VOLDENG, Mathew Nelson, M.D.

VOLDENG, LARSON, CHRISTIAN, ROSEMOND, BAUMGARDNER

Posted By: volunteers S. Ferrall & R. Zehner
Date: 2/29/2004 at 19:33:52

Mathew Nelson Voldeng, M.D.
Dr. Mathew Nelson Voldeng has been engaged in the practice of medicine since 1886 and each year has brought him steady advancement and added honors and distinctions in the field of his chosen profession. For a number of years past he has specialized in the treatment of nervous and mental disorders, his wide experience in this field being one of the salient elements in his success as superintendent of the Cherokee State Hospital at Cherokee. In March, 1915, further recognition came to him in his appointment to the superintendency of the State Hospital and Colongy for Epileptics at Woodward, Iowa. He has gained widespread prominence in these connections, a prominence equalled only by his reputation as a medical practitioner, for he is recognized as a close and earnest student of his professon and occupes a position of importance and distinction in the ranks of the medical fraternity.

Dr. Voldeng was born in Decorah, Iowa, January 21, 1863, and is a son of Nels Larson and Anna (Christian) Voldeng, natives of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Nels Larson Voldeng came to America in 1851 and after spending a few months visiting friends at Yorkville, Wisconsin, settled in Allamakee county, Iowa. In the following spring they moved to Winneshiek county, locating three miles east of Decorah, where the father purchased land, remaining active in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life.

Dr. Voldeng acquired his preliminary education in the country schools around Decorah and afterward entered the preparatory department at Luther College in that city, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1883. During the vacation periods he worked on the home farm and in the winter following his graduation engaged in teachiing. In the following fall he bagan the study of medicine, enrolling in the Chicago College of Physicians and Surgeons, the medical department of the University of Illinois, graduating with high honors in 1887. During his last year at college Dr. Voldeng practiced medicine in Chicago, having passed his examination before the state board of medical examiners. He engaged successfully in general practice and secured a large and representative clientage. His reputation soon extended beyond local limits, as is evidenced by the fact that one Sunday morning he received a telephone message from Dr. G.H. Hill, superintendent of the Independence State Hospital, at Independence, Iowa, asking him to accept a position on the medical staff of the institution. After considering the question for nearly a week, Dr. Voldeng accepted the offer and for eight years thereafter was connected with the hospital as assistant superintendent. He became very much interested in the study of insanity and all mental and nervous disorders and accomplished some notable work in this difficult field. During the fall of 1901 he was appointed by the board of control of state institutions, special examiner of all county hospitals for the insane in the state and examined these institutions, recommending changes and advocating reforms.

In 1895 Dr. Voldeng married and resigned his position with the Independence State Hospital, going with his wife on a study tour through Europe. During his stay abroad he attended lectures at the universities of Berlin, London and Paris, coming into touch with the most advanced medical thought of the world and broadening his mind by contact with foreign conditions and ideas. When he returned to America in the fall of 1896 he opened an office in Des Moines, Iowa, doing general consultation work and specializing in the treatment of mental and nervous disorders. He did such notable work in this field that he was eventually appointed professor of pathology and bacteriology in the medical department of Drake University, and after two years was elected to the chair of neurology and psychiatry, and he filled this until September, 1901.

In that year Dr. Voldeng resigned his position as a member of the medical staff of Drake University to accept his appointment as superintendent of the Cherokee State Hospital, assuming his duties March 1, 1902. He has proven himself a master of his special branch of medicine and he supplements knowledge with sympathy and conscientiousness, so that his work has been unusually beneficial, effective and far-reaching. He managed the business affairs of the institution in a capable and progressive way and under his direction additions were made to the main building each year. The hospital is today one of the very few fireproof institutions in the United States and is modern, comfortable and hygienic in every respect. In March, 1915, Dr. Voldeng became superintendent of the State Hospital and Colony for Epileptics at Woodward, Iowa. The previous year Buena Vista College had conferred upon him the degree of LL.D.

At Independence, Iowa, September 19, 1895, Dr. Voldeng was united in marriage to Miss Sadie W. Rosemond, a daughter of Captain W.E. and Caroline (Baumgardner) Rosemond, natives of Ohio, who removed to Taylorville, Illinois, and thence to Independence, Iowa, in 1881. Dr. and Mrs. Voldeng have become the parents of two children: Wier Nelson, aged thirteen years; and Karl Edward, aged nine. Both are students in the Cherokee public schools.

During the early part of his career Dr. Voldeng gave his political allegiance in the democratic party but at the time of the free silver agitation joined the ranks of the republicans. He has never sought nor desired public office and the only one he has ever held was that of delegate to the national convention when Grover Cleveland was first nominated. He is a member of Grant Club of Des Moines and the Commercial Clubs of Sioux City and Cherokee and is greatly interested in the work of city building. He owns twelve hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in Minnesota and a half section in South Dakota and other valuable property. He is a member of the executive board of Buena Vista College at Storm Lake, Iowa, and an enthusiastic supporter of this school as well as of a number of charitable institutions. Dr. Voldeng has extensive and important fraternal affiliations, belonging to Home Lodge, No. 210, A.F.&A.M., of Des Moines; Antiach Chapter , No. 110, R.A.M., of Des Moines; Asylum of Crusade, No. 39, K.T., of Cherokee; Des MOines Consistory, No. 3, and the Mystic Shrine at Sioux City. He is also affiliated with the Mystic Toilers, and is past chancellor commander of Cherokee Lodge, No. 167, K.P. of Cherokee. He is an elder of the Presbyterian church and exemplifies its teaching in a consistent life.

Dr. Voldeng is widely and favorable known in medical circles, taking an enthusiastic interest in the advancement of the medical science in the middle west. He is a member of the house of delegates of the American Medical Association and is also one of the committee on public health education among women. He belongs to the American Academy of Medicine and the American Medico-Psychological Associations, and belongs also to the Iowa State and Cherokee County Medical Societies. In the former organization he was president in 1910 and 1911 and is now chairman of the committee on public health education and in the latter society has been twice chief executive. In 1899 he helped organize the Des Moines Pathological Society and is well known also in the affairs of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley, the Sioux Valley Medical Society, of which he has been president, and the Austin Flint Cedar Valley Medical Society. In addition to this he is an honorary member of the Chicago Medical Society. Through his connection with these organizations Dr. Voldeng keeps in close touch with the trend of modern advancement along medical lines. He is a man of broad ideals, scrupulous conscientiousness and superior professional attainments and has advanced through his own ability and knowledge to a place of distinction in his chosen field. His fellow practitioners accord him a gratifying measure of respect and honor, and his work will undoubtedly influence the history of the medical profession in this section of the country.

Source: Iowa: Its History and Its Foremost Citizens Volume II, by Johnson Brigham; 1915; pg. 206-208
Transcribed by S. Ferrall from a scanned original provided by R. Zehner. See photo link below.

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