USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 8
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Robert S. Miles received a certificate from the Medical Ex- amining Board Jan. 24, 1901, and offered it for record Nov. 25, 1901. Ile practiced in Bird Island two years and then moved to Excelsior, Minn., next removing to Enumclaw, Wash., where he is still practicing.
Carrol Clinton Carpenter received a certificate from the Med- ical Examining Board June 10, 1897. Ile located in Bird Island in 1898 or 99 and remained about three years, next going to Dwight, HIL., for a year or two. Then he returned to Bird Island for a short time and since then has been in various places. Hle is at present at Litchfield, Minn.
T. H. Murray, formerly of Bird Island, who recently died, practiced his profession at Bird Island for a number of years. He left Bird Island about nine years ago and lived in lowa until his death.
John J. S. McCabe received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Dee. 1, 1883, and offered it for record May 5, 1903.
Ralph C. Adams, one of the rising physicians of Renville county, was born in Utica, Pennsylvania, in 1879. He attended the common schools and the MeElwain Institute until 1898. In 1902 he graduated from the Westminster College at New Wil- mington, Penn., with the degree of B. S. In 1906 he graduated From the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Penn. Then he spent six months as an interne in the Childrens' Hospital, in Philadelphia, and about four months as assistant to Dr. MeClel- land at Utica, Penn. Since April 15, 1907, he has been in active
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practice in Bird Island. He is well liked, publie spirited, and a useful citizen.
S. Dulude practiced in Bird Island from 1912 to 1913. In 1913 he removed to Minneapolis where he is still in practice.
Beaver Falls. T. H. Sherwin was the first physician of Beaver Falls village and probably the first village physician in the county.
George W. Nichols graduated from the Vermont Academy of Medicine, Vermont, in 1861, received a certificate from the Med- ical Examining Board, Dec. 31, 1883, and presented his certificate for record April 14, 1890. He remained in Beaver Falls for about three years.
Jennie M. Miller (Mrs. S. R.) received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Nov. 28, 1883, and offered it for rec- ord Dec. 21, 1883. Previous to this she had been practicing as an obstetrician and when the law was passed requiring an exam- ination of physicians she secured a license under the exemption clause of the law. She remained in Beaver Falls for a few years. and then went to Washington, D. C., where she became a worker in one of the government departments.
Albert G. Stoddard graduated from the Rush Medical College. Illinois, in 1882, received a certificate from the Medical Examin- ing Board Nov. 14, 1883. and presented his certificate for record Dec. 15, 1883. In 1892 he moved to Franklin, next going to Fair- fax and then removed to Idaho, where he is still practicing.
J. W. Barnard conducted a drug store in Beaver Falls prior to 1877. lle and his wife. Jennie S. Bernard graduated from the medical department of the University of Michigan, in 1878, and that fall took up the practice of medicine in Beaver Falls. In 1880 they located in Bird Island. Two years later they moved to Motley, Minn. After three or Four years there they moved to Oregon where they still reside.
Buffalo Lake. Dr. Knepper practiced in Buffalo Lake in the early days.
S. J. Northrup practiced in Buffalo Lake about three years. He was run over by the cars in the railroad yard in the fall of 1903, and died the next morning. He is buried at Hutchinson. Min.
Ernest Z. Vanous practiced here for about a year after his graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1897. He was reared at Glencoe, and is now a physician in Minneapolis.
W. A. A. Barns practiced in Buffalo Lake a short time about 1897. He was not considered a good physician and is understood to have experienced considerable trouble after leaving here.
Frank M. Archibald was located in Buffalo Lake a few weeks. coming from Gibbon in March, 1895. Then he located in Atwater, from which place he continued to practice to some extent in the northeastern part of Renville county. He was a large, jovial man,
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and is well remembered by many of the residents. He moved from Atwater in 1906 and is now at Mahnomen, in the state.
Everett C. Gaines received a certificate from the Medical Ex- amining Board, April 10, 1900, and offered it for record Feb. 17, 1906.
Danube. William C. Dieterich, M. D., was born at St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 25, 1871. He received his education in St. Louis and graduated from the Homoepathic Medical College of that place, March, 1895. He practiced in St. Louis until 1898 when he moved to Minneapolis, where he remained until 1912, coming to Danube at that time. He was married January 1, 1912, to Nellie Converse of Minneapolis.
Fairfax. The first physician in Fairfax is but dimly remem- bered and but little is known about him. His name is said to have been Joy and by others to have been Joyce.
