U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Wingerter, Charles A. (1838-1886) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 568-570 DR. CHARLES A. WINGERTER. — Among the names of those deserving to be remembered in the annals of Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, is that of Dr. Charles A. Wingerter, who died at his residence in that city on June 29, 1886, in his 48th year. Dr. Wingerter was born at Oppau, in the Bavarian Palatinate, July 29, 1838, and removed to Wheeling with his father's family in 1849. His education was obtained in the schools of Germany and of Wheeling. After the completion of his preliminary studies, he chose the profession of dental surgery, entering upon it in 1860. He first became a student under Drs. Robertson and Orr, then of Wheeling, and remained with them two years. Ambitious to reach the highest degree of excellence in his vocation, he followed up these practical studies and won his diploma at the Dental College of St. Louis, then one of the leading institutions of the kind in this country. He went to Zanesville, Ohio, to begin the practice of his profession and remained there one year. Returning to Wheeling, he thenceforward made that city his home during his life. He met with success in his vocation from the start and became the leading dentist of Wheeling and vicinity. By his genial manners, kindness of heart and generosity he ever won new friends and held them to him. His excellent business judgment and his interest in municipal affairs led his fellow citizens to elect him to the City Council repeatedly, and at the time of his death he was a leading member of the first branch of the municipal government. As a public officer, he was characterized by the same qualities that won him respect in every sphere of his busy life. Industry, intelligent judgment, fidelity to trust and the candid courage of clear convictions were the traits for which he was ever noted. Dr. Wingerter was married in 1863 to Elizabeth White, a daughter of Michael White, of Wheeling. To them were born nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom survive him. The sons are: Charles A., physician and surgeon; Ferdinand, attorney-at-law: Adrian L., of the firm of Wells & Wingerter, wholesale and retail cigar merchants; John M., assistant ticket agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company; and W. Bernard, who is in the office of the Jewett Car Works at Newark, Ohio. The daughters are: Mrs. Kate W. Flaccus, widow of Charles C. Flaccus, Anna, and Clara, all of whom live with their widowed mother; and Mary Regina, who is a member of the Sisterhood of St. Joseph in Wheeling. Dr. Wingerter accumulated considerable property during his life, all of which was selected with good judgment, as a result of which his estate has continued to increase in value under the careful management of his heirs. He was a directing spirit in many business enterprises and was president of the Citizens' Railway Company at the time of his death. If for no other reason, Dr. Wingerter's name would deserve remembrance from the fact that he was the first one in this or neighboring States to administer general anaesthetics. Dr. John Krissell, through the courtesy of his old and famous associates. Dr. Willard Parker and Dr. Alonzo Clark, of New York, witnessed the administration of chloroform in New York in the first year of its use there. He returned at once to Wheeling, and entrusted to Dr. Wingerter the honor and responsibility of administering chloroform to an uncle of James McCourtney, who was obliged to undergo an operation on the arm. This operation by Dr. Frissell, successfully done with the assistance of Dr. Todd and the elder Hullihen, was followed by many others in which chloroform and ether were used. Dr. Wingerter was for many years the recognized expert and the preferred anaesthetizer because of his skill and judgment in the use of what were then new and humane but also fearful and dangerous agents. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------