USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 24
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 24
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Dr. James A. Norton came to Hampton in 1869. He practiced here for about three years, then returned to Tiffin, Ohio, his former home. He has since served three terms in the Ohio legislature. Dr. Nor- ton was small in stature, of quick, nervous temperment, and was as "smart as a whip." He was a graduate of the Cleveland Medi- cal College, at Cleveland, Ohio. Ile was
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married in Franklin county to Miss Hem- ing, a native of Ohio.
J. B. Galer, M. D., born in Milton, Penn., Feb. 4, 1822, a son of George and Mary (Orr) Galer, located at Hampton, Iowa, as a physician June 1, 1870, and still resides there, having a large practice. He is a member of the County Medical Asso- ciation, and was one of its charter mem- bers. He went with his parents to Muncie, Lycoming Co., Penn., and at fourteen he went to Clearfield, same State. He has also lived at Jefferson and Fayette, Wis., and Warren, Ill. In 1848, he entered Rush Medical College and graduated. From Aug. 9, 1862, until Dec. 25, 1863, he was assistant surgeon in the 31st regi- ment, Wisconsin Volunteers, and resigned because of ill-health. In October, 1852, he married Louisa E. Beals, of St. Albans, Vt., who died Jan. 15, 1870; and Oct. 10, 1872, he married Aoba A. Gould, of Georgia, Vt.
Dr. J. J. Leas came to Hampton, from St. Louis, in 1871, for the purpose of practic- ing medicine. He was a good physician and full of fun. He remained in Hamp- ton about ten years, when he went to Nebraska.
Dr. Lincoln, an old school physician, came to Hampton, from Ohio, in 1871, and remained one year. His practice was not very extensive, so he left.
James H. Hutchins, M. D., came to Hampton, Franklin Co., Iowa, in 1873, and has since devoted his time to the practice of medicine in this vicinity. He is senior member of the firm of Hutchins & Funk, in the drug business, but gives his entire time to his practice. Hle was born Jan. 10, 1845, at Kendall, Niagara
Co., N. Y., and in August of the same year his parents, Osmond B. and Lydia (Davis) Hu chins, came wes' and settled at Rockford, Ill. At the age of fifteen he entered the Rock River Seminary, at Mount Morris, Ill, where he spent three years in study, after which he engaged two years in teaching, and when he was twenty years of age began reading medi- cine in the office of B. G. Pierce, M. D., at Warren, Ill. Here he spent two years, and then entered Rush Medical College, where he graduated, Feb. 1, 1871. He practiced a few months at Riverside, Wis., then a year and a half at Apple River, Ill., after which he located at Hampton, in 1873. The same year he graduated he was appointed United States Examining Surgeon but resigned the same, in consequence of his removal to this State, and in 1876 he was re-appointed to the same position, which he still holds. He is now coroner of this county, and has been secretary of the Franklin Coun y Medical Society. In June, 1864, he en- listed as a non-commissioned officer, com- pany B, 142d Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was mustered out of the service with his regiment in the fall of the same year, at Camp Fry, Chicago, Ill. In 1880, Dr. Hutchins went to New York for the pur- pose of more thoroughly preparing him- self for his professional work. He took special instruction under Professor Alfred L. Loomis, at Bellevue Hospital, also at the Woman's Hospital, under T. Adis Emmet, A. M., M. D., and received a thorough course of instruction from Pro- fessor Montrose A. Pallen, at the U'niver. sity Medical College. He also attended the general course of lectures at the med-
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ical department of the University of the city of New York, graduating there in March, 1881. Dr. Hutchins is a skillful and successful physician. He is in love with his profession and is establishing an extensive practice which is well deserved, as his medical knowledge has been of the highest order. In February 1871, he was married to Celesta O. Frank. They have one daughter-Ione C., now ten years of age.
In 1874, the medical profession at Hampton was re-inforeed by the arrival of Dr. Chappell, a physician of the homeo- pathie school. He remained about five or six months, then went to Oregon, Ill.
Dr. C. E. Booth arrived in May, 1876, and at once opened an office. Dr. Booth came here from Le Roy, Wis., and was a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chica- go, Ill. He entered into partnership with Dr. J. H. Hutchins, and remained six months, when he returned to Le Roy, Wis. Dr. Booth was a gentleman and a thorough scholar. He made many friends and be- came very popular. Previous to his locat- ing here, he had been professor of physi- ology and anatomy in a medical institu- tion at Le Roy, and on his return to that place was placed in the same position.
