USA > Nebraska > Richardson County > History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140
PIIYSICIANS OF HUMBOLDT.
The first physician to locate in Humboldt was Dr. James L. Gandy, a graduate of Rush Medical College, at Chicago, in 1867, who located at
435
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Humboldt in 1869 and, in connection with his practice, ran a drug store. The Doctor had a very extensive practice for a number of years, often being called into Nemaha, Johnson and Pawnee counties. Several years ago he retired from practice to devote his time to his extensive real estate holdings, he being one of the largest landowners in the county. His place of business is at the northwest corner of the public square and is one of the oldest landmarks in Humboldt.
Dr. P. F. Patrick, a graduate of Keokuk Medical School, located in Humboldt in 1872, where he practiced his profession until the time of his death, about 1883. Doctor Patrick was regarded as a very success- ful practitioner and, at that time, was ranked as one of the foremost sur- geons in southeast Nebraska.
Dr. J. Russell Morris came to Nebraska in 1879 and located on a farm near the Pleasant View church and for a number of years did a large prac- tice at that place. He moved from there to Humboldt about the year 1892 and, from that time until the date of his death, in the year 1913, enjoyed a very extensive practice.
Dr. J. G. Cox was a native of Kentucky, born in 1814. He received his literary education at Hanover College, Indiana, and attended the medi- cal department of the University of Kentucky, at Louisville, in 1851-2. He practiced one year in Kentucky and in 1853 went to Jacksonville, Illi- nois, where he was united in marriage to Rebecca Galbraith. In 1869 Mrs. Cox died leaving three children, Samuel D., Kate M., and Sallie L. In 1872 Doctor Cox came to Humboldt, where, in 1879, he was married to Hesikiah Cornelius. He was under General Taylor in the Mexican War and saw service in the battle of Buena Vista. In the Civil War, he was assistant surgeon of the One hundred fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volun- teer Infantry. He retired and moved to his farm near Humboldt in 1883. He died in Humboldt in 1911. Doctor Cox was a man of fine character, a good practitioner and an honor to the profession to which he belonged.
Dr. A. L. Williamson located in Humboldt immediately after his grad- uation from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1883, and continued to practice his profession up to the time of his death in 1903. Doctor Williamson did a very extensive practice and was regarded by his patients as one who took great interest in their welfare. He never was known to turn a deaf ear to the sick and often gave of his time and skill when he knew that all that he would ever get for his services was the satisfaction of having done his duty.
Dr. P. W. Hays was another of the very successful doctors to locate
436
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
in Humboldt. After his graduation in Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia. Pennsylvania, in 1877, he practiced in Pennsylvania for two years, when he removed to Humboldt in 1879. where for a number of years he enjoyed a large practice He then moved back to Pennsylvania, where he remained for about one year, when a call of the West again brought him to Nebraska, where he located in Falls City, remaining there in active work until his death in November, 1896. The Doctor was regarded by his colleagues as one of the leading members of the profession. He was mar- ried to Phoebe Unland, and to them were born three children, one of whom is Dr. E. R. Hays, now of Falls City.
The above named doctors were the ones mostly identified in the early history of Humboldt. At the present time, there are five doctors engaged in the practice there, namely, Drs. G. G. Gandy, W. R. Waggener, C. E. Novak. J. A. Waggener and Leroy Peterson.
PHYSICIANS OF DAWSON.
Dr. J. D. Terry was the first doctor to locate in Dawson, in 1873. The town was then known as Dawsons Mills, and consisted of a mill and a postoffice. Dr. Terry remained there only a few months, when he left for another field. Then came Dr. W. G. Hanlan, who enjoyed a large practice for a time, but dissipation got the best of him, and in 1886 he was killed in a pistol fight by one Frank Clark.
Dr. J. A. Waggener, who is better known to the profession and has a wider circle of acquaintances than any doctor in the county, located in Dawson in the spring of 1879, where for six years he practiced his pro- fession, and in connection with his practice operated the first drug store in north Dawson. In the spring of 1885 he sold his store to Jacob Auch, and moved to Sumner county, Kansas, where he invested in one of those "fly towns." This was during the boom days of southern Kansas and it is needless to say that the boom "busted" and so did the doctor. In the spring of 1886 he returned with his family to Nebraska and located in Humboldt, where for four years he enjoyed a good practice. He then was induced to move to Bern, Kansas, buying the practice of Doctor Wright. the only doctor in the town. Here the doctor enjoyed a very large practice for four years. At that time there were many wide-open whiskey "joints" in the town and. as the doctor had a family of boys, he felt that it would be better to bring them up in a place where temptations to drink were not so great. Selling out his business in Bern, he moved again to Dawson,
437
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
where he remained until January, 1907, when he moved to Humboldt and bought the practice of Dr. M. L. Wilson, now of Falls City. The doctor's practice then grew to such proportions that he was no longer able to attend to it all alone, and he induced his son. Dr. W. R., then located at Blair, Nebraska, to join him in partnership. They remained together in the practice until the fall of 1915. when he turned the business over to his son and accepted the unanimous call of the board of state institutions to take charge of the Soldier's and Sailor's Hospital, at Grand Island, which position he held fintil he was forced on account of ill-health to resign. He again returned to Humboldt, where he hopes to regain his health. He will then again enter the practice of his profession to which he has belonged for more than forty-two years. He has three sons, all of whom are doctors.
Another of the very successful doctors to locate in Dawson was Dr. T. H. Emmerson, who located there in about the year 1886. He died in the year 1894. Dr. A. E. Burgher also located here in 1902, when, after some ten years of successful practice, he removed to St. Joseph.
Dr. G. C. Paxton was another to practice in Dawson. He moved to Falls City from Missouri with his parents in 1868. later graduating from the medical school at Louisville, Kentucky. He then took a course at the Nebraska State University and practiced at Barada, Dawson and Falls City. After practicing at the latter place for a number of years, he removed to Rigby, Idaho, where he has been most successful financially and profes- sionally. He was reared from a boy in Richardson county.
The doctors doing business in Dawson at the present time are Drs. W. R. Fouts and Kelly.
PHYSICIANS OF SALEM.
A history of the doctors who have lived and practiced their profession in Richardson county would not be complete without reference to the late Dr. John R. Brooke, who located in Salem in the year 1860. At that time he was the only doctor for miles around. The country being sparsely settled, much hard work was entailed in reaching his patients, for he had to travel altogether on horseback. In order to reach his patients, he was frequently compelled to travel thirty or forty miles through snow drifts and blizzards, fording creeks and quagmires, often with no hopes of ever getting pay for his services. Still he did not murmur, but was glad to give of his time and talents to those in distress. He was a man of fine mental attainments and possessed a powerful physique, steadfast in his convictions and an
438
RICILARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
ardent supporter of Democracy. In the early history of the state, he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for Congressman from this, the first congressional district. At that time, the district was overwhelmingly Repub- lican and, as a consequence, he suffered defeat. His death occurred when he was over eighty years of age, at Salem, after a residence of more than forty years, leaving behind him much to be recorded in commendation of a very useful life.
Dr. C. Kinney was another of the early practitioners of Salem, where he located in 1871, and for a number of years was regarded as a very able physician. He afterwards moved to Lincoln and engaged in practice there up to the time of his death, some eighteen years ago.
Dr. J. W. Heskitt located in Salem in 1884 and is still there, where he had, up to a few years ago, enjoyed a large practice, moving at that time to his farm. The doctor bears all of the characteristics of the old family doctor, knowing every person, young and old, living in his district, and can call them by their first names. He is the father confessor of whole families and commands more respect from the children than the President ever will.
Doctor Pollard and Doctor Smith are two other physicians doing busi- ness in Salem, locating in recent years. Other physicians who practiced in Salem are Drs. Clinton Day, J. T. Waltemeyer, L. A. Delanney and J. E. Waller.
PHYSICIANS AT VERDON.
The first doctor to locate in Verdon was Dr. J. T. Webster who, after a few years practice there, moved to Emporia, Kansas, where he died about the year 1886.
Doctor Callison was another to locate there and, in connection with his practice, operated the first drug store in the town. The doctor died there several years ago.
Dr. I. M. Houston did his initial practice in Verdon, married the daugh- ter of Doctor Callison, and afterwards removed to Falls City. Dr. D. M. King was another to locate there in the early history of the town, and for a number of years was the only doctor in the place. He was a soldier in the Civil War. He died in Verdon a number of years ago.
Dr. I. H. Phillips practiced for a while in Verdon, coming to that place from Iowa. He married the widow of Ed. Goolsby, moved to Wyo- ming and later to Seneca, Nebraska, where he now resides.
Dr. D. G. Griffiths practiced in Verdon, his native town, for a few
439
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
years, coming from there to Falls City, and forming a partnership with Doctor Houston.
Doctor Thomas and Drs. J. W. Bourne and Geb Hall were other physicians who practiced in Verdon. Doctor Hurka is the only physician located in Verdon at the present time.
PHYSICIANS AT STELL.A.
Dr. J. A. W. Hull was the first doctor to locate in Stella and was the first to build and operate a drug store. For a number of years he did an extensive practice and was regarded as one of the foremost doctors in the county. He died about the year 1913.
Dr. B. B. Andrews was another of the leading physicians and surgeons of that place for a number of years and ranked as one of the leading sur. geons of southeast Nebraska. Later he moved to Oklahoma and, after several years residence there, returned to Nebraska, locating in Brownville, where he died in 1915.
Dr. A. W. Montgomery located in Stella in 1898, where he has had a very successful practice. He stands high in his profession and, at the session of the State Medical Association, was elected vice-president of that body. Also on this occasion he was elected president of the house of dele- gates and presided over that body.
Besides Doctor Montgomery, there are two other physicians in prac- tice there at present, Dr. G. M. Andrews and Doctor Egermayer.
OFFICE-HOLDING PHYSICIANS OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.
Since the creation of Richardson county, several of its physicians have received official appointments or have been elected to office. During the session of the state Legislature in 1917, Dr. George W. Reneker served as representative in the lower honse.
CORONERS OF THE COUNTY.
The following physicians have served the county as coroner : Drs. Russell Perry, 1869-1871 ; William J. Wells, 1900-1902; George W Reneker, 1902-1904 and 1913-1917; J. A. Waggener, 1905-1907; Millard L. Wilson. 1908-1910, and W. R. Waggener, 1910-1913.
440
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
COUNTY PHYSICIANS.
The following county physicians have served: Drs. A. B. Newkirk, C. T. Burchard, W. H .. Kerr, F. C. Wiser, W. R. Boose, H. D. Burchard and C. L. Husted.
CITY PHYSICIANS.
Falls City has had the following city physicians: Drs. C. T. Burchard. W. H. Kerr, G. W. Reneker. E. R. Hays, W. S. Fast, H. R. Minor, H. D. Burchard and C. L. Husted.
COUNTY INSANITY COMMISSION.
Physicians of the insanity commission of Richardson county, which was organized July 24, 1873, are : Dr. H. O. Hanna, July 24. 1873-1877; Dr. J. D. Hunter, 1877-1883; Dr. A. B. Newkirk, June 16, 1883, March, 1890; Dr. H. L. Randall, March, 1890, September 11, 1893; Dr. F. C. Wiser, September II, 1893, November 26, 1897, and Dr. C. T. Burchard, November 26, 1897. to present time.
UNITED STATES EXAMINING SURGEONS FOR PENSIONS.
Dr. W. W. Shaw received an appointment as examining surgeon shortly after the close of the Civil War, which position he filled up to the time of his death, about the year 1883. The first board of surgeons organized for Rich- ardson county consisted of Drs. E. M. Wilson, D. W. Campbell and C. W. Bryson.
Successive surgeons were as follow: Drs. A. Kellar, C. T. Burchard, J. V. Hinchman, F. C. Wiser, J. A. Waggener, A. D. Cloyd, G C. Paxton, C. L. Kerr, P. W. Hays, W. H. Kerr, M. L. Wilson, and W. R. Boose.
The present personnel of the board is Dr. M. L. Wilson, president ; Dr. W. R. Boose, treasurer, and Dr. C. T. Burchard, secretary. It is worthy of note that Doctor Burchard has occupied the position of secretary, with a brief interval of a few months, since his appointment in 1886.
. RAILROAD APPOINTMENTS.
To the best of the writer's knowledge, Dr. A. B. Newkirk was the first surgeon to the Burlington railroad, then called the Atchison & Ne-
441
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
braska railroad, later the Burlington, Missouri River & Nebraska, and at the present time, the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy. He resigned his posi- tion in 1889 and was succeeded by Dr. C. T. Burchard, who has held the appointment to the present time and is now in his twenty-eighth year of service.
The Missouri Pacific railroad was built about the year 1881. Its first surgeon, so far as the writer knows, was Doctor Woods of Kansas City. Doctor Woods was succeeded by Dr. D. W. Campbell, who moved away about the year 1886. Dr. C. T. Burchard was then appointed and held the position for twenty-five years, but was succeeded at the end of that time by Dr. W. W. Trotter, a protegé of the chief surgeon at St. Louis. When Doctor Trotter removed to Iowa, the vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Dr. W. R. Boose, who now holds the position.
COUNCILOR TO THE STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
Dr. J. A. Waggener, of Humboldt, about the spring of 1912 was chosen a member of the board of councilors by the State Medical Association for this councilor district, comprising the counties of Richardson, Pawnee, Gage, Johnson and Nemaha, and automatically became a member of the board of councilors, which is the high official body in the State Medical Associa- tion. This is the highest official position within the gift of the state associa- tion, with the exception of the presidency. Other councilors for this district have been Drs. J. W. Bullard and A. B. Anderson of Pawnee City, and Dr. I. H. Dillon, of Auburn.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Through the kindness of Gov. J. H. Morehead, Dr. C. T. Burchard was appointed a member of the board of secretaries to the state board of health, serving four years from 1913 to 1917.
UNITED STATES ARMY.
Dr. C. P. Fordyce, acting surgeon for Company E, Sixth Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, stationed at Falls City, also occupied the position of surgeon to the Soldiers and Sailors Home at Grand Island, Nebraska, dur- ing the years 1913-14-15.
412
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
PROGRESS IN THIE MEDICAL PROFESSION. Dy Dr. C. T. Burchard.
The conditions prevailing in the pioneer days over fifty years ago were very trying so far as the doctors were concerned. Travel in the earlier days was by horseback or on foot and frequently the roads were but trails. Bridges were the exception and streams usually had to be forded. There was little fencing and no such thing as section lines. Later as roads were improved, buggies became practical and were put in use. This is in marked contrast with the present means of rapid and luxurious transportation by automobile on better roads. When good, permanent roads become uni- versal and the flying machine is made practical the doctors' millenium, so far as transportation is concerned, will have been reached.
VACCINATION A HALF CENTURY AGO.
Medical practice a half century ago was in its crudest stage. I remember vividly the first smallpox vaccination that it was my privilege to witness. On entering the doctor asked the lady for a plate, which he turned upside down and spat upon its upturned bottom. He took from his vest pocket a vaccine scab, which he unrolled from a piece of newspaper, placed in the saliva on the bottom of the plate and rubbed it around until sufficient liquefaction had taken place. He then scarified the vaccine site and com- pleted the operation in the usual way. A doctor guilty of such methods at the present day would be mobbed.
SURGERY : PAST AND PRESENT.
It was also my privilege to witness some few surgical operations. I have seen amputations made with the crudest instruments, for instance. a pair of large, heavy tailor's shears, which were used to sever bones in place of the usual bone-cutting forceps. I have also seen ordinary meat saws used for the same purpose on larger bones, in place of the small. neat saws of the surgeon. I remember seeing a case of fracture of the leg below the knee being treated by the constant application of ice for a period of three weeks. It is needless to say that such treatment proved destructive to the soft tissues. There were immense sloughs in this case and the man had to suffer amputation to preserve his life.
There has been a very great change in medical and surgical practice since then and now. Forty years ago, it was the teaching of surgeons that
443
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
there were three cavities of the body which the surgeon must refrain from entering, namely, the skull, the abdomen and the knee joint. Through the discoveries and teachings of Sir John Lister, of England, surgical prac- tice was revolutionized when he introduced antiseptics into surgical prac- tice. It was my privilege to witness about the first surgical operation per- formed in Chicago in the spring of 1879, under a constant spray of carbolic acid solution, done by Prof. Moses Gunn, of Rush Medical College, at one of his clinics. Since then, rapid changes for the better have taken place. Finally it was learned that the sante results or better ones could be obtained under aseptic or surgically clean conditions. There is now no portion of the anatomy which the surgeon does not invade with impunity so far as fear from sepsis is concerned.
ADVANCES IN MEDICINE.