C. S. Knapp was born in 1826, in Connectiont, and when twelve years old moved with his parents to the state of New York. He was given an academical education and then followed the drug business four years. Began the study of medicine at the age of eighteen, and in 1851 graduated from the Syracuse Medical Col- lege ; practiced in that city five years and then continued in the work of his profession in Columbia county, Wisconsin, until 1871, at which time he came to Cairo. Hle engaged in farming and in the practice of his profession. In 1883 he opened a drug store in Fairfax. Married in 1848, Miss E. M. Imson; the children are W. E., Frank S., B. A., Ida May and William II.
A. M. Crandall received a certificate from the Medical Exam- ining Board June 9, 1896, and offered it for record Sept. 18. 1908.
H. E. Lucas practiced here for a while.
George H. Walker received a certificate From the Medical Examining Board June 26, 1908, and offered it for record June 17, 1909.
William Philander Lee received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board, July 10, 1884, and offered it for record July 19, 1894.
Franklin. Herman B. Cole, M. D., a well-known physician of Franklin, was born at Buffalo, New York, Sept. 6, 1872. Ilis father, Nelson W. Cole, is a retired farmer and at the age of seventy-seven is living with his son Herman. Ilis mother, Jose- phine (Blackmar) Cole died in 1897 at the age of fifty-four. Dr. Cole attended school at Hamburg, N. Y., and graduated from the High school there in 1890. Having decided to study medicine he entered the University of Buffalo, and graduated from the Medical Department in 1896. In 1910 and 1912 he attended the Post Graduate Medical School at New York City. He was in- terne in the Erie County Alms House Ilospital at Buffalo for one
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and one-half years and another year and a half was spent at Hamburg, New York. Feb. 1, 1898, he located at Franklin, where he still resides. Dr. Cole is greatly interested in affairs pertaining to his work and is a member of several medieal societies, belong- ing to the Camp Release Distriet Medical Society, the Minnesota State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a specialist in diseases of the eye. He has been recognized as an efficient worker in village affairs, has been mayor for two years and is at present a member of the village council. He is also the health officer for the village of Franklin and for Pahnyra town- ship. He has taken a part in the educational advancement of the village and is president of the school board. Dee. 8. 1896, Dr. Cole was mited in marriage to Ella M. MeChe of Buffalo, New York. Her father, James McQue, is a well-known real estate man and horseman. Her mother was Margaret (Cleary ) MeCue. Dr. and Mrs. Cole have been blessed with five children : Josephine Virginia, born Sept. 15, 1900; Donald Francis, born Jan. 9, 1902, and died Jan. 20, 1906: Burgess Luke, born June 8, 1904; John Gordon. born August 28, 1907; and Margaret Audrey, born July 6. 1914.
Hector. Harry Lee D'Arms, M. D., was born in Stillwater, Minn .. May 14, 1868, son of John and Mary ( Wheeler) D'Arms. Ile attended the public schools of his locality and graduated from the Stillwater High school. Then he entered the University of Michigan and during 1888-90 was a student in the medical de- partment. In 1891 he entered the medieal department of the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1892. Ile became an in- terne in the City hospital at Minneapolis, remaining for one year, and then went to the Iron Range where he followed his profession for five years at MeKinley and Eveleth. For three years he was president of the council at Eveleth. In 1896 he came to Hector, opened an office, and has since continued in practice here. From 1910 to 1912 he was county coroner. Fraternally he is a thirty- second degree mason, and a member of the M. B. A. and M. W. A. of Hector. Dr. D'Arms was married Sept. 27, 1893. to Mande O. Brearley of Minneapolis.
Harry E. Mckibben, M. D., a prominent physician and sur- geon of Hector, was born in Douglas county, Minn., Oct. 24. 1880, son of Joseph and Louisa (Butler) MeKibbin, the Former a native of Illinois and the latter of Indiana. The parents were married in Douglas county where they engaged in farming until the spring of 1881 when they moved to Day county, South Dakota. They were successful and representative people and there fol- lowed farming until the spring of 1903 when they retired and moved to Webster, South Dakota, where they now reside. They have the following children: Harry E., of Heetor, Minn .; Guy, who now operates the farm in Day county. South Dakota : Addie,
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now wife of Emil F. Peterson, a miller of Webster, South Dakota; Ray, who is studying engineering at the University of Minnesota; and Lloyd, a student at the Webster (South Dakota) High school. Harry E. MeKibben attended distriet school in Day county and entered the Webster High school where he graduated in 1900. He then attended the College of Medicine and Surgery of the Uni- versity of Minnesota from which he graduated June 17, 1904. June 29, 1904, he came to Hector, where on July 7, he opened an office and engaged in the general practice of medicine and sur- gery. He has been very successful, has built up a good practice both in the city and the surrounding country, and specializes in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. In 1910 he took a post- graduate course in general practice at the Chicago Postgraduate School and during the summers of 1911 and 1912 he took post- graduate courses in the Eye, Ear and Throat College at Chicago. Dr. MeKibben owns a sightly residence in Heetor and is a mem- ber of the Commercial Club and of the Automobile Club. He has served on the board of health and is the surgeon of the C. M. & St. P. Railway Co. at Heetor. Fraternally he is associated with the Hector Lodge 158. A. F. & A. M. He is a stockholder in the Ilector Farmers Elevator and in the Heetor Telephone Exchange. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Mckibben was married June 18 1907, to Ella F. Lunder.
