William H. Walling (1837-1910) was born in Exeter, New York, and died in Atlantic City, New Jersey. By 1850 he had moved to Franklin, New York, and by 1855 to Walton, New York. In 1861 he married Martha E. Walling (b. Griswold). In the American Civil War he worked in a Union hospital, earning a congressional medal of honor for his service. Sometime before 1867 he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he became a pharmacist. In 1889 Walling earned his M.D. from Medico-Chirurgical College in Philadelphia and subsequently worked as a physician and a professor at both Medico-Chirurgical and Eastern College. He was also the editor of the journal Medical Times and Register. Sometime after 1900 Walling moved to Atlantic City. Over his career he authored several medical treatises, and in 1904 he wrote and published his principal work Sexology, a family medicine reference book. Walling was a member of the American Medical Association, the Atlantic County Medical Society, and the Medical Society of New Jersey. In Philadelphia Walling and his wife were acquainted with M. Anna Osgood, a student of Mary Baker Eddy, and upon Osgood's recommendation, both took the Primary course from Mary Baker Eddy at the Massachusetts Metaphysical College in May of 1887. Walling joined the Christian Scientist Association in July of 1887 but withdrew in September of 1887, expressing in a letter to Eddy that he believed his continued medical studies would be inconsistent with the teachings of Christian Science. Walling's wife joined the Christian Scientist Association in June of 1887 and Walling's letter indicated that she intended to continue practicing Christian Science after his withdrawal.

See more letters.