CLEAVES, R. L., M, D. - 1914

CLEAVES, LEWIS, CHICK, MCCULLA, MILLER, MORRELL, WILLS, BUTLER

Posted By: VOLUTEER
Date: 6/26/2009 at 15:52:36

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914

R. L. CLEAVES, M, D.

Dr. R. L. Cleaves, a Harvard man, who since 1870 has practiced in Cherokee, being, therefore, one of the pioneer physicians of the county, was born in Maine in 1844, a son of Benjamin L. and Jerusha (Lewis) Cleaves. The father was a business man of Bridgton, Maine, for more than forty years and there he and his wife both passed away. The publicschool system of the Pine Tree state, together with North Bridgton Academy and Edward Little Institute of Auburn, now a branch of Bates College, afforded Dr. Cleaves his early educational opportunities. Deciding to enter upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he qualified for his chosen calling at Harvard University, completing a course in the medical department with the class of 1869. Thinking that the west offered better opportunities to the young practitioner, he made his way first to Lincoln, Nebraska, but did not tarry there, proceeding thence to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he remained a few months. In the spring of 1870 he came to Cherokee, traveling by wagon, for the railroad had not yet been built. He has since practiced medicine here, covering a period of forty-three years, and throughout the entire time he has maintained a place among the foremost physicians of his part of the state, honored by the members of the profession and by the general public. He helped organize the first medical society, of which he has several times been president, and he is likewise a member of the Iowa State and the American Medical Associations. He has also been president of the pension board for forty years. A high honor, one that never comes through self seeking but one greatly desired and highly prized when tendered, came to Dr. Cleaves in 1912, when he was chosen to deliver the oration on "Medicine" before the Iowa State Medical Association.

There is an interesting military chapter in the life history of Dr. Cleaves, who in 1862 enlisted as a member of Company F, Sixteenth Maine Regiment, with which he served until the close of the war as division hospital steward of the first and fifth corps, having not a days leave of absence in all that time. Ha now belongs to the Grand Army post at Cherokee, of which he has been commander and a most active, earnest worker. His fraternal relations also extend to the Masonic lodge and chapter.

The home life of Dr. Cleaves has been most pleasant. On the ist of February, 1869, he was wedded to Caroline A. Chick, also a native of Maine, she having been born at Limington, Maine, in 1839. Here she spent her girlhood, receiving her education at the Limington Academy. Shortly after their marriage the Doctor and Mrs. Cleaves removed to Iowa, as above stated. The children of this worthy couple were all born in the city of Cherokee and are as follows: Carrie Ellen, wife of Thomas McCulla, editor of this work; Bertha Estelle, married to Charles Miller, of Texas; Edward L., deceased at the age of twentytwo, in his second year of a course in medicine at the Chicago Medical School; and Nina Mae, wife of J. A. Morrell, of Cherokee, Iowa. Mrs. Cleaves was a woman of strong Christian character, typical of the New England class. She was passionately fond of music and was considered an excellent critic in musical circles. She was a member of the First Congregational church of Cherokee almost from its establishment and was always active in every good work. Her death occurred December 4, 1913, and her demise is sincerely mourned by her family and a wide circle of friends.

In the early days of Cherokee there were few physicians in this portion of the state, and when difficult surgical operations were to be performed, the operator did not enjoy the advantages of the assistance of fellow members of this profession, nor of hospitals and trained nurses. One of the early surgical operations of Dr. Cleaves was performed under difficulties worthy of mention. The operation consisted of amputation of the arm about an inch below the shoulder joint. The operation was performed between daylight and dark in a small farm house with a blacksmith to administer the anaesthetic, and two farmers to hold small kerosene lamps on each side of the patient. The results of the operation were successful. The patient was James Wills of Silver township. The arm had been caught in the cogs of a threshing machine horse power and was ground from the hand to a little below the shoulder joint.

Another difficult operation was the amputation of a part of a foot on a young boy employed by a settler living about half way between Peterson and Spencer. This boy had been caught out in one of the blizzards which prevailed in an early day and had his feet badly frozen while cutting wood on the Ocheyedan. The case was neglected until gangrene had set in. The settler lived in a sod shanty and conditions were very unsanitary. The stench from the diseased foot was such when the Doctor arrived as to make it almost impossible to remain in the shanty, yet the Doctor performed the difficult operation, Dr. M. S. Butler assisting. The settler was so poor that in addition to furnishing medicine and professional treatment the Doctor also furnished provisions for his patient and the settlers family during convalescence. The young man recovered and afterwards became a business man of this city and is now a wealthy and honored citizen of an adjoining county.

A strong characteristic of Dr. Cleaves is his helpfulness to young men desiring to enter the medical profession. A very large number of successful practitioners of medicine were former students in his office. At one period he had four students in his office, all of whom are now successful physicians.

Such in brief is the life history of Dr. Cleaves, a man whose life work has been a credit to the important calling to which he dedicated it in early manhood. There is no profession or business so little commercialized as the practice of medicine. With the successful physician humanitarianism and professional skill must go hand in hand in the desire for legitimate gain and he must again and again sacrifice his personal interests and comfort to the needs of others. Dr. Cleaves has never fallen short of the high ideals of the profession and is the loved physician in many a Cherokee household.

We are pleased in connection with this sketch to present excellent portraits of Dr. Cleaves and his loved life companion.