Stoaks, Dr. H.L.1859-1922

STOAKS, FIELD, BERNARD

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 3/6/2014 at 08:59:17

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Sept. 12, 1922

DR. H.L. STOAKS

Dr. H.L. Stoaks was born May 20, 1859, fourteen miles north of Davenport, and lived there until fifteen years of age. With his parents he moved to a farm southeast of Grinnell, Iowa, in 1875. In the fall of 1883 he went to South Dakota to visit his brother Frank and being pleased with the outlook pre-empted a claim. He returned to Grinnell for the winter and was united in marriage to Kate Feld on the 27th of December, 1883. He again took up his residence in South Dakota in the spring. This was one of Dakota's disastrous seasons, so he returned to Iowa in the fall, where he engaged in teaching for eleven years. During vacation, when not otherwise employed, he assisted with one of Grinnell's prominent physicians and became imbued with the desire for a medical education. He proceeded to lay plans and qualify for the same. He later specialized on the eye, proving to be one of the best specialists in the state. He located in Oskaloosa remaining until just before the recent year. Five years ago he went to What Cheer, which remained his home until his death.

Dr. Stoaks was a great student and investigator. He was broad in his views, believing no one profession held a cure for all. He held four diplomas, the last being from the Davenport Chiropractic College. He was the fifth child of a family of eleven children of Peter and Nancy Stoaks. There remain to mourn his loss, his wife, brothers Frank, of Des Moines, Ia.; Seymour and Leander, of Grinnell, Ia.; Linnie of Newburg, Ia.; and sister, Mrs. Priscilla Bernard, of Malcom. Four brothers preceded him to the final resting place: Henry, Jasper, John and Charley.

About two years ago Dr. Stoaks suffered a nervous breakdown from which he never recovered. His last illness covered a period of three months. Tuesday, August 29, he was taken to Abbott's Hospital for Fluoroscopic views and X-ray pictures. He died there, September 3, at 12:30 p.m., at the age of 63 years, three months and fourteen days.

In the death of Dr. Stoaks, What Cheer loses one of its most influential and respected citizens. He was of a retiring disposition, devoted to his wife, home and profession.

The body was brought to Malcom on Monday and the funeral services were held from the home of his sister, Mrs. Priscilla Bernard, Wednesday afternoon at 2:00, Rev. Elmer Aukerman, conducting the services. Interment in Ivy Hill cemetery.--Malcom Leader.