CHAPTER XXIII __________ THE MEDICAL FRATERNITY IN THE COUNTY. Medicine, next to religion, is, perhaps, the most exalted subject that can occupy the mind of man. By "medicine" is meant the science of disease and the art of healing. Next to a care for the soul, the preservation of the body is most important and upholds undisputed place in the economy of nature. The nobility of the healing art has been recognized and its superior dignity has been acknowledged from the most remote periods in the history of man. In the early morning of the world, when medicine as a science was utterly unknown, and consisted simply of a compilation of facts based upon experience, traditional and acquired, the offices of the priest and the physician were united, theology and medicine being considered correlative subjects; and even so late as the history of the English speaking people of this country, the practice of medicine was largely in the hands of the clergy. Happily, now, however, the two professions are entirely separate and distinct—the members of each recognizing that there is enough in their own chosen field of labor to claim their undivided attention. Medicine, in common with all sciences depending for appreciation upon high intellectual development, has been raised from the condition of a mere pretension, resting upon a simple collection of dogmatic aphorisms, to the honored place which it holds today. Up until the close of the eighteenth century, the profession was, to a great extent, groping in the dark, with only here and there a gleam of light breaking through the thick mists of error and falsity in which it was enveloped. The dis- coveries of Harvey and Jenner, standing out as beacon lights to the scientific workers and professional explorers in the wonderful realms of medicine and surgery, infused new zeal in the students of each, which has resulted in untold good for the world. Boerhave, the most celebrated physician of the eighteenth century, at his death bequeathed to the profession an elegant volume, on the title page of which it was affirmed that the book contained all the secrets pertaining to medical science. An inspection of the work disclosed the fact that all the pages except one were blank, and on that one was written, "Keep the head cool, the feet warm and the bowels open." This legend of Boerhave illustrates, not inaptly, the requirements of medical art a century ago. Slowly has the art of administering tested samples for relief, in accordance with experience in similar cases, advanced, step by step, through the maze of error and speculation, to the condition of a rational system of cure, founded upon an intimate knowledge of the animal machine in its normal state and its claims as a science upon fixed and immutable principles, it has not yet reached that degree of perfection or harmony of completeness which it is destined to reach in the years that are coming on. Recent research has, perhaps, developed the importance of no branch of medicine more than that which relates to hygiene and the prevention of disease. The knowledge of the profession is constantly increasing and the application of this knowledge to the prevention as well as to the treatment of disease, is becoming day by day more rational and more satisfactory. The aim of the true physician is not primarily the accumulation of wealth or personal aggrandizement, but the advancement of science, the perfection of his art and the emancipation of mankind from the bondage of disease. No one can afford to allow himself to be governed by self interest alone—least of Page 197 all can the physician safely do so; and while his responsibilities are great, who has higher incentives to noble action or grander opportunities for doing good? His mission is to prolong human life and rescue it from the thralldom of disease and suffering; to increase life's pleasures and to diminish its pains; and to stay the onward march of death-dealing pestilence. In learning, ability and skill; in moral character, in willingness to accept responsibility, and in that self-sacrificing devotion to duty which should characterize all those whose lives are dedicated to "the noble art," the members of the medical fraternity of Montgomery County, Iowa, past and present, will compare favorably with their fellow practitioners anywhere else in the state or country at large. From the best information obtainable, it seems that the first physician to practice in the county was Dr. Amasa Bond, who came from Hamilton County, Indiana, settled in Frankfort in 1856, and died and was buried there the next year. Following him, although not in the order named, perhaps, Drs. Adair, Gover, and Childs settled at Frankfort. Among those living