Duffin, Charles W., MD 1859-1939

DUFFIN, HEATHCOTE, SMITH

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 4/6/2014 at 15:34:30

Guttenberg, Ia. - Burial services for Dr. Charles W. Duffin, 79, retired physician who died at his home here Thursday evening, were held at Morrison, Ill., Saturday afternoon. He was stricken with a heart attack Monday.

Funeral services were held from the home at 9:30 o'clock Saturday morning with Dr. Dale D. Welch, president of the University of Dubuque, officiating. Immediately following the services here, the body was taken to Morrison, the doctor's childhood home.

Dr. Duffin became a member of the medical profession 58 years ago and during his long practice was one of the best known physicians in this section. He was keenly interested in obstetrics and at the close of his career was especially proud of his record of having been the attending physician at the birth of 1,720 babies.

For many years he practiced medicine in partnership with his brother, Dr. W.L. Duffin, and in addition to their medical abilities, both were noted for their fast driving horses. In the days preceding the automobile, the doctors' teams were acknowledged as among the finest and fastest on the road.

Dr. Duffin was born in Cherry Valley, N.Y., on March 1, 1859, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Duffin. When he was eight years old he moved with his parents to Morrison where he grew to manhood. He received his early education at Morrison and later graduated from Rush Medical College in Chicago.

In 1881 he opened an office at Garnavillo, practicing there for nine years. He then closed this office and moved to Guttenberg to enter partnership with his brother. The men became known throughout the country as "Doctor Will" and "Doctor Charlie." "Doctor Will" died 25 years ago and in 1917 "Doctor Charlie" gave up his practice and retired. His retirement was of short duration however, because with the entrance of the United States into the World War, the demand of the Army for young doctors nearly stripped this community of its medical men. Dr. Duffin then resumed his practice until after the close of the war. Since that time he has been living quietly at his spacious home here with an occasional winter spent in the south.

On Oct. 25, 1883 Dr. Duffin was married to Miss Minnie Heathcote, a childhood neighbor in Morrison. To this union was born one son, H. Leroy, who died six years ago.

He is survived by his widow and one sister, Mrs. Alice Smith of Morrison.

~Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Sunday morning edition, January 22, 1939

~Buried in Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, Whiteside co., IL - link photo of his gravestone is below.

~Family note: The full name of his son was Horatio LeRoy Duffin. He was a dentist, graduating with the State University of Iowa, Class of 1912, with a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He died in 1933 & is buried in St. Joseph cemetery, Iowa City, Iowa

Gravestone in Grove Hill cemetery
 

Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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