Tedrow, James Bricker, M.D.

TEDROW, LONG, HECHLER, HAMILTON, DODDER, DALBEY, PORT, BROCK

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/19/2009 at 13:29:04

History of Hamilton County Iowa, Vol. II, p. 45

JAMES BRICKER TEDROW, M. D.

Dr. James Bricker Tedrow has been engaged in the practice of medicine in Williams for twenty-six years, and has the distinction of ranking first in years of continuous practice among the medical fraternity of Hamilton County. He was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on the 2Oth of May, 1856, and is a son of Jonas and Catharine (Long) Tedrow. The parents were also natives of the Keystone state, where they passed their entire lives, their deaths occurring at Glade, Somerset county. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Tedrow, as follows: Norman, deceased; Louisa, the wife of Franklin Hechler, deceased, of Somerset County, Pennsylvania; Simon and Savilla, also residents of Somerset County; William, on whom had been conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and who held the pastorate of the English Lutheran church at Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the time of his death, which occurred February 10, 1911; James B., the subject of this review; Lizzie, who died at Omaha, Nebraska, February 21, 1908, the deceased wife of Milton Hamilton; Mary, who died at the age of ten years; Charlie, who is residing on the old homestead in Somerset County, Pennsylvania; and Bertha, who died in Omaha, Nebraska, February 21, 1908, the deceased wife of Edward F. Dodder. They were all born and reared in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

The early years in the life of Dr. Tedrow were passed on the old family farm in Somerset County, and at the usual age he began his education in the common schools. He subsequently entered Mount Union College at Mount Union, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated in 1882. In considering the choice of a life vocation, he decided in favor of the medical profession, and later matriculated in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he pursued his professional studies. On July 1, 1886, he was graduated with the degree of M. D. and in September of that year he came to Williams and established an office, which he has ever since maintained. Dr. Tedrow was given the advantages of a most excellent course, and in addition to his thorough preparation brought to his assistance the inherent ability and personality so essential in this of all professions. As a result he has met with success and has built up a large and lucrative practice, that extends throughout the surrounding country, and to the neighboring towns.

On the 4th of June, 1890, Dr. Tedrow was married to Miss Nettie Dalbey, who was born at Olin, Jones county, this state, on the 5th of March, 1870, and is a daughter of Jasper and Catharine (Klise) Dalbey. The parents were both natives of Ohio, the father having been born at Athens, Athens County, on April 29, 1832, and the mother in Richland County, on September 28, 1843. They were among the early settlers of Jones County, where the father was successfully identified with both agricultural and business interests, becoming one of the foremost citizens of that vicinity. He has long been living retired and now spends his summers in Iowa and his winters at Jennings, Louisiana. The mother, however, is deceased, having passed away in Kansas, January 13, 1895. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Dalbey numbered five: Alice, who was born on August 5, 1862, the wife of Dr. F. W. Port, of Olin, Iowa; Carrie, whose birth occurred on the 19th of March, 1864, the deceased wife of Luther C. Brock, of Alden, Iowa; Mrs. Tedrow; Lucien, whose natal day was July 31, 1871, a resident of Jennings, Louisiana; and Laura May, who was born on May 5, 1873, and died at the age of three months. They were all born in Iowa and reared at Olin. Dr. and Mrs. Tedrow have one son, Claire DeWitt, who was born at Williams, December 10, 1891. He was graduated from the high school with the class of 1908 and spent the following year in the Cedar Rapids Business College, and is now a student of Iowa College at Grinnell.

Fraternally Dr. Tedrow is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to the lodge at Alden, and he also belongs to the Mystic Workers and Williams Camp, No. 1844, M. W. A. He maintains relations with his fellow practitioners through the medium of his membership in the Hamilton County and Iowa State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. He gives his political support to the republican party, and has served with efficiency both as city clerk and county coroner, during the period of his residence in Williams. In matters of citizenship he is public-spirited and enterprising and takes an active interest in every movement that will forward the intellectual, moral or social welfare of the community.