FRIEND, Dr. James H.

FRIEND, STANLEY, MCDOWELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 5/29/2014 at 16:17:17

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
1911

DR. JAMES H. FRIEND

The osteopathic school for treatment of physical ills of humanity has a worthy representative in Dr. James H. Friend, of Grinnell, whose increasing clientage is evidence of the esteem in which he is held in this city. He was born in Poweshiek county on a farm about twelve miles south of Grinnell, June 20, 1859, a son of Franklin and Martha J. (Stanley) Friend. The father was a native of Illinois and the mother of Virginia. The grandparents on both sides of the family came to Poweshiek county. The paternal grandfather, Elijah Friend, arrived here in 1849 and located three miles northeast of Lynnville, adjoining the Jasper county line, while the maternal grandfather, John T. Stanley, reached here in 1851 and located in Sugar Creek township, five miles east of Lynnville. Franklin Friend was married to Martha J. Stanley at Montezuma in 1853, the ceremony being performed by Rev. James Johnson. He located on land in Washington township, which he cultivated to good advantage until 1864, when he yielded to the gold excitement and started for the Montana gold fields. After arriving at the mines he selected a location in Jefferson valley and staked out a mining claim, which he proposed to work later. In 1865 he started homeward but on reaching Fort Benton found that the boat in which he expected to take passage down the river was delayed. A large amount of government supplies was received at the fort about this time and there being no warehouse in which to store them volunteers were called for to go into the forest and cut logs for a house. This was dangerous service as the Indians were lurking in the vicinity and were highly incensed at the encroachments of the white men upon their hunting grounds. Mr. Friend and about a dozen companions volunteered to perform the work and while engaged in this undertaking the party was ambushed and every man was killed. Mrs. Friend was later married to Levi H. McDowell, who came to Poweshiek county with his parents in 1848. She died January 31, 1896.

James H. Friend was reared upon the home farm and notwithstanding the death of his father he secured good advantages of education. After attending the district schools he became a student at Grinnell Academy and later at Callanan College, which was under general supervision of Drake University, in 1887, having thoroughly prepared himself, he took up teaching as a profession and for seventeen years taught in various schools of the county, becoming recognized as one of the most capable educators in this section of the state. In 1904, however, he became interested in osteopathy and entered the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, from which he was graduated in 1906. He immediately opened offices at Grinnell but shortly afterward was invited to Story City to take charge of the practice of Dr. O.F. Beckett, who was temporarily called away. The absence of Dr. Beckett was prolonged and Dr. Friend remained three years in Story City. In 1909 he returned to Grinnell, where he maintains well appointed offices and has built up an extensive practice.

On the 24th of December, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Myra McDonald, a native of Poweshiek county, and by this union six children have been born, namely: Gladys, who was educated at Grinnell high school and Iowa College and is now successfully teaching in the district schools; Arthur McDonald, a student in the high school; Leona and James, who are attending the graded school; Myra A.; and Homer C.

Dr. Friend has seen no reason to regret giving up his profession as a teacher to engage in the healing art. From the beginning of his practice he has evinced a natural adaptability to the vocation and his services are steadily growing in demand, his patients being numbered among his best friends and most enthusiastic advocates. He is an intelligent gentleman and as he has been a lifelong student and investigator he has a highly cultivated mind which has been brightened by contact with the world and also by systematic study and reflection. His skill in the treatment either of acute or chronic diseases is widely acknowledged throughout this part of the state. Politically he is independent, preferring to vote for the man rather than for the party, and fraternally he is identified with Hermon Lodge, No. 273, A,F. & A.M., of Grinnell, and Baldur Lodge, No. 279, Knights of Pythias, of Story City.