Eugene Kelso Anderson

ANDERSON, BEITZELL, DUNWELL, SMITH

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/11/2005 at 10:56:09

Dr. E. K. Anderson, a well known physician and surgeon of St. Charles, Iowa, is a native son of the town which is still his home. He was born on the 4th of August, 1867, a son of the late Dr. William M. Anderson, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.

He passed the days of his boyhood and youth in St. Charles and at the usual age entered the common schools, where he received his elementary education. He continued his study at Simpson College, Indianola, and later entered the medical department of Drake University, known as the Iowa College of Physicians and Surgeons. In early manhood he taught school, entering that profession when he was twenty years of age. During the scholastic year of 1887-8 he taught seven and a half miles north of Winterset and was subsequently employed as teacher in various parts of Madison and Warren counties, teaching for eleven terms in one district in Pleasant Valley township, Warren county. Altogether he taught nineteen terms of school. After finishing his medical course he returned to St. Charles and opened an office, being for sixteen years actively engaged in practice here. He is well prepared for his work and, as he has maintained the mental attitude of the student, seeking always to learn more of the science of medicine, his power of quick and accurate diagnosis has grown with the years and also his ability to decide what is the most efficacious remedy in a given case. He erected a residence twenty years ago and has later added thereto, his home being now one of the most comfortable and attractive in St. Charles.

On the 7th of December, 1893. Dr. Anderson married Miss Mary F. Smith, who was born in Gilman, Illinois, a daughter of James and Persis A. (Dunwell) Smith both deceased. The father was a butcher by trade and in 1882, on coming with his family to St. Charles, conducted a butcher shop here until his demise, which occurred on the 1st of April, 1890, when he was sixty years of age. His wife was called to her reward on the 26th of January, 1901, at the age of sixty-eight They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church here, but while living in Illinois belonged to the Baptist church.

Mr. Smith was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, but when ten years of age came to America, and Mrs. Smith was born in Vermont. They were married in Akron, Ohio, and to them were born five children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: Orville D., who is engaged in the livery business in Cozad, Nebraska; Albert J., a farmer of the same place; Sophronia A., the wife of E. R. Beitzell, of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Mrs. Anderson.

Dr. and Mrs. Anderson have become the parents of six children but one of whom is living, Paul Eugene, who was born in February, 1901. Donald Dunwell died in childhood and the others died in infancy.

Mrs. Anderson is well known in St Charles, having resided here since she was a girl of fourteen and having for a number of years taught in Madison and Warren counties.

Dr. Anderson is a democrat and has done much work in behalf of his party. Fraternally he belongs to the county and state medical societies and the American Medical Association. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife belongs to the Rebekahs and to the Woman's Relief Corps. She is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which the family attend, and they have the full respect and the sincere regard of the people of St. Charles, among whom they have lived for many years.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.