USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 50
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the side of the Union and the war for its preservation, on account of which he was mobbed by soldiers at Keokuk, and would have been hung but for the inter- ference of Mr. Howell, the editor of the Gate City. When the noose was around his neck he appeared to be unconcerned and resigned to his coming fate. When released, he walked off, unconcerned and without saying a word. Was a poli- tician as well as preacher. No one took a greater delight than he in a hot political campaign. Was in demand for all democratic barbecue rallies, for by his elo- quence, his ridicule and sarcasm he could rouse the feelings of his listeners to the highest point. So it was in his preaching; he knew he could play on the feelings of the human heart and arouse emotions of sympathy, revenge or hate. His weakness was his self contradictions. He quit the ministry and went into poli- tics, opposed the war for the preservation of the Union, lost out with his party, went to Missouri, where he had purchased a large quantity of land, and lived at what he called "Rebels' Cave"; there died and was buried. All who knew him admired his genius. He was companionable, willing at all times to hold counsel with man, boy or girl. In all Iowa there was but one Henry Clay Dean.
Robert McGuigan. The subject of this sketch was a Scotch Presbyterian minister. Was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and soon after he had completed his theological course came to the United States. Was small of stature, carried his head a little to one side. Had small, squint eyes, and wore side whiskers. He was a typical Scotch Presbyterian minister. His ser- mons were mostly written, and in the choicest of language, and uttered with the Scotch brogue, so called. The points of his discourses were of a logical order, showing study and scholarship. His endeavor was to convince by statement of Scriptural truth in such a way that brought conviction. The general burden of preaching was the "Beauty of Holiness," as contrasting such a life with one of sinfulness. He was mostly a St. Paul preacher. Paul's writings seem to have had a greater fascination for him, more than any other of the Apostles. He discoursed largely on faith, and that faith was followed by good works. Was a stickler for the catechism, and urged the necessity of the members of the church in having their children commit them to memory. Would visit his parishioners and inquire of the children about the shorter catechism, and have them recite. His ministry did not last long because of his failure in health. He had to seek outdoor work and became a church colporteur, and in a few years had to give up this work.
Rev. E. J. Gillett, D. D. The Rev. E. J. Gillett, D. D., of Jamestown, N. Y., came to Kossuth, Iowa, having accepted the presidency of Yellow Springs Col- lege. When president he preached for the Yellow Springs (New School Pres- byterian) Church.
Doctor Gillett at this time was about seventy years of age; was tall and slender, straight as an arrow. His hair was covered with that frost which never melts. Dignity in bearing was one of his chief characteristics. His walk and looks indicated a man of strong personality, "suavater in modo," and always kind and pleasant. All who knew him loved and admired him for his qualities of heart and mind. That which particularly gave him great influence and for which he was admired was his devotion to principle and duty, and it was this which he sought to instil into the minds of those whom he taught and to whom he preached. He was not a sensationalist in any sense and never strived in his preaching to be
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such. Ilis discourses were directed to the reason of his hearers, and seldom, if ever, sought to rouse their feelings by appeals to the imagination. His congre- gation was composed almost entirely of such men as Dr. Samuel Fullenweider, Thomas E. Blair and the Ilizers and Blakes, in whose makeup there was little of the emotional. They were hard-headed Presbyterians who had learned the shorter catechism when young, and anyone who has been thus schooled is not easily moved by appeals to the imagination.
Rev. W. F. Cowles. Among the Methodist ministers noted for ability, devo- tion to principle and what he deemed right was the Rev. W. F. Cowles. Gover- nor Grimes speaks of him as one of the men who had "marrow in the bones" to take a stand against the crowd of slaveholding sympathizers in their attempt to carry into slavery the negro whom Judge Rorer defended. He was the first pastor of what was known as the Division Street Methodist Episcopal Church, which was organized in October, 1853. During his pastorate the church build- ing for that society was erected. Among other ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church deserving of notice are Rev. P. P. Ingalls, E. H. Waring and Thomas E. Corkhill.
