USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 17
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
This leaven, working in the then geographical center of the country, moulded public opinion and goaded civic pride into organized efforts towards establishing permanent medical schools. King's College gave a course of lectures on anatomy in 1763, and its board voted to establish a regular med- ical school, August 14, 1767. This institution was created by letters patent issued by George II, King of England, October 31, 1754. It was afterwards known as Columbia College, and later as Columbia University, which title is familiar to all. This was the first college in America to confer the degree of Medical Doctor. The College of Philadelphia organized a medical faculty in 1765, and Harvard College took similar action in 1782.
King's College was closed during the war of the Revolution, for obvious reasons, and in 1784 an act was passed making Columbia College, in the city of New York, the successor of King's College, and instruction was resumed in the academical department. But in 1792 a complete reorganization was effected, and in 1814 it was absorbed by its rival, the College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1860 the College of Physicians and Surgeons became the med- ical department of Columbia College, and in 1891 it was made a definite part of the university.
The medical department of the College of Philadelphia was largely the outgrowth of encouragement given the enterprise by Thomas Penn, son of the world-famous William Penn and a philanthropist whose benefactions greatly aided the City of Brotherly Love in the establishment of many of her early public institutions. Benjamin Franklin was also a moving spirit in this work, as he was in anything relating to the development of science, educa- tion and civic improvement. The charter of the College of Philadelphia was revoked in 1779 and given to the University of the State of Pennsylvania. This law was repealed four years later, and the charter of the old college was restored. In September, 1791, the two rival schools united under the title of the University of Pennsylvania, and so continues.
The charter for the establishment of the Pennsylvania Hospital was granted in 1751, and this seems to have been the first general hospital to be opened in the colonies. The first patient was admitted to this hospital Febru- ary 10, 1752. New York Hospital was chartered in 1771.
The first medical journal in America for the publication of original arti- cles, was the Medical Repository, founded in New York City in 1797.
Medical colleges and hospitals have been multiplying for the last hundred
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and fifty years, and there is scarcely a city of any importance in the United States that does not sustain one or more of each. Many hospitals have been established by churches and philanthropic individuals, while the medical schools have been increased in numbers to meet the requirements of the population, and the divisions and sub-divisions of materia medica. In like manner, med- ical journals and medical literature in general has increased with the advance of the profession, until no class of professional men (and women) are better supplied with the needful helps, and assuredly none are more willing to avail themselves of the advantages thus afforded.
Medical societies soon followed the establishment of the colleges, and these have increased in numbers and interest until there is not a state in the Union, and scarcely an organized county, that does not sustain its medical society. At the head of these, so far as prominence and popularity are con- cerned, is the American Medical Association, with headquarters at Washing- ton, D. C., though the first national institution of the kind was established in New York City, which for many years was regarded as a medical educational center.
The pioneer physicians of Fayette county were above the average in point of intellectual attainments and professional qualifications. It is gen- erally conceded that Dr. J. H. Stafford was the first doctor to engage in prac- tice in this county. He located in West Union in 1851, and followed his pro- fession, in connection with other lines of business, throughout a long and active lifetime. He was followed by Doctors Chase, Zeigler, Cruzan, Elliot, Lake, Fuller, Ecker, Hart, Armstrong, Robinson, Drake, Harbach, Zoller, all of whom practiced in West Union, and all are dead or removed from the county. There were also a few physicians here who did not remain long enough to become thoroughly identified with the profession, but soon removed to other fields. These were mostly young physicians seeking a location. Doctors G. D. Darnall and E. A. Ainsworth are the oldest physicians now in practice at West Union (see alphabetical list of present physicians of the county ).
