woman suffrage, and
what are called Woman’s Rights. She is so decided in her antagonism to these and their concurrent evils, that she has delivered public lectures in
opposition to them. Her arguments have been pronounced unanswerable. One given before the Illinois Constitutional Convention resulted in changing the
views of many of its members, and in causing a reversal of their previous action on the question of woman suffrage.

Source : Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homœopathic Physicians and Surgeons By
Egbert Cleave