Rev. Morgan Edwards. The Rev. Morgan Edwards was known throughout the county as the "sailor preacher." Was a Baptist minister, but preached wher- ever he found an opportunity given him by any church people or anybody. Dur- ing his first years of manhood he had followed a sea life as a sailor from the Atlantic ports to the East Indies. His was a unique character; no one like or comparable to him. Few were his equals as an evangelist. He believed in a literal hell of fire and proclaimed it as gospel truth. He believed God answered prayer. He knew such was the case from his own experiences. He often related, saying at a time when he had been away from home engaged in the evangelistic work, when he came back his wife said to him there was not anything in the house to eat. He replied that they had a good Heavenly Father who would sup- ply all their wants, telling her to go into one room and he would go into another and pray for God to bless them by giving them food. They prayed for God to so bless them, and no sooner had they risen from their knees than a knock was heard at the door, which on being opened they found a man who had brought with him in a wagon, flour, coffee, sugar, meat, potatoes, apples and almost everything kept in a grocery store, and besides he had calico with which to make his wife a dress, and aprons, and a pair of pants for himself, "cut and made by God Almighty, and no human tailor ever made half so good a fit." Ile spoke in a droll tone. To illustrate the character of the man, it is said once when preach- ing in New London on a cold winter Sabbath forenoon to a crowded house, some were late in coming. When the door was opened some of the congregation would turn their heads to see the ones arriving. This disturbed Reverend Edwards, who said, "Those of you who want to know who are late in coming to church, don't turn your heads to look; I can see them, and I will announce their names when they come in." Then he proceeded with his discourse. In a few moments the door opened, then he said, "That's Doctor Wilson ; he is late coming to church, but can be excused because he has been attending to the sick." Soon the door once again opened and a Mr. Jones came in. He said, "That's Mr. Jones ; he is late this morning ; he don't know. my text." Soon again the door opened and a man entered whom the Rev. Morgan Edwards did not know. He said, "The
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man who is coming in now is a little man with a brown coat on, and if God Almighty don't know him better than I do, he is a lost soul sure."
Rev. Onias Shortridge. The subject of this sketch was a minister of the Christian Church. He was a tall and slender man, had black eyes and an abun- dance of dark hair. His manner was such as to attract attention ; this he knew, and took delight in. He was one of those ministers who wanted to debate on the question of baptism. It gave him an opportunity to display his reasoning and oratorical powers, of which he thought he was greatly endowed. The boys of the neighborhood said, "Shortridge's baptizens were better than a show." He usually baptized his converts in the "swimmin' hole" on Flint. Once at the arrival of the time for them to go down into the water, in which he stood to where it came to his waist, some of the boys were standing on the banks of the pool, some were in the treetops of nearby trees, waiting for the show. The sisters and brothers of the church and new converts were standing on the bank of the pool to assist the Rev. Onias Shortridge in the work of immersion. The sisters had blankets with which to wrap the doused subjects as they would come up out of the water. To hear the brothers and sisters sing, and see Shortridge duck them, was fun, said the boys. It is related that a certain young man of the community was noted for his inability to tell the truth at all times ; was what the boys called a "blowhard." He was one of "Onias' converts." When coming out of the water, and one of the sisters was about to wrap a blanket around him, he exclaimed, "I'm not cold," when a boy sitting on a limb of a tree called out, "Duck him again, Shortridge; he will lie yet."
CHAPTER XXVI
MEDICAL PROFESSION
The disciples of Hippocrates and Aesculapius of Des Moines County have from the first taken a most important part in all matters pertaining to the good of the people, not only serving them in a professional way, but in many other ways which tended to their material and moral welfare. Whether sickness, pain and death came into the world because Eve plucked from the tree a big red apple and gave it to Adam which he ate, there is a difference of opinion at this time; but that pain and sickness does exist as a reality all agree except the school of Christian Scientists, who claim it is an illusion, a "figment of the mind." The physician is one who practices the art of healing. In ancient times the doctors said sick- ness was caused by little demons which infested bogs and fens and by some means got into the bodies of people and made them sick. These demons not only infected people at times, but some of the animals ; for it is said in the Scriptures they got into a herd of swine, which caused them to