Dr. C. C. Parker was the first physician in Fayette, who located and con- tinued there in active practice. He came in 1855, and died there in 1905. He was a native of Clermont county, Ohio, born September 12, 1823, and was reared and educated in his native county. He engaged in teaching for a few years in early manhood, and in 1845 began the study of medicine. Doctor Parker was graduated from Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, in 1850, and in 1852 he was chosen demonstrator of anatomy in his alma mater. The Doctor never possessed a rugged constitution, and the confinement in his
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college work impaired his health to the extent that he was compelled to re- sign his professorship and seek another field of labor. He was married in Point Pleasant, Ohio, October 4, 1853, to Sarah M. Lakin, who died in Fay- ette, December 3, 1888. Soon after his marriage, Doctor Parker started for the West, making a leisurely trip on horseback, and arriving in the village of Fayette on his thirty-second birthday. At that time there were but eight houses in the village, and these were full to overflowing. The small tavern was kept by a family named Davis, and two or three children in this family being ill, the Doctor treated his first patient in Fayette while waiting for his dinner the day of his arrival. After deciding the matter as to whether he would remain in "Fayetteville" or look further for a location, he let the con- tract for the construction of a house of two rooms, made a few other pre- liminary arrangements, and returned to Ohio for his wife and little son. But he was shocked and pained beyond expression to learn that the little flower which had budded in their home so promisingly, had sickened and died two weeks before the father's return.
Returning to Fayette, Doctor Parker began a professional career cover- ing half a century, during which time no man could say aught against him. He was an extremely busy man. He entered the army in 1861, as surgeon of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, and served until failing health compelled his resignation. After the close of the war he was appointed by the commissioner of pensions, as examining surgeon for a large territory, including Fayette county, and for a long series of years he was the only physician in the county acting in this capacity. But as the duties of that office multiplied, and a board of three examiners was constituted, he was retained for many years as a mem- ber. and his colleagues were always pleased to be associated with him in this capacity.
Doctor Parker was always a friend to struggling young men, and his kindly counsels and fatherly advice led more than one young man into the proper course to insure future usefulness. He was a member of the first board of trustees of the Upper Iowa University, and in 1870 he was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Iowa Hospital for the Insane, at Inde- pendence. The Doctor was a zealous and useful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and served it in many official ways. His three sons who are living are all graduates of the Upper Iowa University, and all are engaged in some honorable professional work. The eldest, Rev. D. M., is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church; Charles L. is in law, land and real estate business in Seattle, Washington, while James D. is a successful physician in Fayette, perpetuating the name so long honored by the people. The last years of his father's life were spent as a member of this son's family.
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Doctor Dixon Alexander was another of the pioneer physicians in Fay- ette. He was born in De Kalb county, New York, March 24, 1822. He commenced the study of medicine in 1846, after taking the usual course in preliminary training in the office of a practicing physician, and was graduated from Castleton (Vermont) Medical College in 1848. He commenced prac- tice at Benson, Vermont, in 1849, and was married the same year to Mary E. Wentworth, of Stonington, Vermont. She was born in Norwich, Connecti- cut, September 12, 1825. Mrs. Alexander acquired a liberal education in her native state and was a lady of high literary standing in this county for many years. She was quiet and unobtrusive, a most exemplary wife and mother, and a valued friend of all who knew her.
Doctor Alexander located with his family in Fayette in 1857, and began a successful career in practice which terminated only with his death. He was surgeon of the Sixteenth Iowa Infantry during the last year of the Civil war, serving until the close of hostilities. His was a disposition entirely different from that of his early colleague in practice, Dr. C. C. Parker, being gruff and outspoken, yet possessing a kindly heart and cheerful disposition. He served a number of years as a member of the pension examining board of this county, to which office he brought a wealth of successful experience in medicine and surgery, and was regarded as a fair and impartial guardian of both the public and private interests. Both the Doctor and his estimable wife lived to a ripe old age, and died in the town where their home had been for nearly half a century. Their only surviving child is Ed. D. Alexander, of Hastings, Ne- braska, a journalist by occupation.
Dr. J. A. Aldrich was an early and prominent physician in Fayette, but removed to Mississippi in 1881. He died in Denver, Colorado, about 1905, and his widow still resides at Biloxi, Mississippi.
It is said that Dr. Aaron Brown (better known as Colonel Brown) was the first physician in Fayette, and that he resigned his practice when Dr. C. C. Parker located in the town and never afterward resumed professional prac- tice. He entered the army early in 1861 with the Third Iowa Regiment and rose to the rank of colonel of that organization. Following the close of the war he turned his attention to farming and so continued until a few years be- fore his death, in July, 1904. But the Colonel never lost his interest in the medical fraternity, and was an honorary member of the Fayette County Med- ical Society from its organization, and frequently attended its meetings.