in Red Oak who first practiced in the county were Drs. Purcell, Jay, Schenck, Whitney, Wheelock, Holmes, Hanley and Rufus Sperry. The last named physician was born and received his education in the state of New York. In 1860 he came to Iowa and settled at Red Oak five years later. Dr. Sperry was Montgomery County's first coroner and he was also the first physician and surgeon to the County Poor Farm. Dr. H. A. McFatrich, a graduate of a Cincinnati College of Medicine (Eclectic), was born in Pennsylvania in 1825. After practicing several years in Monroe, Wis., and later at Monmouth, Ill., he settled in Red Oak in 1869, where he continued the practice of his profession until 1897, when he removed to Denver, Colo., to make his home with his daughter. He died May 27th, 1906, and was brought to Red Oak for burial. Page 198 Dr. E. B. Young was born in Indiana in 1850 and graduated from Rush Medical College in 1871. After practicing a few years at Knoxville, Iowa, he came to Red Oak in 1878, where he followed the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred in 1892. Dr. James W. Martin, born August 21, 1831, in Alexandria, Ky., and a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, came to Red Oak in 1870, where he soon had a large and lucrative practice. He had the reputation of being one of the best physicians—as Dr. Young had the reputation of being one of the best surgeons—in Southwestern Iowa. Joseph Binney, M. D., was born in Boston, Mass., July 19, 1847. He came to this county in 1874; in 1878 he graduated from the Indiana College of Medicine, and, settling at Red Oak the same year, was for many years a well known practioner there. J. B. Hatton, M. D., a native of Missouri, practiced medicine in the county for seventeen years. In 1889 he removed to Des Moines and died there a few years ago. Dr. Hatton enjoyed a large practice in the county for many years and for a time after his removal to Des Moines, he occupied a chair in a medical college there. The following members of the profession are at present actively engaged in practice in the county: At Red Oak: Francis M. Hiett, M. D., born in Tippecanoe Co., Indiana, graduate of Rush Medical College, class of 1865, came to Red Oak May 12, 1875. Dr. Hiett was a contract surgeon in the army at New Albany, Ind., in 1862-3. O. S. Reiley, M. D., also a native of Indiana, was born at Greensburg. Dr. Reiley's medical education was received at Keokuk, Iowa, where he graduated March 2, 1880. He arrived in Red Oak October 26 of the same year and has been in practice there ever since. Page 199 Samuel Ransom Kreidler, M. D., (Homeopathic), is a native of Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, class of 1873. He came to the county and settled in Red Oak in 1873. Hiram S. Rogers, M. D., also a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Fayette Co., Jan. 2, 1844. Dr. Rogers received his medical education at Keokuk, Iowa, Ann Arbor, Mich., and at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago. Dates of graduations, Keokuk, 1876; Chicago, 1886. He came to Red Oak April 1, 1886. A. A. Ashby, M. D., is a graduate of Rush Medical College, 1883. He arrived in the county in 1868 and has been practicing in Red Oak twenty-two years. Dr. Ashby was born in Carroll County, Illinois. Wm. S. Reiley, M. D., is a native of Indiana, born in 1871 at Greensburg. He first attended the Marion Sims College of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo., and later the Omaha Medical College, from which he graduated April 4, 1895. He has been in the county since 1880, and has been practicing in Red Oak during the last ten years. Dr. Reiley was elected Mayor of Red Oak in 1903 and again in 1905. Frank W. Smith, M. D., was born at Marengo, Iowa. He graduated from the medical department of the Iowa State University, March 14, 1894, coming to Red Oak May 1, 1895, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. Rebecca Hanna, M. D., was born in Lawrence County, Indiana, and graduated from the medical department of the Iowa State University March 4, 1874. After graduation, Dr. Hanna first settled at Burlington, Iowa. She has practiced twenty-seven years in Montgomery Co. Page 200 Lester Olin Thompson, M. D., received his medical education at Cleveland Homeopathic College, taking his degree from that institution in 1882. He came to Red Oak November 16, 1898. T. R. Butchart, M. D., was born in Canada, graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, in 1895, and came to Red Oak in 1899. Dr. Butchart's wife, Eugenia May Butchart, is associated with him in the practice of the healing art. John M. Seabloom, M. D., a native of Sweden, was born in 1873. He graduated from the College