Macrae, Donald Jr.

MACRAE

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/6/2010 at 22:12:05

DONALD MACRAE, JR., M. D.
One of the most prominent and successful practitioners of Council Bluffs is Dr. Donald Macrae, Jr., who limits his work to surgery and has performed many difficult operations that have justly won him fame. He was born in this city January 24, 1870, and here spent the days of his boyhood and youth, his elementary education being acquired in the public schools. Later he attended Lake Forest College at Lake Forest, Illinois, and Morgan Park Military Academy at Morgan Park, that state. He was next a student at the University of Iowa at Iowa City for two years, and then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he took up the study of medicine and was graduated in 1891 with the degree of M. D.

Returning to his native city, Dr. Macrae here engaged in general practice until after the outbreak of the Spanish-American war. In 1898 he was appointed first lieutenant and assistant surgeon of the Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was sent to the Philippines, where he was in active service for eighteen months as assistant surgeon. At the end of that time he resigned and returned home. Again taking up his residence in Council Bluffs, he resumed the practice of his chosen profession, but has since devoted his attention to surgery. He is to-day recognized as one of the ablest surgeons of the city and his practice is large and remunerative.

On the 19th of November, 1891, Dr. Macrae was united in marriage to Miss Mary Virginia Miller, of Omaha, a daughter of the late Harry C. Miller, and to them have been born two children: Marion and Donald.

For ten years Dr. Macrae was professor of anatomy in the medical department of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, but has recently resigned that position, though he still occupies the chair of clinical surgery in the same institution. He has acceptably served as secretary of the Missouri Valley Medical Society; as vice president of the Iowa State Medical Society; and president of the Council Bluffs Medical Society. Besides these different organizations he belongs to the American Medical Association; the Pottawattamie County Medical Society; the Western Surgical and Gynecological Association; the Southwestern Iowa Medical Society; and the Iowa Clinical Surgical Society. In 1901 he was made first vice president of the National Society, which was organized while he was in the Philippines. He now holds rank as major and surgeon of the Fifty-sixth Regiment of Iowa National Guard.

Socially he is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Popular as a citizen, the Doctor has been called to public office by his fellow townsmen who recognized his worth and ability and he is now most acceptably serving his second term as mayor of Council Bluffs, giving a progressive and businesslike administration that has won the commendation of the best people of the city. He has also served on the school board and never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit.