Dr. Arthur Earnest JESSUP, M.D.

JESSUP, MEDEMSON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/29/2010 at 04:52:33

VIGNETTE: DR. A. E. JESSUP, M.D.

Arthur Earnest JESSUP was born November 15, 1869 at Macksburg, Iowa to Martin and Delvina JESSUP and was graduated from Macksburg High School and studied medicine in Des Moines at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

Following graduation in 1895, he was married the following year to Harriet MEDEMSON and began his life work as a general parctitioner at Caledonia, Iowa where he spent four years. The family lived for a year in Oregon, returning to Iowa where he practiced for ten years at Sharpsburg in Taylor County.

He moved in Diagonal, Ringgold County, Iowa in 1909, establishing his practice here for 35 years, rounding out fifty years as a country doctor.

Death occurred January 12, 1944, with memorial services in the Diagonal Presbyterian Church where he was a member. Burial was in Diagonal Cemetery.

Dr. JESSUP was a keen student of human nature, had a first hand knowledge of and continuing interest in the early and later history of the county.

House calls were made with team and buggy, his first car a two-cylinder Buick, powered by electricity generated by a magneto. He stopped the vehicle outside the garage and pushed it inside, not risking an inability to stop.

During the summer of 1909 when carpenters were hammering away in the building Dr. JESSUP would request them to stop while he listened to the heartbeat of a patient. In retrospect, the family member wondered if the ploy was not also in the area of advertising.

Dr. JESSUP was a man of laconic wit, few words, and cryptic statements. He considered the installation of the telephone to be the best improvement during his years of practice, eliminating many a weary mile.

Over the counter, he sold his own remedies, to name two: "Cough-I-Cure" and "lazy liver leaves."

After he had treated a lad who suffered a heat cut while diving in the JESSUP pond, an inquirer asked the extend of the injury. The doctor's answer, "Two dollars and seventy-five cents worth."

By Mildred Turnbull; submission by Mike Avitt, June of 2010