Dr. Robert Eliel Chaffin (1859-1919)

CHAFFIN, CURTIS, BARNES

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/17/2010 at 11:02:06

From Nevada Represetative May 5, 1919

DEATH TAKES DR. CHAFFIN
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PROMINENT NEVADA PHYSICIAN SUCCUMBS AT IOWA SANITARIUM FOLLOWING OPERATION
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Dr. R. E. Chaffin died Saturday afternoon at 1:05 at the Iowa Sanitarium in this city. Death was primarily caused by a abcess or ulcers of the stomach for which he submitted to an operation at the Sanitarium a week ago Friday. From the time of the operation it was evident that he was not making the progress that was desired and on Friday afternoon or evening it became apparent that there was small chance of saving his life. His heart action and vitality were not strong enough to withstand the effects of the operation and he passed away on Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Chaffin's illness and death came as a shock to the community for there were few who realized that his condition was in the least serious. A week ago Thursday he suffered a hemorrhage and went at once to the Sanitarium for an x-ray examination. This examination showed that the only hope for relief and to save his life would be an operation and this was performed last Monday. The doctor has undoubtedly been suffering and in ill health for some time but his disposition was such that he went about his work without complaining and during the flu epidemic las winter worked unceasingly to relieve the suffering of others when it is now a certainty that he was in the poorest of health himself.

Dr. Chaffin with his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Chaffin came to Nevada in August of 1918 from Stanberry, Mo., buying out the practice of Dr. Bush Houston who enlisted in the army medical corps. They maintained offices in the Alderman building and have enjoyed a very extensive and successful paractice while in while in the city both he and his wife being recognized as very capable physicians. He is survived by his widow, two sons, Stuart Chaffin of St. Joseph, Mo. and Robert of this city and one daughter Minnie Chaffin of Alaska. No definite arrangements have been made for the funeral other than that burial will be made at the old family home at Avalon, Mo. The family is now waiting for information as to the condition of the roads as it will be necessary to make a cross country drive from Chillicothe to Avalon.

OBITUARY

Robert Eliel Chaffin was born at Sparta, Indiana, November 6, 1859, a son of Elias Chaffin of Virginia and Nancy Todd-Chaffin of County Autrim, Ireland. Spending his early years on a farm in Indiana he assisted his widowed mother for a number of years. Later he took up teaching as a vocation and taught school in Indiana and Ohio. He worked his way through the Miami Medical college, which is now the medical department of the state university of Indiana and later enter the practice of medicine.

He was united in marriage to Mamie Curtis at Aurora, Indiana on July 9, 1884. To this union were born Joseph Stewart Chaffin of St. Joseph, Mo., Miss Minna C. Chaffin, now a nurse and located at Ketchikan, Alaska and Robert Nelson Chaffin of Nevada.

The wife and mother of his children died on July 18, 1906 and two years later, on June 3, 1908 he was again married, this time to Dr. Elizabeth Barnes of Livingston, Mont. She had been a friend of the family for many years.

Following the death of the first wife he moved his family to Belton, Mo., where he practiced for a time. Following his second marriage the family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, for the benefit of his health. Later they returned to Missouri and located at Stansberry, where they resided for six years. For some time he had had Iowa in mind and a possible home for his later years and it was with a great deal of pleasant anticipation that he and Dr. Elizabeth Chaffin located here in August of 1918, after having purchased the practice of Dr. Bush Houston who was leaving for army service.

He was a member of Masonic Lodge, I. O. O. F., M. W. A. and Baptist church. Funeral under auspices of Masonic Lodge.