Alcorn

ALCORN

Posted By: Peggy Webster Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/5/2014 at 16:38:27

DR. H. A. ALCORN

When Dr. H. A. Alcorn came to Adair came to Adair on May 7, 1906, he was the first graduate veterinarian in the area. There were several people who had been issued state licenses by had little training; including Stacey in Adair, Burnes in Casey and Carey in Anita. Dr. Alcorn had worked for the government in 13 states before coming to Adair.

Men who worked for Dr. Alcorn were Howard Liebengood, Burson, Bressett, Tom Belknap, Linden Alcorn and Milton Engle.

When Dr. Alcorn first came to Adair, he rented a stall in the livery barn run by Stoner and Roland, to use as an office. Other businesses in the area were harness shops run by Billy Barryhill and Charlie Compen, a dry goods store owned by Baartz and Webster, a drugstore run by Woodward and McDonnell and a barbershop run by Burger and perry. A. C. Savage had a bank, lumberyard and insurance. Savage was later elected to the state senate. The elevator was owned by Mr. Savage for a while and later sold to Ed Kuhl and Bill Wheller.

Harry Patten sold his store to Art Kelsey, who had been at a creamery in Menlo. Kelsy soon went into partnership with George Wegner and they added groceries. Wegner was in business 50 years.

Dr. Alcorn started the Iowa State Colt Farm by buying 80 acres from Carter Brown east of town. He was very successful buying and selling horses and sold trotting horses to all parts of the United States.

Horses were big business in thoe days and Dr. Alcorn recalled one stallion imported from Belgium by a group of Adair farmers that cost $5,000. These horses were bought through the Holbart Co. and were used by the stockholders who owned shares in the company. The $5,000 stallion contracted pneumonia and died in three days. They bought another, and he was so mean, they had to keep him in his stall at all times. They used a muzzle on his mouth and tied his feet so Knut Parkinson could trim him.

Many people were hurt by horses in those days and Dr. Alcorn recalled one man that was killed by a runaway team hauling coal from the coal mine south of Adair.

Transcribed from Adair County Iowa Sesquicentennial Edition 1851-2001
Page 188