Desmond, Dr. Thomas Francis (1865-1925)

DESMOND, KELLY, KING, QUINTUS

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:02

Webster City Freeman, Webster City, Iowa, Monday, February 3, 1941

SERVICES FOR DR. DESMOND TO BE AT CHURCH

Widely Known Physician Dies at Home After Long Illness

Services for Dr. T.F. Desmond, 75, will be held at 9 a.m. tomorrow at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church. The Rev. Father F.J. Frein will officiate and burial will be made in the Catholic cemetery.

Dr. Desmond died at his home, 915 Boone street, at 1:45 p.m. Saturday. He had been in failing health since he fell down the stairs at his home early in December. He was taken to the hospital where he remained until Dec. 30. He was then taken to his home, but was not able to be up and around. Death was caused by complications which developed following a stroke of paralysis.

Thomas Francis Desmond, son of Catherine and Dennis Desmond, was born Feb. 20, 1865, on a farm near Cedarburg, Wis. At the age of 7 years he moved with his parents to Iowa, locating on a farm near Ackley. He attended the rural schools and was graduated from the Ackley high school. He then attended the Rush Medical university, of Chicago, and after his graduation there he interned for two years at the Cook county hospital in Chicago.

In 1895 he came to Webster City, Iowa, where he entered into the practice of medicine.

He was married April 30, 1901, to Miss Anna Iolene Kelly, of Saginaw, Mich., and since their marriage they had always made their home in Webster City.

He is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters, Thomas Kelly Desmond, Evanston, Ill.; Mrs. Robert (Helen) Fullerton King, of Peoria, Ill; Mrs. Ralph (Kathryn) Quintus, of Garner; Jack Humphrey Desmond, of Des Moines and Richard Barrett Desmond, of Washington, D.C. There are also two grandsons, Michael Desmond King and Robert Anthony King. He also leaves one sister, Sister Mary Ursuline B.V.M. of the Immaculate Conception academy, of Davenport.

Dr. Desmond retired from active practice in November, 1939. His decision to retire was made primarily because of the fact that he was in poor health. He was hurt some years ago in a car-truck collision receiving a broken hip, bruises and cuts. He had never fully recovered from these injuries.

With the death of Dr. Desmond the community has lost one of its popular and widely known citizens. While the doctor had not been so active in civic affairs in late years, during his early years of residence here he had a primary part in promoting many activities for the betterment of Webster City.

He belonged to many social and civic groups and was one of the prominent members of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church.

He had moved his office only three times during his 40 years residence here. His first office suite was in rooms over the Woolworth store. Later he moved to rooms over the Williams drugstore and the third move was to rooms over the Miller drugstore.

In 1895, immediately after finishing his work in Cook county hospital, Dr. Desmond came to Webster City to begin the practice of his profession. In those days all doctors made their calls with horses and buggies and Dr. Desmond was no exception. Many a day he had driven from early morning to late at night from farm to farm, covering many miles and visiting many patients.

He bought his first automobile about 1907, but even then the condition of Iowa roads made it impossible to use a car continuously. When muddy roads prevented the use of the car, the doctor often rented a "rig" from a livery stable to make his rounds of calls.

Even during the World war, muddy roads made car travel impossible and at that time the doctor made his calls on horseback.

He served as veterans examiner without pay during the war and when bad roads prevented the young men from coming to his office for examination he would call at their homes, making the trip on horseback.

Dr. Desmond was one of the early members of the Elks club which had been organized only a short time before his arrival here. He was also a member of the Foresters, a former Webster City lodge, and was examiner for the Modern Woodmen. He held his fourth degree in the Knights of Columbus.

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt appointed him to the pension examiners board of Hamilton county and he served this organization as president. He was also president of the county commission of insanity being active in both these groups up to the time he retired.

At one time he was a member of the Kiwanis club and was a charter member of the Country club and served on its board of directors. He was, of course, a member of the American Medical association and had served as president of the old Mercy hospital board. He had been city health officer and county physician and for about 25 years was surgeon for the Illinois Central railroad.