Dean, William F.

DEAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 14:26:36

WILLIAM FRANK DEAN
born Apr 3, 1861, Iowa

William Frank Dean, M.D., one of New Virginia's progressive citizens and skilled physicians, was born in Appanoose county, Iowa, April 3, 1861, and is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the State. His grandparents located here in Territorial days. They were Levin and Missouri Ann (Evans) Dean. The grandfather was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and when nineteen years of age, left the old homestead in that State for Missouri. He had been reared to farm life, and now carries on agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood. At his new home he was united in marriage with Miss Evans, and they became the parents of seven children: three sons and four daughters. In the spring of 1846 they came to Iowa, locating in Appanoose county, the grandfather entering land in Udell township. He had to go for his mail to Bentonsport Mill, and later to Ottumwa, Iowa. All around was an unbroken prairie, awaiting the hand of civilization to transform it into rich farms. Mr. Dean bore his part in the work of improvement and development and was very prominent in public affairs. In politics he was an old line Whig, but subsequently became a Republican and held many local offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. His death occurred in August, 1877, and he was laid to rest in the cemetery at Unionville, Iowa. His widow still survives him and is now living in Moravia, at the age of eighty years, being in the possession of all her mental faculties. George W. Dean, father of our subject, was the eldest in their family of seven children, and was born in Missouri, May 30, 1838. When only eight years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, and has since been identified with the history of this State. When he had arrived at years of maturity he married Margaret C Baldridge, who was born near Nashville, Tennessee, August 14, 1842. She is the daughter of W. C. Baldridge, who came to Iowa in 1854 locating in Appanoose county. He married a Miss Miller, also a native of Tennessee, and his father and her father were both soldiers of the war of 1812. Mrs. Miller died in Unionville, Iowa in 1888, at the age of eighty-eight years. All the family have been identified with the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Dean became the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom seven are yet living: William Frank, who is the eldest of the family; Maggie, wife of C. Campbell, of Hastings, Nebraska; Ella, wife of J. B. Smith, of Unionville, Iowa; Arletta, wife of H. E. Morrison, a merchant of Unionville; Earl and Emil at home; and Ralph L., who died at the age of eight years, in Unionville Iowa. In politics the father takes quite an active part and is a stalwart Republican, unswerving in his support of the principles of the party. He and the newly elected Governor of Iowa, General Drake, have been lifelong friends, and Mr. Dean was an earnest worker in the General's interest during the campaign that has recently ended. During the civil war he joined the service as a member of Company C, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and Mr. Drake was Colonel of the regiment, and afterward he served under him when he had attained the rank of General. He was wounded by a minie ball in the thigh at Mark's Mills and was discharged at Little Rock Arkansas. He has always been a loyal citizen, whether in times of peace or times of war, and by all who know him George W. Dean is held in high regard. The Doctor was reared on his father's farm at Unionville, Iowa and began his education in a private house, his first teacher being Mrs. Miller, of Unionville. He afterward pursued his studies in a log school house 10 x 20 feet. When he had completed the common branches of learning he attended and was graduated at the high school of Unionville and took a four-years normal course, which he completed with the class of 1879. He next secured a pharmacist's certificate in 1887 at Lincoln, Nebraska. Dr Dean then engaged in the drug business establishing a store in Exeter, Fillmore county, Nebraska, where he remained for seven years, but desiring to devote his energies to the practice of medicine he entered the Medical College at Keokuk, where he completed the prescribed course with the class of 1890. In the winter of 1891- 2, he attended the Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, and in 1893 the institution known as the Nashville University. In 1894 he began practice in New Virginia and has now built up a good business here. On the 30th of July, 1884, the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Rachel S, Smith, a daughter of Paris and N. J. (Jones) Smith. She is a native of Davis county, Iowa and her grandparents were numbered among the pioneers of Iowa, who located here in pioneer days. The Doctor and his wife have many warm friends and he occupies an enviable position in professional circles. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.313