WHITLEY, Ralph Lee, Dr. 1871-1964

WHITLEY, CHASE, WHITAKER, LOWE

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 12/3/2010 at 09:39:06

Dr. Ralph Lee Whitley 1871-1964

#1:

DR. R. L. WHITLEY

Osage – Dr. R. L Whitley, 91, died Wednesday at the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital. He had been a patient there the last five months.

Funeral services were held Friday at the Champion Funeral Home with the Rev. Norman Brooks of the First Congregational Church officiating. Burial was in the Osage Cemetery.

Born February 28, 1873, to Dr. John L. and Ada Chase Whitley, he was the third generation who had served a total of 108 years as Osage Physicians. His grandfather, Dr. Sumner Chase, came to Osage in 1856.

Dr. Whitley was married August 2, 1898 to Gertrude Whitaker. She died in 1942. He was married to Mrs. Grace Foreman Lowe in 1944. She died in 1960. His only son, John, also preceded him in death.

Surviving are a sister, Miss Clara Whitley, Osage; a grandson and two great-grandchildren.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Friday, August 28, 1964
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NOTE: on Birth Date

The 1900 US Census lists his birth date as February 1871 and his tombstone list his birth date as February 27, 1871 and death date as August 26, 1964.
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#3:
OSAGE PHYSICIAN 66 YEARS TO BE HONORED AT OPEN HOUSE

Osage – Open house will be held Sunday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the home of Dr. R. L. Whitley, physician in Osage the last 56 years. Mrs. Allie Dellage, his housekeeper, has issued no special invitations.

Dr. Whitley retired as Mitchell CountyCcoroner and Osage Health Officer January 1, after holding the office 60 years. He still sees a few patients and goes to his office when the weather is not too cold. Some patients come to the house for shots and medicines.

Dr. Whitley has been made honorary surgeon for the Illinois Central Railroad. This is the 14th year he has been employed by the road. He also owns and manages Esline Advertising Company, which he has had as a sideline since 1912.

His father, Dr. John Whitley, his grandfather, Dr. Sumner Chase, and Dr. R. L Whitley have practiced in the Osage community 107 years. Dr. Chase surveyed and platted Osage in 1856 and was the first doctor here. Osage was then called Cora.

Dr. Whitley has lost two wives and a son, John. His only grandson, Dirk Whitley and two great-grandchildren live in Chicago. His sister, Clara, lives in Osage and his brother, Roy, in Kingsport, Tenn.

Dr. Whitley is a graduate of Grinnell College, where he was a tract star and valedictorian and of Rush Medical College, Chicago. He had an appointment to West Point but injured a knee so could not accept it. After graduation he came back to Osage, then took advanced work in surgery at City Hospital, New York City, in 1905.

A member of the Mystic Shrine, he was the first Mason in Mitchell County who was affiliated in 1892. He is a member of Knights Templar, Scottish Rites Masonry, Des Moines; Coeur de Leon Commandery and belongs to the County and State Medical Associations. His grandfather started the first Mitchell County Medical Association.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Friday, February 22, 1963]
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#4:

Photo of Dr. Whitley is from MITCHELL COUNTY HISTORY, 1989.

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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