of Physicians & Surgeons, St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 1, 1904, and settled in Red Oak in January of the next year. J. A. J. Martin, M. D., a graduate of Indiana Medical College 1875 and of College of Physicians & Surgeons of Chicago, 1885, was born in Indiana, May 13, 1843. Coming to Red Oak in 1869, he was associated with his brother, J. W., in the practice of medicine until 1877, when he went to Dakota. Returning eight years later, he has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Red Oak since that time. W. J. Martin, M. D., a son of James W., was born at Lebonon, Ind., Sept. 26, 1869. In October, 1870 he came to Red Oak with his father and grew to manhood there. In 1903 he graduated from the College of Physicians, St. Louis, coming to Red Oak in June 1904. Louis A. Thomas, M. D., was born of English parents at Dunkirk, France, Jan. 3, 1862, and came to the Untied States twenty years later. His medical education was received at College of Comp. Med., Chicago, from which he graduated in 1889, and in London, England, where he took a post graduate course in 1897. He was made a member of the Iowa State Board of Medical Examiners in 1893. After seven Page 201 years of practice at Woodbury, Iowa, he came to Red Oak in 1898. In April 1899, he was elected Health Officer of the city of Red Oak. Dr. Thomas is also President of the Iowa Association of Health Officers. William B. Lawrence, M. D., a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Beaver County of that state, Dec. 28, 1855. He attended the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati and the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating from the latter March 29, 1884. After practicing at Winchester, Kan., five and one-half years, he removed to Red Oak Dec. 5, 1889. Velura E. Powell, M. D., a native of Ohio, born 1874, is a graduate of Michigan University, medical department, class of 1902. She came to Red Oak one year ago and is medical superintendent of the Powell Home for Backward Children. Practioners whose homes are in Villisca are as follows: M. N. McNaughton, M. D., who was born in Caledonia, N. Y., April 1, 1849, graduated from the Buffalo Medical University, Feb. 22, 1868, and has been practicing thirty-six ears in Montgomery Co. G. T. Rumbaugh, M. D., is a native of Iowa, his place of birth being Hawleyville. He came to the county in 1867, and is a graduate of the Kentucky School of Medicine, class of 1890. He has also taken post graduate courses at New York and Chicago. Willis A. Lomas, M. D., was born at Waukeegan, Wis., and received his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania and Rush Medical College, graduating from the latter May 1896. He came to Montgomery County July 1, 1896, settling at Villisca. W. W. West, M. D., was born at Athens, Mo. He received his diploma from K. M. College in March 1898 and arrived in Montgomery County November 1901. Page 202 Jay Clark Cooper, M. D., was born at Quasqueton, Iowa; graduated from the University of Iowa April 1902, and came to the county in 1905. Frank S. Williams, M. D., was born near Villisca. He graduated from Rush Medical College, class of 1901, and, after two years' practice in Kansas, settled in Villisca in the fall of 1903. At Elliott are the following: A. Carson, M. D., born in Ohio; graduate of Rush Medical College, class of 1890; has been practicing in the county fifteen years. L. A. Baldwin, M. D., a native of West Virginia, graduated at Rush Medical College June 15, 1904, and settled at Elliott the following year. Dr. C. W. Manker, who practiced many years in the county, died at his home in Elliott a few months ago. At Stanton are Drs. HInes, Esbjorn and Price. Dr. Hines is a native of Ohio and came to the county in 1875. Dr. Trulston, who settled at Stanton about fifteen years ago, and who had a large clientele, died last year from malignant diphtheria contracted from a patient whom he was treating for that dread malady. At Milford are Drs. Montgomery and Scott. James W. Scott was born in Noble County, Ohio, and graduated from the Iowa State University in 1873. He came to the county in 1871 and has been practicing at his present location for twenty-six years. There is at present, and for several years there has been, a flourishing County Medical Society, of which a majority of the physicians in the county are members. This, in brief—and very brief—is a necessarily incomplete and manifestly imperfect history of the medical profession of the county; brief because of the limited space; incomplete because of a dearth of reliable data; and imperfect because of the personal limitations of the writer.
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