Telegraphy School in Mount Zion

CRESAP

Posted By: Andy Reddick (email)
Date: 5/24/2011 at 06:58:42

While people have often written about early schools in Van Buren County and in Iowa, sometimes even prior to statehood, I am constantly amazed at some of the references that suddenly appear. For example, I found a fascinating tidbit of information in an unlikely place that I will no doubt investigate further.

Dr. Roger Nelson Cresap, grandson of Dr. Roger Cresap who was one of the early pioneers of the county in 1835, "entered a school of telegraphy at Mt. Zion, Iowa" in the 1880s.

After completing his courses, he was employed as a telegraph operator for five years. After his studies at Mt. Zion, it seems as though he went to Kansas City and became a certified employee of Western Union and worked there. While employed by the telegraph company, he became interested in the study of medicine and eventually enrolled at Kansas City Medical College where he graduated in the class of 1885.

This information was found in Sharon's Forum under the heading All Things Cresap, and refers to the Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1896.

Dr. Cresap's grandfather Roger had graduated from Louisville Medical College in Kentucky and was born in Allegheny County, Maryland where the Cresap family had strong roots. Ancestors had been involved in a border dispute known as "Cresap's War" in the 1730s, involving Maryland and Pennsylvania. Chief Black Hawk had been treated by the pioneer doctor Cresap on several occasions.

If anyone has information on the telegraphy school in Mt. Zion that Roger Cresap attended, I'd like to hear from you and welcome what you can offer in the way of correspondence.

See Bio Reference Above Also at this Site
 

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