In 1877, Dr. O. P. Thompson, allopath, who was born in Hampton, opened an office. He remained about six months. Dr. Thompson was a graduate of the Iowa State University at Iowa City. He came home from Wisconsin, where he had been practicing.
Dr. John M. Pride located at Hampton in 1878. He entered into partnership with Dr. O. B. Harriman and remained about one year. Dr. Pride graduated
from the medical department of the Iowa S ate University at Iowa City. He is now practicing in Whitamore, Kossuth Co., this State, and is succeeding remarkably well, having a large practice.
Dr. G. A. Corning, homeopathic phy- sieian and surgeon, located at Hampton in 1878 and enjoys a lucrative practice. Ile was born at Manchester, N. H., Aug. 18, 1835. He acquired a good education, and at the age of nineteen years he came to Wisconsin, where, not long after, he en- gaged in teaching, which vocation he fol- lowed for some years. He was married in 1861 to Isabel Town. He was at that time principal of the schools at Kilbourn City, Columbia Co., Wis. In 1864 he went to Union Co., Ill., to establish him- self in the fruit business. He found it distasteful and resumed his former occu- pation, obtaining an appointment as prin- cipal of the Lamoille schools in Bureau Co., Ill. He remained there two years and then accepted a like position in the schools in Buda,in that county. His wife died at Buda in 1868, leaving one child, Ernest Banks. Meanwhile he had been prose- cuting the study of medicine and gradu- ated at Hahnemann College, Chicago. He commenced the practice of medicine in 1871, and continued until 1878 at Mar- seilles, Ill., when he came to Hampton. He was again married in 1875 to Josephine Town, sister of the first Mrs. Corning. By this second marriage there is one child, Edward Ray.
In 1879, the number of physicians of Hampton was increased by the arrival of Dr. Humphrey, who came from Cedar- ville, Ill. He was a graduate of the Pennsylvania State Medical College, at
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Philadelphia. Dr. Humphrey remained here until the summer of 1881, then re- turned to Cedarville, Ill., where he is now practicing. Dr. Humphrey was a large, fine looking man, but was too re- served to make many friends, although he was respected by every one.
Dr. J. Z. E. Funk came to Hampton direct from Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, in 1880, and attended to the busi- ness of Dr. J. H. Hutchins for nine months while the latter gentleman was in New York city. From here he went to Spirit Lake, Iowa, where he is now practicing. Dr. Funk was a man of good ability and thoroughly understood his pro- fession.
In the summer of 1881 Dr. Floyd came from Johnson Co., Iowa, and located in this place. He remained about six months, then went to Sheffield, this county, where he still remains.
Dr. H. P. Roberts, of Hampton, was born in Sussex Co., N. J., Dec. 1, 1828, and when about eight years of age moved with his parents to Knox Co., Ohio, where he received an academic education in Fredericktown. He commenced the study of medicine in the spring of 1847, with Thomas Rigdon Potter, a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadel- phia, Pa. ; completing his medical educa- tion at the Western Reserve Medical Col- lege, at Cleveland, Ohio, in the spring of 1857. He was married Dec. 25, 1849, to Abbie S. Lane, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession in Amity, Knox county, in 1851. After remaining in prac- tice in that place for five years, he re- moved with his family in 1856 to Morri- son, Whiteside Co., Ill., where he re-
mained in active professional business for twenty years. In June, 1876, he came to Franklin county and located four miles north of Hampton on a half section of land which he had purchased in 1864. Having frequent professional calls at his farm, he concluded to make his profession his exclusive business, and in the spring of 1882, opened an office in Hampton. Politically, the doctor is a republican ; in religion he is a Congregationalist. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have nine chil- dren living, four sons and five daughters -Charlotte Ann, Charles P., Hattie A., Edward B., Etta L., Henry G., Lena May, John H. and Gertie B.
In 1883 the medical profession at Hampton was represented by Drs. J. B. Galer, O. B. Harriman, J. H. Hutchins, H. P. Roberts and T. H. Baker, of the allopathic school ; and G. A. Corning, homeopathist.