Whether Colonel Brown is entitled to the honor of being the first medical practitioner in Fayette, or otherwise, is not surely known ; but it is true that he located near that town site in 1852, and practiced medicine there until 1856,
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when he was elected to the State Senate for four years. After the war he was twice elected to the State Legislature, and served from 1870 to 1874 as register of the state land office. He practiced medicine in the south from 1878 to 1882, but returned to Fayette county, and died at Mitchellville, Iowa.
Dr. J. B. Norris was the first physician in Waucoma. He came from Illinois to Chickasaw county, ten miles north of Waucoma, in the early fifties, and began practice in this county at that time. In 1860 he located in Wau- coma, and continued in practice there until his death in 1865. Dr. Olmstead was the second physician in the town, but he soon removed to another field. Dr. O. B. Dodd was the third practitioner who located in Waucoma, and he is now the pioneer doctor in the county. For many years he had a very large practice, both in Fayette and Chickasaw counties, but with advancing years, and the preparation of his son, F. B., to take his place, he has relaxed some of his former energy, and now confines himself to office practice and special calls of old-time friends. Everybody in Fayette county knows Dr. O. B. Dodd, who is one of the honored early settlers of Waucoma. Dr. F. B. Dodd died in 1907.
In very early days a Doctor Boydson was in practice in Eden and Wind- sor townships, and lived at a little hamlet then known as Port Washington. He has been dead many years. Doctors Bemis and Doctor Pence were in practice at Auburn in the palmy days of that ambitious town; and in later times Dr. J. P. Marsh was in practice there before he moved to Elgin, in the early seventies. He removed to New York, his native state, where he was in practice when last heard from.
The names of Drs. B. H. Hinkley and W. C. Lewis are inseparably con- nected with the medical history of Clermont. Both died there, after long years of successful practice, during which they endured many of the hard- ships and exposures of the pioneer physicians of early days. Dr. Frederick Becker was a later acquisition to the medical annals of Clermont, and, as a homeopathist, had a large and lucrative practice for more than a quarter of a century. He was a member of the state board of health from 1889 to 1896. Doctor Becker, a native of Germany, located in Clermont in 1875, and con- tinues in active practice there. For many years he was a lecturer in a med- ical college, a place now ably filled by his son, Dr. Frederick Becker, Jr.
Dr. O. O. Ayer was the first physician to locate in Wadena. Previously the Fayette and Volga doctors had supplied that place, among whom were Doctors McLean, Parker and Alexander, and occasionally Doctor Cruzan was called. Doctor Ayer came to Wadena soon after his graduation in 1875, and continued in successful practice several years, when he removed to Brush
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Creek (now Arlington), where he still remains. He was married, while liv- ing in Wadena, to Viola Stevens, of Minnesota.
Doctor H. S. Hadsel located in Maynard in 1875, though he did not graduate as a physician until 1882 ; but we think he was in practice a few years prior to this event. He was probably the first doctor to locate in Maynard. Dr. G. W. Hanes was an early physician in Maynard, and died there, his son, Dr. P. E. Hanes, continuing the practice there. Doctor Hadsel was a partner of Dr. G. D. Darnall, in West Union, for a year or two, after which he located in Elgin, where he is now in successful practice.
Dr. Israel Pattison, late of Oelwein, was the pioneer physician in the southern part of Fayette county. He was born in Welland county, Ontario, Canada, October 18, 1842. At the beginning of the Civil war he left school and entered the army for the preservation of the Federal Union. He received a wound at the battle of Culpeper Court House, which necessitated his dis- charge from the service. He re-entered the University of Toronto, and was graduated in the spring of 1864. Once more he offered his services to his country, and was accepted as brigade hospital steward, with the "Flying Hos- pital," an auxiliary to the regular field hospital. While in charge of this, he was present at the first and second battles at Hatcher's Run, Stony Point and Five Forks, and was with General Sheridan in front of Lee's army at Appo- mattox. Having participated in the first battle of Bull's Run, it was now his privilege to share in the honors of capturing the army of Northern Virginia, and in witnessing the closing agonies of the Confederacy.
