McCaughan, Thomas Elzie Dr. 1878-1939 & Edith Work Family

MCCAUGHAN, WORK, BONNER, BRADY

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/22/2022 at 10:04:01

McCaughan, Dr. Thomas Elzie 1870-1939 and Edith Work Family

This story was taken from page 343 of the History of Ireton (1882-1961) published on the occasion of the Ireton Diamond Jubilee. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

Dr. Thomas Elzie McCaughan was born in SE Iowa in 1870, and came to Ireton as a young doctor in 1897. When he became established in practice in Ireton, he returned to Morning Sun, Ia. and soon came back with his bride.

Except for about 2 years in the Medical Corps during WWI, he remained in Ireton serving the Community until 1932, when his health made a move to Calif. necessary. When he passed away in 1939, he was brought back to Ireton and laid to rest beside his wife and daughter, in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

During almost 40 years of practice in Ireton, he officiated at the birth of over 1500 babies, 3 generations of many families in the area, and worked day and night to bring relief to the sufferers in the post war flu epidemics of 1919 and 1920, and performed surgery under very trying conditions at times to save a patient’s life. In short, he was a good dedicated country doctor.

While in Ireton, Dr. McCaughan also served on the School Board, was Commander of Bertram Post #276 of the American Legion, was a loyal Mason and also served as County Health Officer for many years.

RESEARCH NOTES: added by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the GSCGS
From a family report on ancestry.com (done by others)
Dr. Thomas Elzer Alexander McCaughan was born Mar 1870 in Iowa and died 11 Apr 1939 Los Angeles CA Hes parents were James McCaughan 1829-1904 and Catherine Eleanor McClurkin Bonner 1832-1892. He married Edith Work on 14 Oct 1896 Indiana PA.

Edith Work was born 11 Mar 1868 Pennsylvania and died 25 Jan 1938 Ireton Sioux County IA. She was the daughter of James Irvin Work 1835-1912 and Arabella Brady Work 1939-1907.
They had just one daughter -
Kathryn McCaughan born 1900 Iowa and died 3 Feb 1930 Ireton IA. See her obit at the end of this narrative.

OBITUARY OF Dr. T.E. McCaughan
Source: Alton Democrat (4-28-1939) Born: 1870 Died: 1939
FORMER PHYSICIAN DIES IN CALIFORNIA--REMAINS LAID TO REST HERE
One of the largest funerals ever held here occurred Saturday when the remains of Dr. Thomas E. McCaughan arrived for interment. Dr. McCaughan was a veteran Ireton physician who retired from active practice here some ten years ago, moving to California to spend his declining years. Mrs. Edith (Work) McCaughan passed away in Long Beach, their home, in February 1938 and the remains were brought here to be interred beside those of their only daughter, Katherine, who died about 12 years ago. Dr. McCaughan served as army physician during the World War and was chosen the first commander of the Bertram Post American Legion when it was organized here.
The funeral services were held at the M.E. Church with the Reverend McNulty in charge and graveside services were conducted by the members of the American Legion and taps were sounded for a man who had identified himself with this community for many years.
Dr. McCaughan is survived by his second wife to whom he was married six months ago at Long Beach. A sister and several nieces in various parts of the states also survived. The remains were accompanied here by Mrs. McCaughan and his sister, the former Inez McCaughan now Mrs. Shaw, and her husband of Topeka, Kansas.
Dr. Thomas McCaughan was laid to rest in the family plot in Pleasant Hill.

OBITUARY OF EDITH Work McCAUGHAN
Source: Hawarden Independent (2-3-1938)
Born: March 10, 1869 Died: January 25, 1938
MRS. MCCAUGHAN LAID TO REST
The following obituary was taken from a Long Beach, California, paper in the passing of Mrs. Edith L. McCaughan:
After a lingering illness Mrs. Edith McCaughan, wife of Dr. Thomas E. McCaughan, died last night, January 25th, at 8:20 at the family home at 240 Juniper Avenue, Long Beach.
She was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and lived many years in Ireton, Iowa, where Mr. McCaughan practiced medicine for 35 years before coming to Long Beach in 1932. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
Survivors are the widower, four sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, San Diego, California; Mrs. T. H. Allison, Superior, Nebraska; Mrs. Anna Stewart and Miss Bertha Work, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a brother, Ernest Work of New Concord, Ohio.
Dr. Johnston Calhoun officiated the service held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 27th, at the Huddle and Bonwell Funeral Home. The remains of the deceased, accompanied by Dr. Mc Caughan, arrived in Alton at 1:36 A.M. Wednesday. Friends met the train and the body was brought to the Mrs. Marie McCrory home in Ireton. Short burial services were held at the grave at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon with Reverend W. O. Harper in charge and she was laid to rest beside the daughter Cathryn. Many beautiful floral tributes were sent by old friends and neighbors of the deceased. Her brother from Ohio and Dr. McCaughan’s brother from Kansas City came to attend the last services and the last farewell.
The departed had many friends here where so much of her life was spent who will mourn her death and who will express sympathy to the husband. During her life in Ireton, her quiet life, her high standards and purposes, her principles and ideals were respected and admired and the many friends will long cherish memories of her.

The McCaughan’s only child:
OBITUARY of Kathryn McCaughan 1899-1930

Source: Hawarden Independent (2-6-1930)
Born: June 26, 1899
Died: February 8, 1930
BELOVED IRETON GIRL PASSES ON
The whole community was deeply saddened when word spread Monday morning that Kathryn McCaughan had been called to her eternal rest at an early hour of that day. Although many had known of her serious condition, yet this information was confined to relatives and intimate friends. Kathryn had been a patient sufferer and up until the last she was more concerned about those attending and calling on her and constantly put her own condition in the background. Hers was a beautiful life, casting sunshine everywhere. Gifted in many ways, with a character that was not assumed but genuine, which stood out like pure gold, her friends were numbered by her acquaintances. Young and old always found in her a friend with a kindly word and a cheery smile. Although in years of this earth she did not reach or even come near the scriptural three score and ten, yet who can say that what she did accomplish in the time alloted her, with her example of patience and confidence, faith and hope, that harvests of good fruit were not garnered and will yet be brought to the storehouse. The loss to the neighborhood is great, but at this time the sympathies reach out to the parents, who have loved and lost for a little while their only child. Words can hardly convey or express in times like this, so we point them to Him, who is able to keep to the uttermost and who never fails those who put their trust in Him.
Kathryn A. McCaughan, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas E. and Edith (Work) McCaughan, was born in Ireton June 26, 1899, and died at her home February 8, 1930, aged 30 years, 7 months and 8 days. Ireton being her home all her life except during college days and while teaching. She went through the Ireton school, finishing Ireton High with the class of 1917. She attended Monmouth College at Monmouth, Illinois, graduating in 1921. She attended Columbia University in New York City and obtained her Master’s Degree in science in 1923. She taught in Junior College at Garden City, Kansas and later accepted a position in a similar school at Pasadena, California. While there she was taken ill with influenza, complications following from which she never recovered. Some weeks ago a change for the worse set from which she never recovered. Some weeks ago a change for the worse set in and in spite of all the loving hands and the best of care and doctors could do, the end came peacefully.
Funeral services were held in the Methodist Church Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, with Reverend F. L. Kruwell in charge. The church was filled with friends and neighbors who gathered to pay their tribute of respect. The floral offerings were many and beautiful. Burial was in the Ireton Cemetery.

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