Dr. M. H. Ross is the senior resident dentist at Hampton. His father, A. S. Ross, came to Iowa in 1853 and settled in Franklin county in 1857. He still resides near Chapin. Dr. Ross was born in La Porte Co., Ind., Dec. 22, 1842. In July, 1861, he enlisted in company C, 6th Iowa Infantry, and became first sergeant of the company. He received two wounds and was the only one of seven that enlist- ed with him who lived to see the close of the war. He received his discharge at Davenport, Iowa, at the close of the war. He returned to Franklin county and in 1866 entered the office of Dr. Flowers at Grinnell. He commenced practice at Hamp- ton in 1868 and has since pursued his business here with the exception of two years, when he was engaged in mining
G
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in Montana. He is a member of the Iowa State Dental Association, belongs to the order of F. & A. M. and is present Secretary of Anchor Lodge No. 191. He was married in 1869 to Eliza Mitchell, a native of Wisconsin. Dr. and Mrs. Ross have four children-Carl, Frank, Totta and Minnie.
V. B. Pool, dental surgeon, has been located at Hampton since December, 1881, and has an extensive and increasing busi- ness. He is a graduate of Victoria Den- tal College at Toronto, Canada, and a registered dentist of the State of Iowa. Dr. Pool was born in Oxford Co., Canada, Feb. 21, 1850. He received a common school education in the county of his birth and afterward studied for his profes- sion. IIe came to western Wisconsin in 1878, and in the spring of 1879 to Mason City, Iowa, where, associated with Dr. Harkinson, he engaged in dentistry. He was married Feb. 10, 1877, to Christiana Harkinson, born in Oxford Co., Canada. Their children are Nellie, May and Hardy Fayette.
GENEVA PHYSICIANS.
C. H. Tidd, M. D., came to Franklin Co., Iowa, and located in Geneva in 1875. He has been very successful in the prac- tice of medicine, having by close applica- tion to his profession built up an exten- sive practice. He was born in Coolville, Athens Co., Ohio, Oct. 28, 1847, where he spent his youth, attending the village school. He then spent three years in the academy, when by the final exami- nation he was pronounced prepared for the sophomore class in college, but cir-
cumstances prevented his then entering college and he engaged with a mercan- tile firm in Brooklyn, Mich., and after- wards in the same business in Brighton, Ill. During this time he employed all his spare hours in the preliminary studies of medicine for which he always had a fond- ness. After spending two years at Brigh- ton he returned to Ohio where he entered the Medical College of Ohio in 1869, and graduated in 1872. By a competitive ex- amination he was elected one of the in- ternes of the Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, where he spent one year. He then began the practice of medicine at Middleport, Ohio, and established an ex- tensive practice, but owing to some finan- cial reverses decided to come west, and after considerable prospecting chose Gen- eva as his future home. In January, 1883, he was selected by the Central Railway of Iowa as first assistant surgeon of the road with charge of all cases occurring north of Marshalltown; he, with surgeon W. R. Nugent, of Oskaloosa, being the only sur- geons employed by the company along the entire line. He is widely known to the medical profession as the author of sev- eral medical essays, for one of which he received five years' subscription to the New York Medical Journal, one of the oldest and most reliable medical journals in America. He is also a frequent con- tributor to the Detroit Lancet, the South- ern Medical Review and the Medical and Surgical Reporter of Philadelphia. For an article published in the latter the editor presented him with a copy each of Flint's Physiology, Vogal on Diseases of Children and Pepper and Smith on Dis- eases of Children.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
SHEFFIELD PHYSICIANS.
The first physician to locate in Sheffield was Dr. Mosley Canfield, who came from Marshalltown in 1873-4. Previous to his coming here, he had been engaged in the dry goods business, but on coming to Shef- field gave his whole attention to the practice of his profession, and remained until his death which occurred in July, 1880. He belonged to the homeopathic school, and thoroughly understood his pro- fession. He was a man of strong republi- can principles, well read and highly respected. He had a large practice. His widow now lives in Marshall county, this State.
Dr. J. M. Potter, of the eclectic school, came from Faribault, Minn., and located at Sheffield in 1875. He was a native of New York State and had studied his pro- fession in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1881 he went to Xenia, Dallas county, this State, where he was still located in 1883. He built up a fair practice and was thought well of as a physician.
Dr. Lee located in Sheffield in 1882, coming from Wisconsin. Dr. Lee is a graduate of Ann Arbor College, Michigan, and is a first-class physician. His prac- tice is steadily increasing, and he is des- tined to be one of the leading physicians of the county. The doctor is a married man and has one child.