Along medical lines great advances have also been made. The first of particular importance I might mention was the discovery of diphtheria antitoxin. Since this has come into use, diphtheria has lost its terrors. Number of other antitoxins, serums, vaccines and autogenous vaccines, each having a proper place in the physician's armamentarium, have come into use. The microscope and X-ray have each played an important part in securing accurate diagnosis. During the last two decades, the trained nurse has done much to mitigate the doctor's worries and responsibilities.
THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC AT ARAGO.
This narrative would be incomplete without the mention of a terrible epidemic of Asiatic cholera which made its appearance in this county during the summer of 1867. In the family of John Smick, there occurred a sudden death of a child. Mrs. Smick, being a second wife and the stepmother of this child, came under suspicion of having poisoned the child. An autopsy was decided upon, which was performed by Dr. C. F. Luja, assisted by Dr. Rockwell of Cottage Grove. In a bottle, the contents of the stomach of the child were placed, which was intended to be sent to St. Louis for analysis. Ere this was done a second child died, then Mrs. Smick died and finally Mr. Smick. These deaths occurred in rapid succession and suspicion was re- moved from Mrs. Smick, she having preceded her husband, and the analysis was never made. Simultaneously deaths occurred in different localities, some in the country and quite a number in the towns. I remember that our
444
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
neighbor, Mr. Melhorn, who lived just across the street from us, was per- fectly well one evening and a corpse the next morning. He was the father of Martin Melhorn, who lived in Falls City for a number of years, and was interested in the real estate business with Henry C. Smith. The scourge lasted some two months, during which time the dread disease took consid- erable toll. During this time, my father was in constant attendance at his drug store day and night.
Much has been accomplished in the way of prevention of disease, espe- cially during the last two or three decades. There is a very notable falling off in the ravages of the so-called "summer complaint" of infants and the summer diarrohea among adults. In the earlier days Richardson county was a malarious district. Everyone coming to this county became the victim of fever and ague, and usually it was not until he had become acclimated that he became free from this disease. In all diseases of whatever nature, malaria played considerable part and no drug treatment proved efficacious without the addition of quinine. Since then the direct cause of malaria has been discovered, the carrier of the poison being the mosquito. The same may be said of yellow fever in the tropics.
WEEDING OUT QUACKS AND CHARLATANS.
In the pioneer days of half a century ago, all was chaos so far as mat- ters medical were concerned. He who proclaimed himself doctor was by reason of such declaration a doctor. There was no more regulation of his practice or restrictions imposed upon him than there was in the sale of ardent spirits. Hence it was that we had many "quacks" and charlatans in the so-called profession. Matters continued thus until the year 1881, when by the enforcement of the provisions of a legislative enactment, all doctors were required to register. There were three conditions under which they were eligible for registration: first, the possession of a diploma from a recognized medical school; second, attendance upon one course of instruc- tion at a recognized medical school plus five years in practice ; and third, ten years of practice without any college experience. This naturally weeded out some of the worst examples of so-called doctors.
Ten years later there was another legislative enactment, going into effect in 1891. This act required all doctors operating under the registra- tion law to make application for a license to practice medicine, surgery, and obstetrics. Later, this law was amended so as to provide that all graduates of medical colleges were required to pass state board examinations.
445
RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
In the present day, college requirements are much greater than at any former time. Many of the better colleges now require the matriculant to have an academic degree or to have had university education covering at least two years, so that the time now required graduate a medical man covers about six years. It is needless to say that the finished product of today is much superior to that of half a century ago. Nevertheless, my experience as a member of the examining board of the state board of health, or licensing board, if you please, shows that quite a percentage of the graduates of medical colleges are deficient at the time of their graduation. State licensure, therefore, forms quite a protection to the public against un- qualified physicians.
EARLY MEDICAL SOCIETIES IN THE COUNTY.
Half a century ago, there were no such things as medical societies in this immediate section of the country. The earliest knowledge I have of any attempt to form a medical society in this section is that related to me by my friend and colleague, Dr. J. A. Waggener of Humboldt, who tells me that in the year of 1879, there was an attempt made to organize a med- ical society at Humboldt, in which he and a Doctor Patrick were specially interested. This society was called the Nemaha Valley Medical Society. In 1879, I remember attending the meeting of a medical society. It may have been the same medical society, or it may have been a society of another name. This was in Falls City, and I remember among those in attendance were the late Drs. H. O. Hanna, W. W. Shaw, and J. D. Hunter.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.