Wesley Smalley, native of Vermont, was born in 1849. At the age of eighteen he moved to Massachusetts, and one year after went to Kansas; attended Normal school. then taught for a time, before commencing the study of medicine; gradudated from the medical department of the Iowa State University, and began practice at Nemaha, Kansas: from there he came to Hector in 1881. His influence on educational life in Hector was especially strong. After living in Hector a while he went away. Later he returned and practiced many years before removing to Seattle, Wash., where he died some two years ago.
Henryville. Henry Schoregge was born April 18, 1816. 1Ie attended school at different places in Germany, his native land. and after graduating, devoted some time to the study of medicine. Upon coming to this country he practiced four months in New York city, and then in Boston until 1870, when he located on his farm in Henryville, where he farmed and practiced medicine. He was also justice of the peace and postmaster. Dr. Schoregge married. November 26, 1846, Johanna Laidner; and had eleven children.
Morton. Fletcher W. Penhall, M. D., was born in Brooklyn, On- tario, Canada, July 24, 1862. IIe graduated from the Port Perry (Ontario) High school in 1885; the Trinity Medical College, To- ronto, Canada, in 1889 ; and the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. New York City, in 1891. He has been in practice in Morton since
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May, 1891. He is surgeon for the M. & St. L. Ry., and a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ontario, the Amer- iean Medical Association, the Minnesota State Medical Associa- tion and the Camp Release Medical Society.
Reuben D. Zimbeck graduated from the Rush Medical College, III., in 1885, received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Sept. 16, 1886, and presented his certificate for record Sept. 17, 1886. He located in Morton in August, 1886, and in April, 1890, moved to Montevideo, this state, where he is still in active practice. He was preceded at Morton by Dr. Prather and succeeded by Dr. Penhall.
Olivia. George H. Mesker, M. D., a resident physician of Olivia, Minnesota, was born in Kelso township. Sibley county, Minnesota, July 10, 1873, son of Herman and Wilhelmina (Bue- sing) Mesker, natives respectively of Hanover and Baden. Ger- many. Herman Mesker was brought to America by his parents as an infant. Wilhelmina Buesing came with her parents at the age of eighteen. Both families located in Ohio where the young people grew to manhood and womanhood and married. In 1858 they came to Minnesota, driving through Iowa to Sibley county by team and located a piece of wild land where they built a log cabin and lived the rest of their days. Herman Mesker died at the age of seventy-eight and his wife at the age of forty-seven. They had nine children, George H. being the youngest. He at- tended the district school and the Henderson High school. Then he taught school in his home township a year. In 1896 he grad- uated from the College of Medicine and Surgery, University of Minnesota. After a year spent as a hospital interne. he came to Oliva in 1897, opened an office, and has since continued in prac- tiee.
Dr. Mesker has held office as a council member, is on the school board and is a member of the Olivia Lodge No. 220. A. F. & A. M. He was united in marriage to Ella Dressel, born in St. Paul dangh- ter of early pioneers of the state who came from Germany. Two children. Douglas and Clifford. have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Mesker.