seek death by drowning in the sea. In these times since the discovery of the microscope the doctors claim these old physicians were not much mistaken after all, for by means of the micro- scope they have seen the little devils, which they call microbes, and to get rid of them find a serum which when injected in the body will kill or drive them out and effect a cure. But whatever it is which causes sickness, one thing is true, when one gets sick he sends for a doctor. In writing about the doctors of the county, we are compelled to write of them as a class in one chapter, giving their location as near as we can. We find it impossible to give a full list of the members of the profession because of a want of any records to preserve the names, and what we know is from the memory of the older people now living and those records which we can find by newspapers and directories of Burlington. William R. Ross was the first physician in the county. A physician by the name of Crawford came to Burlington in 1833 from Brooke County, Va. He practiced for a short time, when he went from here to Texas. Doctor Schuff came from Kentucky to Burlington in 1834. Doctor Cutler came from Indiana the same year, when he and Doctor Schuff formed a partnership in the practice known as Schuff and Cutler. Doctor Cutler died within a year after the formation of the partnership. On the death of Cutler, Doctor .Schuff went back to Kentucky. Doctor Teas commenced the practice of medicine in Burlington in 1835. I have been unable to find out how long he continued in the practice. Dr. D. W. Hickcock came from New York in 1835 and located at Burlington. I am unable to state the length of time he practiced in Burlington. His name does not appear among the list of physicians in the City Directory of 1858. Dr. S. S. Ramson, a Vermonter, came to Burling- ton about the same time Doctor Hickcock came. Doctor Ramson made Burling-
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ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL, BURLINGTON
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BURLINGTON HOSPITAL, BURLINGTON
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
ton his home until the time of his death. Dr. Enos Lowe came from Indiana in 1836. Dr. John Henry located in Burlington in 1845. Dr. G. W. Crawford and Philip Harvey located in Burlington in 1850. In 1858 appeared "The First Annual Directory of the Orchard City, compiled by Watson and Brown and published by J. L. Corse and Son." This directory contained a list of the names of these physicians then practicing in Burlington : D. W. Barnett, W. H. Davis, WV. T. Day, Henry and McCann, J. F. Henry, McLaren and Nassau, Charles Otto, E. R. Paine, D. Peet. S. S. Ransom, J. Schuff, Geo. W. Snyder, M. J. Taylor, Otto Theime, J. D. Webb and G. W. Crawford. We have no means of knowing when most of them located in Burlington, but it can be presumed that most of them came within a decade prior to 1858. Dr. John Henry commenced the practice in Burlington in 1845. His son, G. R., graduated at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1849 and began the practice of his profession in Bur- lington in 1850. Dr. Enos Lowe was one of the delegates from Des Moines County to the First Constitutional Convention which convened at Iowa City October 7, 1844. He represented Des Moines County in the House of the Third lowa General Assembly. The bones of Black Hawk had been deposited in a box preparatory to their removal to the rooms of the Burlington Historical Society. The box was left in the back room of Doctor Lowe's office while the rooms of the Historical Society were being repaired. On the night of January 16, 1858, a fire broke out in the building in which the doctor's office was located which destroyed the building and with it the bones of that restless spirit while clothed in mortal flesh. The above brings us up almost to 1860. We will stop at this point and inquire concerning
THE COUNTRY DOCTORS
Settlements had been made in the district of country surrounding Burlington almost as soon as in the cabin town in Flint Hills. The doctors in Burlington could supply the country districts near town, but the settled portions from twelve to fifteen miles were sufficient inducement to warrant a local or country doctor.
DANVILLE TOWNSHIP
The first physician who practiced his profession in this township was Dr. Jere- miah Hall, who located at Danville Center in 1837. At the time Doctor Hall located at Danville Center the settlements were along Skunk River south and southwest and Flint Creek. It was not until along in the '40s that the middle prairie lands between Skunk River and Flint Creek began to be occupied. Doctor Hall's territory composed all those settlements within a radius of from ten to fifteen miles from Danville. He had to cross this stretch of prairie where at many places the dim wagon tracks indicated a kind of roadway. Doctor Hall was born in Merrimac County, N. H., July 4, 1807. He moved from New Hamp- shire to Wisconsin in 1832 and located in Danville Center, Des Moines County. in 1837. He married Miss Harriett Corning, April 25, 1835. Miss Corning was born in New York City, February 10, 1809, and died at Danville Center, July 27, 1877. No one ever lived in Danville Township who was more loved, honored and respected than Dr. Jeremiah Hall. For many years he was the only physician
