Dr. Pauline Leader, 101 - 1959

LEADER, FOWLER

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 5/31/2017 at 10:43:14

The Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, Feb. 8, 1959

Dr. Pauline M. Leader, 101, a pioneer Iowa Doctor, who served as resident physician at Mercy Hospital in Davenport, Iowa for seven years after her graduation from the Iowa University School of Medicine in 1894, died Saturday, 9-Feb. 1959 in a nursing home in Lancaster, Wis.

While at Mercy Hospital, Dr. Leader organized the training school for nurses and headed the nursing staff in addition to her other duties.

Pauline Marie Leader was born 6-Jan. 1858 in Marengo Twp., Iowa County, Iowa, a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Atkins) Leader, an Iowa pioneer family that farmed in Iowa County near Marengo along the Iowa River. Pauline was a successful teacher when at the urging of her father she should turn to the medical field after witnessing her doctor an injured farm laborer.

After leaving Davenport, Dr. Leader was on medical staff at the Clarinda, Iowa Hospital for the mentally ill for 35 years. She remained there until her retirement in 1936 at the age of 78. She was a member of the Iowa State Medical Society and a 50 year member of the PEO.

Dr. Leader's formula for a long life was, "Choose long-lived ancestors, eat what you want, and don't worry."

She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Ethel D. (Dr. James H.) Fowler of Lancaster, Wis. and many nieces and nephews.