From History of Vernon County, Missouri. 1887, p. 809.

The two young men forming the above firm, Drs. F. P. Claycomb and W. S. Wheeler, are well and favorably known in this portion of Vernon County, and it would be unnecessary to enter into a long statement as to their standing professionally. Reference at length has already been made to Dr. Claycomb on a former page, and what has there been said as to his qualification, etc., as a physician, is equally true of Dr. Wheeler. The latter is a Virginian by birth, having been born in Frederick County, of the Old Dominion, August 16, 1859, the eldest of four children born to his parents, John Cummings, and Catherine A. (Copenhaver) Wheeler, also of Virginia nativity. Walter S. was brought up in Johnson county, Mo., to which locality he had been taken when a child, obtaining in youth a good education. After selecting medicine as the science to which he desired to give his attention during life he commenced its study after leaving the State University, at Columbia, and took a course at the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, his preceptor being Prof. W. H. Pancoast. In 1884 he was graduated, thoroughly fitted to enter upon his practice, but in order to have still more valuable experience he remained in the hospital one year after this and then, in May, 1885, came to Vernon county, where the present partnership with Dr. Claycomb was formed. Dr. Wheeler’s outlook for the future is most promising. To a natural love and taste for his profession he brings experience and learning obtained by hard study, the effects of which are sure to be felt. His father is now a resident of Lake Township, this county. The Doctor is a member of the I. 0. 0. F.