Adolph Augustus Passer, A. B., M. D., physician and surgeon of Olivia, was born in Luverne, Minnesota, Jan. 3, 1880, son of Ludwig and Pauline (Boehlke) Passer, Minnesota pioneers, the father who now resides at Waseca, this state, having been a clergyman in the German Evangelical Church for some fifty years. Dr. Passer graduated from the Waseca High school, and then took the four-year course in the Academic Department of the University of Minnesota, receiving his degree in 1902. Then for five years he was principal of the High school at Virginia, this state, and then engaged as a druggist at St. Cloud for a year. In 1908 he began the study of medicine at the University of Min-
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nesota, completing his course in 1912. While attending medical school he served as assistant surgeon of the Soldiers' Home Hos- pital at Minneapolis for a year and was for a similar period in- terne in the St. Thomas Hospital. He is a member of the Phi Beta Pi, the medical fraternity After graduation he spent a year as an interne at the Minneapolis City Hospital, and in April. 1913, came to Olivia, where he is now engaged in general prac- tice. Ile has taken his part in the life of Olivia, is a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank. a member of the Rod and Gun elub, and of the Commercial club. Fraternally his affiliation is with the A. F. & A. M. Dr. Passer has been county coroner since 1913, and has served for some years as a member of the Olivia village Board of Health. He is also second lieutenant of Company H, Third Regiment, M. N. G. His professional connections are many. He belongs to the Camp Release Medical Society, the Min- nesota State Medieal Association and the American Medical Asso- ciation. and is local examiner for the N. Y. Mutual Life Insur- anee Co. ; the Northwest Mutual, of Milwaukee ; Fidelity Mutual : Equitable Life Insurance Society : Minnesota Mutual Life; Da- kota Life Insurance Co .: the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors. He is a member of the staff of the West Side General Hospital of St. Paul. In polities he is a Republican, and his faith is that of the German Evangelical church. Dr. Passer was married May 15, 1913, in Mimeapolis, to Irene Morek, daughter of James and Caroline (Locke) Morek.
James B. Ferguson, for some forty years a Medical Officer in the United States, and for some time a physician at Olivia. first came to Minnesota in 1870. when he reached St. Paul on his way to Ft. Totten, North Dakota. In all he spent some twenty years in the Department of Dakota. Nov. 30. 1891, he resigned from the army, and after considering a number of places decided upon Olivia as the scene of his future activities. He reached Olivia, Dec. 25, 1891, and while looking abont for a home, boarded at the old Merchants Hotel, at that time kept by Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, Sr. Dr. Ferguson located in Olivia because he had confi- dence in the people who were interested in its welfare and growth and because at that time there was a need of a physician. none being then located here. The country around was an excellent farming area, the village had good railroad facilities, and even at that time it seemed the logical place for the county seat. Dr. Ferguson at once won the esteem of the people and established a good practice. He took part in the eounty seat fight and was an able assistant to sneh county-seat fighters as Peter W. Heins, Hans Gronnernd. P. II. Kirwan. Thad. P. MeIntyre and others. The doctor found, however, that after so many years of army service the life of a village physician was too strenuous, so on June 4, 1898, in response to a telegram from the Surgeon Gen-
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eral, United States Army, Washington, D. C., asking him to re- enter the service, he accepted, and was assigned to Ft. Yellow- stone, Wyoming. In April, 1911, he retired, and with his wife, who in the meantime had continued to live in Olivia, moved to St. Paul, where he now lives.
J. D. Ellis practiced in Olivia for a year in 1891.
Glenn Hymer practiced in Olivia for a year or two about 1911. He moved to Williston. North Dakota, where he died in 1913.
F. C. Miller was born on a farm near Northfield, this state, worked as a druggist, attended a school of pharmacy at Portland, Oregon, graduated from the medical department of Hamline Uni- versity with honors, and started practice in Olivia in October, 1899.
Charles Weinsma graduated from the University of Utrecht, Holland, in 1872. received a certificate from the Medical Exam- ing Board, Sept. 18, 1884, and presented his certificate for record Dec. 18, 1890. He practiced at Olivia some two to five years.
Rock Phelps Miller received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Oet. 13. 1896, and offered it for record Nov. 9. 1899. Hle remained in Sacred Heart a short time but is out of practice now.
Edward T. Congngham graduated from the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, Minneapolis, Min., in 1886, received a eerti- cate from the Medical Examining Board June 3, 1886. and pre- sented his certificate for record April 13, 1887. He practieed in Olivia for abont six months in 1887.
Renville. The first physician in Renville was Dr. Fleishman, an eccentric character well remembered by the early settlers.
