Edwin D. Whitacre 1842-1908

WHITACRE, HAWLEY, HAUSER, MARCY, VINTON

Posted By: C Tucker (email)
Date: 9/17/2010 at 20:37:14

Evening Times Republican
Marshalltown, IA [Friday 5-1-1908] p. 7

DR. E. D. WHITACRE DIES VERY SUDDENLY
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Well-known Physician Succumbs to Rheumatism of the Heart Thursday Night
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FORMER MAYOR OF LISCOMB
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Resident of Hardin and Marshall Counties Since 1869, and Acquaintance Was Wide --- Burial Will Be at Liscomb, Where the Doctor Lived Before Coming Here
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Dr. E. D. Whitacre, a well known physician of the city and a resident of Hardin and Marshall counties since 1852, died very suddenly shortly before 10 o'clock Thursday night of rheumatism of the heart. Dr. Whitacre had been complaining for a few days of a pain between his shoulders. He had never had any rheumatic trouble until two weeks ago, and altho he considered the attack a slight one, he was compelled to remain indoors for a time. Thursday he was at his office as usual, altho still suffering some. He intended returning down town in the evening, but Mrs. Whitacre insisted that he remain indoors. He spent the evening playing with his little granddaughter, and at 9:30 went to bed. He fell asleep, but awoke in about twenty minutes and asked his wife for a drink of water. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Whitacre noticed that the doctor was breathing hard, and spoke to him. She received no reply, but the doctor started to arise. He gave one gasp, and fell back on the pillows dead. A LONG AND BUSY CAREER Dr. Whitacre had had a long and busy career as a physician in this and Hardin counties. He was the son of Joseph and Hannah Hawley Whitacre, both being staunch Quakers, and was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, Feb. 27, 1842. He moved to Ohio as a young man and came to Iowa in 1852, settling at Brighton, where he lived until he enlisted in Company G, Forty-seventh Iowa infantry, on May 15, 1864. He was discharged at Davenport Sept. 28, 1864, at the expiration of his 100-day enlistment. DECIDES ON MEDICINE Dr. Whitacre was not robust as a young man, and his service in the army, altho brief, had told on his health. He became interested in medicine, and entered the Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago, where he studied during 1867 and 1868. He began practicing at New Providence, Hardin county, in 1869, and later moved to Union. There, on Dec. 31, 1871, he took as his wife Miss Eliza H. Hauser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Hauser, pioneer residents of this county, who now live where they have resided for sixty years, on a farm three miles southwest of Liscomb. Two years later Dr. and Mrs. Whitacre moved to Liscomb, where they lived until they moved here on April 5, 1892. Dr. Whitacre was one of the most conscientious and successful of the new or Homeopathic school of physicians during his practice of almost forty years in this and Hardin counties. Both in his profession, and as a citizen, he held a high position in the community, and was respected by all who knew him. His influence was always on the side of what he believed to be the right, both in public and private affairs. Quiet and unostentatious, he was nevertheless a forceful entity among an unusually large acquaintanceship, and his advice was often sought and followed to advantage by those who properly estimated his character and probity. He will be missed not alone in the medical profession, but in the community that esteemed him for his exemplary life and high sense of honor. ONCE MAYOR OF LISCOMB Dr. Whitacre was once mayor of Liscomb, having been elected in 1875, and served one term, thruout 1876. He was active in the republican politics of that township when he lived there, but since coming here has taken no active part in the affairs of his party. He held several township offices in Liscomb township. Dr. Whitacre is survived by his wife and one son, Joseph Whitacre, the latter of the Reflector, in this city. An older son, Edwin H., died in this city Dec. 24, 1893. A daughter died in infancy. Also surviving the doctor are two sisters and three brothers --- Mrs. John Marcy and Mrs. Mercy Vinton, of Fairfield; Benjamin F. Whitacre, Richland; J. J. Whitacre, Cedar Falls; and Calvin Whitacre, of Alliance, Ore. Another brother, R. H. Whitacre, formerly of Albion, died at Cedar Falls six years ago, and a brother Thomas, of Brighton, passed away three years ago. The funeral will be held Sunday morning at 9:30 from the residence on West Grant street, when Rev. C. H. Morris will conduct a brief service before the body is taken to Liscomb for interment. Another brief service will be held at the grave in the Liscomb cemetery.