Charles Tripler was born in New York in 1806. He graduated from
medical school at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New
York City in 1838 and immediately entered the Army as Assistant
Surgeon. In July of the same year, he was promoted to the full rank
of Surgeon. During the first years of his practice, he was stationed
at various posts within the State of Michigan. In the Mexican War,
he was the Medical Director of the Division commanded by General
Twiggs.
After the war, he was posted to duty at various points throughout
the West. In 1861, Dr. Tripler was first appointed Medical Director
of General Patterson’s Army in the Shenandoah Valley. Then,
upon General McClellan’s assuming command of the Army of the
Potomac, Dr. Tripler was made Medical Director and he organized
the medical service in that Department. After the Battles of the
Peninsula, he was appointed to duty in Michigan and soon was brevetted
Colonel for meritorious service. He was appointed Chief Medical
Officer of the Department of the Ohio and brevetted Brigadier General.
During the last years of his life, Dr. Tripler and his family resided
in Detroit. He was the surgeon at Fort Wayne as well as Harper and
St. Mary’s Hospitals. Tripler represented the Army at meetings
of the American Medical Association of which he was a Vice President.
He was a published author of four medical texts for Army surgeons
and numerous articles on medical practice. Dr. Tripler died in Cincinnati,
Ohio in 1866 leaving a wife and one daughter.
Born: January 16, 1806
Died: October 20, 1866
Buried: Section B, Lot 31
