Barstow, James M. (1854-1919)

BARSTOW

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 8/13/2008 at 16:26:27

James M. Barstow
Sep 10, 1854 - May 19, 1919

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.14, Council Bluffs )
James M. Barstow, physician, Council Bluffs, was born in Peoria County, Ill., in 1854. His parents moved to a point in Mills County, this State, called New Bethlehem, and in 1865, returned to Illinois, where after staying two years, they came to this county. Our subject was educated at the Keokuk College of Pharmacy and Surgery, from which institution he graduated in march, 1880. He took special courses in Obstetrics, Surgery and Analytical Chemistry; he has one of the finest medical libraries in the city; he was married in September, 1881, to Miss Lizzia Knabe, of Council Bluff. Mrs. Barstow died June 6 of the following year; she was well known and greatly beloved by the people of this community, being a popular and respected teacher in our public schools.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.583)
J.M. BARSTOW is one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the city. He was born in Fulton Co, Illinois, September 10, 1854, son of SAMUEL and ELEANOR (COULSON) BARSTOW. The latter is of English descent and a native of Illinois. SAMUEL BARSTOW was born in Muskingum Co, Ohio. He and his wife came to Mills Co, Iowa, October 1855 and settled on a farm 20 miles south of Council Bluffs and in 1871 came to Pottawattamie Co, Iowa, purchasing their present farm six miles south of Council Bluffs, where they still reside. They had three sons and two daughters, all living: James M., our subject; Rozeltha, wife of JOSEPH STOKER farmer of Mills Co, Iowa; Alice J., wife of EDWARD McINTYRE farmer of Harrison Co, Iowa; Miss Ena H, Teacher in Bloomer School at Council Bluffs; Guy E, resides with is brother, Dr. Barstow. Dr. BARSTOW was but a year old when his parents came to Mills County, Iowa. He first attended a subscription school in a slab house in Mills, afterward the district and public schools. He also attended the Bellevue High School, of Bellevue, Nebraska, two terms; then taught during the summers and attended school during the winters; also attended college at the Methodist Seminary at Glenwood, Mills County. He then taught four years and accumulated money sufficient to take his first course of lectures at Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons. He continued to earn the money during vacations to pay for his tuition and expenss at the college, from which he graduated in March 1880. While a student at the Medical College, he was a very hard worker, pursuing not only the regular course of studies, but also taking private instruction from eminent members of the faculty in diseases of the eye and ear, and also in obstetrics. After his graduation he immediately began the practice of medicine in Council Bluffs, but being very ambitious of taking a high place in his profession, he took the first opportunity of going to Bellevue Medical College, New York City, where he had the advantage of the instruction, both theoretical and practical, of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the day, and also the immense advantages of hospital practice. He graduated from this college in March 1884, having taken special instructions in practice, surgery, obstetrics and diseases of women and children, aside from the rgular course of lectures and hospital processes. After his graduation at Bellevue, he again resumed his practice at Council Bluffs. Dr. BARSTOW is a member of the Presybterian church, is one of the staff of the Pottawattamie Co. Asylum for the Insane, both visiting and consulting; also of St. Bernard's Hospital. He enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him. The doctor has been very successful in his practice, and by reason of his kindly manners and painstaking care he is well liked by his patients. Both he and his wife are popular socially. Dr. BARSTOW belongs to the State Medical Society, is a member of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley and also of the Council Bluffs Medical Society and has been president of this latter society. He is in vigorous, robust health, capable of a great deal of hard work and study; honest, frank, and manly in his character and demeanor, imbued with a generous ambition and possessed of the advantages of a strong mind and thorough, practical education and training. He was united in marriage to Miss CARRIE M. SHEPARD, October 29, 1884. She was born in Ohio and is a daughter of NATHANIEL and RUTH (FOUTZ) SHEPARD. Dr. and Mrs. Barstow have one child, Ruth.