Doctor Pattison was graduated from the medical department of the Uni- versity of Buffalo, in 1867, and at once began practice in his native county. He was married there, June 1, 1870, to Alice Coleman, and on the day of their marriage he and his bride started for the West. Their objective point was Lincoln, Nebraska, but on reaching Otsego, Fayette county, Iowa, the Doctor was induced to stop there and engage in the practice of his profession. For- tune favored him, and in a short time he had established a good practice in the country adjacent to the little hamlet which he called home. A few months after his arrival, the Doctor was appointed postmaster of Otsego. In 1873, in response to his petition, he was authorized to remove the postoffice to Oel- wein, which place, up to that time, had been only a broad expanse of prairie land; but with the building of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Rail- road through that place (and which missed Otsego), the possibilities of a town of some importance were apparent. Doctor Pattison was, therefore, the first postmaster in Oelwein, as well as the first physician. He resigned the office of postmaster to enable him the better to attend to his large and in-
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creasing practice. Doctor Pattison was always prominent, both professionally and socially, and held a number of professional positions with railroad com- panies, and in the Iowa National Guards. He represented this county in the General Assembly, as a Republican, 1894 to 1896, and was prominent in the medical societies of the state and county. His death occurred at Oelwein and his office and practice are continued by his two sons, Drs. D. L. and John F. Pattison.
Doctor Joseph Hodgkinson was an early physician in Oelwein, locating there soon after Doctor Pattison, and retaining his residence there at present, though not in active practice.
Randalia has never had a resident physician except Dr. Oscar Gray, who practiced there for two or three years, and removed to another field.
The first physician in Hawkeye was Doctor McCormick, who was suc- ceeded by Doctor McDonald, and he by Dr. J. W. McGregor, who transferred his business to Dr. F. A. Burroughs and went to Colorado, where he died. Drs. W. J. McCray and Dr. Spearman were in practice at Hawkeye for a time, but all of these have removed from the town and county. Dr. T. N. Walsh is the only physician in Hawkeye at present.
Owing to the laxity of restrictive laws in early days, there were a num- ber of doctors practicing, within limited spheres in the county, who had not been graduated from any medical schools, but simply "picked up" a superficial knowledge of a few medicinal herbs, roots and drugs, and were called to at- tend their neighbors in emergencies. Some of these were quite successful, but undoubtedly would have been more so with better qualifications.
The present members of the board of United States pension examiners for Fayette county are : J. W. McLean, M. D., of Fayette; Hon. G. D. Darnall, M. D., of West Union, and H. S. Hadsel, M. D., of Elgin.
THE FAYETTE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
In May, 1868, Doctors Parker, Alexander and Aldrich, of Fayette, and Doctors Armstrong and Robinson, of West Union, were called to Wadena to confer over the fate of a man who had accidentally shot himself. The acci- dent occurred while the old man was standing leaning his arm over the muzzle of his gun. The event created considerable excitement in the little hamlet. and the presence of five physicians in the village was an event never before witnessed by the people there. Amputation at the shoulder joint was found to be necessary, and it was successfully performed by this quintette of recently returned army surgeons.
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In discussing the matter around the dinner table, the question of organ- izing a county medical society was brought up, and as these were then the most influential physicians in the county, if not, indeed, about the only ones, their decision in the premises was final. They appointed a committee, consisting of Doctors Robinson and Parker, to prepare a code of by-laws and constitution and to issue a call to the physicians who would be interested in the organiza- tion, whether practicing in Fayette county or in the adjoining counties.
Responding to this call, the meeting for final organization was held at West Union, December 28, 1868, and Doctor Robinson was elected president pro tem. The permanent organization was effected in May, 1869, the officers elected at that time, being : President, Dr. C. C. Parker; vice-president, Dr. S. E. Robinson; secretary and treasurer, Dr. E. R. Zeigler ; corresponding secretary, Dr. James Barr ; censors, Drs. D. Alexander and W. A. Chase.
The society has had an existence for more than forty years, and it is need- less to add that its proceedings and deliberations have been of great benefit to those who participated in the discussions of live subjects pertaining to the profession.
The officers for the year 1910 are as follows : President, Dr. W. H. Fox, of Waucoma ; vice-president, Dr. P. E. Hanes, of Maynard; secretary-treas- urer, Dr. T. N. Walsh, of Hawkeye. Meetings of the society are held at different places throughout the county, but usually at the county seat.
Following is a list of names and postoffice addresses of all physicians practicing in Fayette county at the beginning of the year 1910:
Ainsworth, E. A., West Union, regular, graduated 1874.