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in the township. His faithfulness in the discharge of the duties of his profes- sion won for him the friendship of all whom he met. He took an active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the people with whom his lot was cast. Both himself and wife were members of the Congregational Church of the village. The first schoolhouse in Danville Center was built by Doctor Hall, Mr. Seymour, and other old settlers. He departed this life some time during the 'Sos. Dr. Robert Gilmore and his son Bert located in the Town of Danville in 1860 and practiced for about ten years. Neither of them is now living. Doctor Scantling located at Middletown some time in the early '6os, where he practiced a number of years. From Middletown he moved to Drakesville, Iowa. The oldest prac- titioner in Danville Township except Doctor Hall is Dr. Geo. F. Geise, who com- menced to practice in Middletown in 1877. He located in Danville in 1881 and is still in the active practice. Dr. J. A. Wright and G. W. Steward came to Dan- ville some time in the 'zos. They formed a partnership under the name of Wright and Steward. They continued the practice until some time in 1885 or 1886, when both departed this life very near together. Doctor Wright married the oldest daughter of Ellison Smith, one of the pioneers of Des Moines County. Rev. Dr. J. N. Brisly, a minister of the M. E. Church, located in Danville and practiced medicine for a while in the 'zos. While in Danville he married Miss Harriett Smith. He now lives in Brooklyn, Iowa. Dr. William and Charles Philpott located in Danville in 1882 and practiced their profession for a time. Charles married a daughter of Rev. W. B. Smith of Ottumwa. He died in Des Moines, Iowa. William located in Fort Madison, where he now lives. The Philpotts were sons of Doctor Philpott of New London. Doctors Holland and Cady prac- ticed for a short time in Danville in the '8os. Doctor Holland moved from Dan- ville to California, where he died. We do not know what became of Cady. Dr. A. B. Feer came about 1900. Was at Danville one year, when he moved to parts unknown. Dr. J. F. Gumer, now of Fairfield, succeeded Doctor Cady. He left Danville in 1905 or 1906. Dr. A. M. Divilbliss located in Danville in 1908 and left in the fall of 1908. Dr. W. A. Thomas succeeded Doctor Divilbliss and moved to Salem, Iowa, in 1915. Drs. James and Eva Miller located at Danville in the spring of 1915.
AUGUSTA TOWNSIIIP
The Village of Augusta was the place in which were located the doctors of this township. The opportunities for a doctor were not so good at Augusta as at Danville because Augusta was near Danville Center, which was quite a thriving town. We are indebted to Mrs. Zora A. M. Finck for what we write of the doctors of Augusta. Mrs. Finck is the daughter of Levi Moffit, the founder of the first flour mill in the county of which we have written. Mrs. Finck says: "I remember of hearing my mother speak of their Doctor Dement, who must have been there several years. I should judge it was about 1850 or earlier. I have also heard the family speak of Doctor Gilmore about the year 1857 or 1858. At about 1858 a doctor by the name of Farnsworth, who lived in Lee County, prac- ticed among the people in and around Augusta. A young doctor by the name of Walker practiced at Augusta in 1864. After Walker came Doctor Holland, whose father was a prominent farmer near Augusta. In 1868 or 1869 and pos-
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
sibly earlier Doctor Randall located at Augusta, who was our family physician. He was succeeded after his death by a young Doctor Hanaphy. Doctor Gilmore must have been the doctor who attended my father in his last illness in 1857." We have quoted carefully from the above of Mrs. Finck and feel satisfied what she says is correct. The Doctor Walker of whom she speaks left Augusta and came to Burlington.
YELLOW SPRINGS AND HURON TOWNSHIP
Dr. Samuel Fullenweider is without doubt the first doctor who located in Yellow Springs Township. He commenced the practice of his profession at the town of Columbus (Yellow Springs) in 1837. Subsequently removed to where is located the Town of Kossuth. He was one of the most prominent men in the township. Dr. Joseph H. Letherman came to Yellow Springs Township in 1844. He was a relative of Aaron and Hiram Leonard, with whom he boarded. He married Mary Jane Pierce, who lived near Franklin Mills. Doctor Letherman moved to Valparaiso, Ind., in 1853, where he died March 22, 1885. Dr. D. H. Johnson was Doctor Letherman's stepfather. Doctor Johnson came in 1848 and settled on a farm north of the Village of Kossuth. He had four daughters, May, Sarah, Fanny and Caroline, who married Doctor Sherman, who claimed to be an eye specialist. Dr. G. W. Snyder, a botanic practitioner, settled in Huron Township in 1843. He sold his farm and moved to Mount Pleasant, and from there to Burlington. He and his wife were faithful attendants of the Presby- terian Church.