Edward M. Clay, M. D., physician and surgeon of Renville, was born in Oronoco, Olmsted county, Minnesota, March 2. 1866. son of Mark W. and Johanna P. (Stoddard) Clay. He attended the public schools of his native county, and in 1884 removed with his father to Intehinson, in this state. It was in 1887 when he came to Renville, then without a paper. and became editor of the Renville Weekly News, which was established by C. L. Lor- raine the same week of his arrival. and continued editing it until 1889. In the meantime he had engaged in private study, and upon leaving the newspaper desk. found himself well-qualified to enter the Minneapolis College of Physicians and Surgeons at Minne- apolis, from which he graduated in 1893 with the degrees of M. D. and C. M. Having thus realized an ambition of many years, he opened an office in Renville, where he still continues to practice. Ile has built up a large practice, and is well deserving of the es- teem and confidence in which he is held by the people of the vil- lage and surrounding rural districts. Keeping thoroughly abreast of the latest discoveries in science and medicine, he has perfected
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his previous study and experience by post-graduate work in sev- eral branches. Being thoroughly ethical in the practice of the ideals of his profession he has allied himself with the Camp Re- lease District Medical Association, the Southern Minnesota Medi- cal Association, the Minnesota State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He is medical examiner for eighteen Old Line, so-called, insurance companies, and has been local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for some twenty years. Locally the health and sanitation of the community has been benefitted by his valued services as county coroner twelve years, county physician four years, and village health officer for several years. Dr. Clay is past worshipful master of Renville Lodge, No. 193, A. F. & A. M., and in 1904 he served as deputy grand master, Minnesota Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F. Ile is also a member of the Modern Woodmen and other orders. Too busy with his work to mingle actively in po- litieal life, he nevertheless has consented to serve for two years as alderman of Renville from the second ward, and his sane and conservative judgment was thoroughly appreciated by his con- stituents. Dr. Clay was married October 14, 1893, to Belle C. Benson, daughter of David and Carrie (Knutson) Benson, of Ren- ville. This union has been blessed with two children. Florence J. was born May 20, 1906. An unnamed infant is deceased.
Mark W. Clay, one of Minnesota's sturdy territorial pioneers, was a native of the Granite State, having been born of New Eng- land ancestry in the state of New Hampshire. In the early fifties, when so many of the scions of the early settlers on the Atlantic slope were striking westward to take their part in the subduing of the Northwestern wilderness, Mark M. Clay joined the van- guard, and the year 1853 found him located in Oronoco, Olmsted county. He engaged for many years in the mercantile business in Oronoco in that county. In 1884 he moved to Hutchinson, in this state, where he died at the age of sixty-eight years. At the outbreak of the civil war he organized Company K, Third Regi- ment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and was elected captain. He was mustered in on November 14, 1861, and retired December 1, 1862. Mark W. Clay was married in 1857 to Johanna P'. Stod- dard, a native of Massachusetts, who came to Minnesota with her estimable parents in 1853. She died at Oronoco, in Olmsted county, this state, in 1884, at the age of fifty-three. Later in life Mr. Clay married Emma Brundage. By his first marriage he was the father of seven childen: Ida A., Maggie W., Edward M .. Harvey J., Wellington S., Zelda M., and Charles F. Ida A. is the wife of William II. Hoffman, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, a con- tractor. They have four children: Mark (deceased), Merle. Claude and Charles. Maggie W. is the wife of John W. West, a harness manufacturer of Browntown, Minnesota, and they have
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
three children : Earl, Ruth and Donald. Edward M. is a physi- vian at Renville. He married Belle C. Benson, and they have one «hild, Florence J. Wellington S. lives in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Ile married Effie Powell, and they have five children : James, Josephine, Mark, Elizabeth and Warren. Harry J. lives at Hutchinson. He married Mand Sofford and has one son, Arthur Clay. Zelda M. is the wife of Frank Chase, of San Francisco, and they have one daughter, Margaret. Charles F. is proprietor of Sacred Heart Hotel at Sacred Heart. He married Byrdina Lambert, and they have four children: Marshall, Marcia, Vir- ginia and Lambert.
Joseph W. Preisinger, M. D., was born Dee. 22, 1874, in Nicho- lette county, Minn., son of Wolfgang and Juliana (Gerl) Prei- singer. On completing the work of the country school he entered the New Uhn High school, from which he graduated in 1900. Ile then entered the School of Medicine of the University of Min., · receiving his diploma in 1904. He began practicing in Renville, where he still remains, having a large practice. He is a demo- crat in politics, and for two terms was health officer of Ren- ville. JIe is a member of the Catholic church and of the Catholic Foresters and Knights of Columbus. Dr. Preisinger was married Oct. 12. 1911, to Ella Wigdahl, born Aug. 22, 1890, in Westby, Vernon county, Wisconsin, her parents being Peter and Mary Wigdahl. They have one child, Myrtle, born Dec. 3, 1912.
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