Ayer, O. O., Arlington, regular, graduated 1875.
Baker, M. Y., Fayette, homeopathic, graduated 1879.
Baker, Frank L., Fayette, homeopathic, graduated 1904.
Baker, Richard C., Oelwein, homeopathic, graduated 1888.
Becker, Fred, Sr., Clermont, homeopathic, graduated 1875.
Becker, Fred, Jr., Clermont, homeopathic, graduated 1902. Berry, Richard P., Clermont, regular, graduated 1890.
Bower, C. E., Arlington, homeopathic, graduated 1902. Brown, Gates M., Arlington, regular, graduated 1902. Cole, J. F., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1887.
Conrad, A. E., Maynard, regular, graduated 1895.
Convery, Patrick O., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1896.
Cooney, C. J., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1895.
Cranston, William Bruce, Hawkeye, eclectic, graduated 1904.
Darnall, G. D., West Union, regular, graduated 1872.
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Dodd, O. B., Waucoma, regular.
Feige, E. W., West Union, homeopathic, graduated in 1895. Fordyce, W. E., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1900. Fothergill, Charles O., Elgin, eclectic, graduated 1890. Fox, W. H., Waucoma, regular, graduated 1905. Hadsell, H. S., Elgin, regular, graduated 1882. Hanes, P. E., Maynard, regular, graduated 1900. Harrington, J. F., Wadena, regular, graduated 1895. Kennedy, Elizabeth Smith, Oelwein, regular, graduated 1901. King, Thomas A., West Union, regular, graduated 1905. Krider, E. E., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1905. Leehey, F. P., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1902. McLean, J. W., Fayette, regular, graduated 1869. McLean, Ray A., Fayette, regular, graduated 1906. O'Connor, J. B., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1896. Parker, J. D., Fayette, graduated 1892. Parsons, C. D., Oelwein, homeopathic, graduated 1908. Pattison, D. L., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1897. Pattison, John F., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1900. Robinson, W. E., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1893. Smittle, Jacob M., Waucoma, regular, graduated 1897. Sparks, F. R., Westgate, regular, graduated 1904. Stuart, A. B., West Union, regular, graduated 1904. Tregloan, Charles B., Wadena, regular, graduated 1892. Walsh, Thomas N., Hawkeye, regular, graduated 1892. Ward, D. W., Oelwein, regular, graduated 1906. Will, P. S., Elgin, regular, graduated 1902. Williamson, C. H., West Union, regular, graduated 1903.
CHAPTER XII.
OFFICIAL HONORS, INCLUDING A ROSTER. OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
The political parties seeking the suffrages of the people when Fayette county was organized were the Whigs and Democrats. At the first elections it has been shown that these parties were closely matched, and that a nomina- tion by either party was not always equivalent to an election. The Republican party was organized in 1856 and carried with it a large proportion of the Whigs, though some of them allied themselves with the Democrats. Until the beginning of the Civil war the county was considered about equally divided, politically, but during and for a number of years following the war the Repub- licans were largely in the majority. But party lines have never been closely drawn in the vote for local offices. It has frequently occurred that men from both tickets have been elected to county offices.
The Greenback party came into existence in the seventies, and for a few years were quite strong in this county, they and the Democrats carrying the county in 1878 and electing all the county officers on the fusion ticket. The Grange movement also had its effect in the politics of the state, and is entitled to the honor of initiating some wholesome laws on the statute books which succeeding years of Republican rule have not obliterated.
The prohibition amendment to the state constitution, though declared invalid by the supreme court a year after its passage, had the effect of turning the reins of state government over to the Democratic party in 1889, and re- taining control for the succeeding four years. This amendment was voted upon at a non-partisan special election, June 27, 1882, and carried by a major- ity of nearly forty thousand votes. A majority of the members of the supreme court decided that the bill as passed did not become a part of the state constitution, yet without any restrictive measures being introduced to prevent its enforcement, a considerable turmoil was precipitated over the temperance question. This has dominated state politics to a large degree for many years. The Legislature has tried to relieve the strain, but with only partial success. It is not within the province of a work of this character to discuss this mat- ter at length, or to take sides on controverted questions, hence the reader is left to draw his own conclusions.
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