The new sport of snow yachting was introduced in the March 9, 1887 issue of "Scientific American" magazine. The snow yacht in the image was constructed by H. M. Wheeler, Grand Forks, Dakota Territory. His yacht was 32 feet long with a 14 feet beam. The mast was 20 feet high. 2 inch X 8 inch planks made up the frame. The front runners of the snow yacht were strong toboggans that measured 9 feet long X 1 foot wide and were made of 7/8 inch ash. The rear runner was smaller and attached to it were the stern and tiller. Wheeler claimed his snow yacht could reach speeds of 20 mph to 40 mph, depending on the wind.
Dr. Henry M. Wheeler was a doctor in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He grew up in Northfield, Minnesota where he attended Carlton College, then began his medical training at the University of Michigan. He continued his education at College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, graduating in 1880. While home from school, Wheeler became famous as one of the heroes of Northfield. He and other residents thwarted the 1876 James-Younger gang’s bank robbery attempts. He shot and killed Cole Younger and wounded another gang member. After the shooting stopped, he took the dead outlaws to his medical college to be used as cadavers.
After graduating medical school, Wheeler returned to Northfield to practice medicine. In 1881, his first wife and infant daughter died in childbirth. He moved to Grand Forks, established his practice and was appointed surgeon for the Great Northern Railroad.
Wheeler was known as a renaissance man for his many and varied interests. He was active in his community, he served as mayor of Grand Forks from 1918-1920, established hospitals, active in politics, was a member of the Masons and an avid hunter. He was mechanically inclined, building snow yachts and owning the first automobile in Grand Forks. He was married three times and had two children, one of whom lived to adulthood. Wheeler died at home from heart disease on April 14, 1930. He was 75-years-old.