H. R. Floyd, M. D., came to Iowa in 1876, and in October, 1881, located at Sheffield, Franklin county, where he still remains enjoying an increasing and lucra- tive practice. He was born in Canada in 1839, and at the age of thirteen ran away from home and went to New York, thence sailed to England and Germany as a cabin
boy in the steamship Washington; came back to New York, but soon returned to the sea. During the voyage he was ship- wrecked, and after being seven days in an open boat on the ocean without food, was picked up in an insensible condition and brought back to New York. In Newark N. Y. he worked at carriage blacksmithing about three years and also attended a night school. After this he went to Savannah, Ga. and from there sailed to England and en ered the English army. He partici- pated in the capture of Sebastopol, and was afterward stationed in Gibraltar for four years, during which time he accom- panied a party of officers to Africa as an interpreter, he being a good Spanish lin- quist. While they were observing the conduct of the war between Spain and Morocco he was sergeant in command of "Eropa Point Guard," at Gibraltar, where the confederate steamer, Sumpter, under Capt. Semmes, captured three United States vessels in the straits, bonding two and burning one. He received orders from Gov. Sir William Codrington: "If that vessel" (the Sumpter) "does not show her colors on entering the bay, sink her without warning." He at once prepared to do so by bringing three sixty-eight pounder Armstrong guns to bear on her. But before the guns opened on her she showed her colors and hus was saved from her impending ruin. Soon afterwards the United States gunboat Tuscorora arrived and Capt. Semmes was obliged to sell the Sumpter and leave her there. Dr. Floyd was for three years hospital ser- geant and dispenser of medicine, and afterwards, in 1862, he procured a dis- charge and returned to America (his
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207
parents having died during his absence), and in 1864, joined the New York Moun ed Rifles, and was engaged in and around Petersburg and Richmond, and finally at Appomatox where Lee surren- dered. His regiment was sent as provost guard to Maysville, Buckingham Co., Va., where he organized and taught the first freedmen's school in the south, with- out any remuneration. In 1865, he was mustered out and returned 10 Canada where he attended the Toronto Military school and obtained a certificate of fitness to command. He then joined the volun- teers to resist Fenian invasion. After this wave of danger passed over, he re- turned to the United States, went to Balti- more Md., and was florist and botanist for a large firm, attended part of a term in Maryland University, went with Prof. Agassiz and party to Brazil, South America, to collect natural curiosities, for six months, and remained there in the practice of medi- cine three years, at which time he re- tured to America and was employed as landscape gardner, on Ilighland Park, Bal imore. He came to Iowa in 1876, and was married to Agnes Danskin, of Marengo, Dec. 25, 1876. IIe then attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, where he graduated and then practiced medicine in Solon and Tiffin in this State until he came to Sheffield.
CHAPIN PHYSICIANS.
The medical profession is represented at Chapin by Drs. J. S. Hurd and W. F. Cooper.
Dr. W. F. Cooper has been a practicing physician of Crapin since July 22, 1881. He was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Sept.
19, 1845. His parents, Wm. G. and Maria (Smith) . Cooper, came from Con- nectient and Massachusetts respectively. The subject of this sketch spent his boy- hood on his father's farm, attending he district school, supplemented by several terms at Delaware Academy and Oberlin College. While attending school and afterward while pursuing the study of medicine, he frequently engaged in teach- ing He engaged in the study and practice of medicine in Ohio for six years in Green and Miami counties, also prac iced one year in Decatur Co., Ind., after which he came to Chapin. Dr. Cooper is a gentleman of fine personal appearance, easy address, rare educational attainments, and is rapidly pushing his way to the front rank among the medical fraternity of Franklin county. He has good success in the treatment of patients, and his field of practice is constantly enlarging. On the 24th of September, 1867, he married Anrietta Gridley, of Medina Co., Ohio. They are the parents of two children-L. May and Lillian M. Dr. Cooper was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, serv- ing as private in the 166th regiment, Ohio National Guards. He was on duty in Virgina a little more than four months.
LATIMER.
Dr. Thom represents the medical fra- ternity at this place.
PHYSICIANS AT DOWS.
Dr. F. E. Cornish located at Dows in October, 1880, and is the local physician of the B., C. R. & N. Railway Company, also physician of Morgan township, Franklin county, and Vernon and Blair townships, Wright county, having an extended prac- tice and drug trade. Ile was born in
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1849. He received his education at the Bennett Medical Col- lege, in Chicago, practicing in that city four years. In February, 1877, he moved to Parkersburg, engaging in his profes- sion until October, 1880, when he moved to Dows. He was married, July 10, 1867, to Elizabeth Dwyer, a native of New York city, born in 1850. They have two chil- dren-Sanford Stephen and Arthur Guy.
