Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Chambers, William M.

Born: 1814-04-11 Cynthiana, Kentucky

Died: 1892-11-12 Charleston, Illinois

William M. Chambers was a physician and army surgeon. Chamber began studying medicine in his native Cynthiana, Kentucky, in 1833 and opened his first practice in Harrison County in 1836. In February 1838, he married C. Ann Rebecca Porter, with whom he had one child. Rebecca died two years later and Chambers married Mary Bryan Fields Ingels in August 1845, with whom he had an additional two children. Chambers continued his medical training at Transylvania University, graduating from the medical department in 1843. Chambers moved to Covington to begin a new medical practice in 1846. His parents moved to Charleston, Illinois in 1850, and William followed in 1855. He became involved with the American Party, supporting Millard Fillmore in the presidential election of 1856. By the time of 1858 Federal Election, Chambers had gravitated to the Republican Party. When the Lincoln-Douglas Debates brought Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas to Charleston, Chambers was among the prominent Charlestonians on the platform, introducing Lincoln before his opening remarks. In October 1861, Chambers mustered into the U.S. Volunteers Medical Staff as a surgeon, serving as a brigade surgeon with the Army of the Cumberland until resigning in May 1865. He spent a portion of his military service managing a hospital treating soldiers for venereal disease. Chamber was breveted lieutenant colonel for meritorious service in August 1865. He returned to Charleston and his medical practice after leaving the army.

The History of Coles County, Illinois (Chicago: Wm. Le Baron, Jr., 1879), 516-17; Charles H. Coleman, Abraham Lincoln and Coles County, Illinois (New Brunswick, NJ: Scarecrow, 1955), 180; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Ward 1, Covington, Kenton County, KY, 223; Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965, 15 August 1845, Harrison County, (Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, 2016); U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Coles County, IL, 189; Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1903), 1:294;