Dr. Henry Mathews practiced a short time in Huron Township. Dr. James Carothers came in 1846. He afterwards moved to Dodgeville, where he practiced until 1851, when he moved to South Hanover, Ind., from which place he came to Jowa. Dr. D. A. Martin practiced at Kossuth in the '50s. He entered the army as assistant surgeon in the Third Infantry. No one knows what became of him after the war. A physician by the name of Davis located at Yellow Springs in 1850. No one now living knows from what place he came. He left in 1852 and went to Oregon. Dr. R. W. Hall was the first physician who settled in Huron Township. He came from Ohio with the Dolbers in 1840. He continued in the practice for fifty years. Doctors Baker and Stoner were located in Kos- suth in the 'Sos. Their duration at Kossuth was not long, when they moved away. Dr. B. Antrobus practiced at Kossuth from 1867 for a decade, when he moved to Beloit, Kan., where he died in 1912. Doctor Thompson was located at Northfield for several years in the 'Sos, from which place he moved to Arkansas. Dr. Wil- liam E. Greer came to Kossuth in 1854. Doctor Greer was married twice. His first wife was a sister of Gen. Samuel Sturges. His second wife, Adaline Taylor of Burlington. He moved to Kansas soon after the Civil war. Dr. Austin Fullen- weider, son of Dr. Samuel Fullenweider, practiced with his father a short time in the early '70s. He married Ellen A. Babb. From Kossuth he moved to Spangle, Wash., where he died some years ago. Dr. D. W. Lunbeck came from Ohio in 1880 and settled in Kossuth, where he commenced to practice his pro- fession. From Kossuth he moved to Mediapolis, where he practiced for a num- ber of years. From the latter place to Burlington. Dr. O. F. Higbee taught school in Kossuth ten years from 1866. He quit school teaching and matric-
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ulated at the School of Medicine, Iowa State University, from which school he graduated. In 1891 he married Miss Bessie Matson, daughter of Captain Matson. From Mediapolis he moved to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1894, when he returned to Mediapolis and continued in the practice of medi- cine. Dr. Horace Wilson, a Burlington boy, practiced in Mediapolis from 1904 to 1907, when he moved to a place near Los Angeles, Cal. Dr. John A. Matson practiced in Mediapolis from 1909 to 1914, when he moved to Ogden, Utah. Dr. L. B. Power was a surgcon in the United States Army from 1861 to 1866. He married Miss May A. Rice of Burlington in 1866. He settled in Mediapolis in 1872 and commenced the practice of medicine. He died in August, 1894. Dr. B. S. Pennington came to Kossuth in 1891 and commenced the practice of medicine. He moved to Mediapolis in 1894. The physicians now in the prac- tice at Mediapolis are Drs. J. P. Mathias, W. L. Stewart, W. W. Potter.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
The first physician in this township, so far as we' can learn, was a Doctor Hutchinson, who came in the '30s. The next was Doctor Carothers, who went from Yellow Springs to Dodgeville about 1847 or 1848. and practiced there for three years. Doctor Pollock followed Doctor Carothers at Dodgeville, but at what time the writer cannot discover. Doctor Pollock had a large practice. He married Miss Hall of Burlington, a daughter of Hon. J. C. Hall, the eminent lawyer and one time judge of the Supreme Court of Iowa. While following his profession Doctor Pollock died, leaving a widow and one son named Benton. Doctor Pollock was succeeded by Doctor Barclay, who practiced at Dodgeville for many years and until the time of his death. Doctor Barclay was succeeded by Doctor Lowery, who lives at Sperry and is now in the practice.
PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSIIIP
Pleasant Grove is the capital of this township, and when it does not have a doctor the township has none. The first physician located in Pleasant Grove was Doctor Miller. This was before the Civil war. A doctor by the name of Clutter succeeded Miller. Doctor Frosh came next, then Doctor Ratliff. Since Ratliff's time the people have depended on West Burlington, or Mediapolis, for their physicians.
WASHIINGTON TOWNSIIIP
Yarmouth is the seat of government of Washington Township. This town- ship and town has not had much use for doctors. The first physician, so far as the writer is able to learn, was Doctor Chapman. He was starved out, and came to Burlington. The next in order was Doctor Ratliff, who emigrated from Yarmouth to Pleasant Grove. Then came Dr. J. P. Mathias, who went to Mediapolis.
The list above contains the names of the country physicians, so far as we are able to discover. Among Burlington physicians, from 1860 to 1878, the following names appear: J. V. Bean, E. F. Bugette, D. S. Forney, J. C. Flemming. E.
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