James A. Mulnix, M. D., a native of New York, came to Dows on the 1st of September, 1881, and commenced the prac- tice of medicine. He has been very suc- cessful as a physician and has a large and increasing business. He was born Nov. 8, 1852, in Ulster Co., N. Y., and was the second child of J. L. and Margaret (John- son) Mulnix, both natives of New York. The father was born Dec. 18, 1819, the mother Sept. 14, of the same year. In 1859, the family removed to Ogle Co., Ill., where the parents remained until March, 1880, when they settled in Frank- lin Co., Iowa, where they still live. James A. Mulnix attended Carthage College, at Carthage, Ill., in the winter of 1876-7, then entered Keokuk Medical College and graduated in 1878, after which he practiced medicine for two years in Alden, Hardin Co., Iowa, and then came to Dows. He was married at Adrian, Ill., Jan. 26, 1882, to Sallie L. Rice, of Cincinnati. Dr. Mulnix is a member of the Masonic frater- nity.
FRANKLIN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
On Feb. 15, 1876, a meeting was held at Hampton by the representatives of the medical profession, for the purpose of forming an association of this kind. The following gentlemen were present at this meeting: J. B. Galer, O. B. Harriman, J. I. Leas, J. H. Hutchins, C. H. Tidd and J. S. Hurd. The officers elected, were as follows: O. B. Harriman, president; C. H. Tidd, vice-president; J H. Hutchins, secretary; J. B. Galer, treasurer. This meeting resulted in the permanent organi- zation of the society.
The rules and regulations fixed the tinie of meeting on the first Tuesday of each month, the annual meeting to be held the first Tuesday in February of each year. The above named officers held until 1880, when a change was made by the election of C. H. Tidd as president and Oscar Thompson, secretary; the o her officers being retained.
The object of the society was to be the advancement of medical knowledge, he uniformity of medical ethics, the promo- tion of harmony and fraternity in the medical profession, the protection of he interests of its members, the promotion of all measures adapted to the relief of the suf- fering, and to improve the health and pro- tect the lives of the community."
The members of the association in 1883, were: Drs. J B. Galer. O. B. Harriman, J. I. Leas, J. H. Hutchins, C. H. Tidd, J. S. Hurd and P. C. Shephard.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER X.
EARLY DAYS.
The following account of personal mat- ters is given to show the disadvantages under which the hardy pioneers procured the homes which now seem so comfort- able. Whatever of romance attached to the lives of the hardy colonists was abund- antly compensated for by hard work. Con- trast the journey of that devoted party through the roadless and bridgeless tract between Chicago and their destination with that of a party on a like trip to-day. Instead of weeks of labor and toil, priva- tion and suffering, with cold and hunger, a seat is taken in a palace car, at noon, in Chicago, an unexceptional supper is par- taken of without leaving the train, the passenger retires upon a downy couch, and in the morning awakens to find himself at his destination in central or northern Iowa, having lost only a half day on the journey. Those who enjoy these bless- ings would be less than human if they were not filled with gratitude to these ear- ly settlers, who paved the way and actually made the present condition of things pos- sible. At that time the confines of civi- lization were on the lakes. Chicago had not many thousand people. Milwaukee was just beginning to be a village and Dubuque was a mere vidette-an ontpost of civilization. Their was nothing in the now great State of Iowa, except the intrin- sie merit of the location, to attract people
from their more or less comfortable homes in the east or on the other side of the wa- ter. The imagined grand possibilities of the future gave birth to hope which "springs eternal in the human heart," lur- ing them on, and although those who came were usually regarded by the friends they left as soldiers of fortune, who if they ever returned at all would indeed be fortunate, yet in spite of this they came and have fought their way through trials and adversity to a realization of their ear- ly hopes. They were a sturdy race who realized the inequality of the struggle in the old States or countries and resolved to plant themselves where merit would not be suppressed by traditions.
The men who came, were, as a rule, en- terprising, open-hearted and sympathetic. They were good neighbors and so good neighborhoods were created, and they il- lustrated the idea of the brotherhood of man more by example than by quoting . creeds, with a bravery that never blanched in the face of the most appalling danger. They nevertheless were tender, kind and considerate in the presence of misfortune, and their deficiency in outward manifes- tations of piety was more than compen- sated for by their love and regard for hu- manity, And if this meed of praise is justly due to the men, and it certainly is, what shall be said of the heroie women
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
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