Surber, Levi H.

SURBER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 17:56:02

LEVI H. SURBER
born Aug 19, 1849, VA

LEVI H SURBER, M. D., a well known practicing physician of Indianola, Iowa, was born in Washington county, Virginia, August 19, 1849, and by his parents was brought to Warren county in 1852. He is therefore numbered among its pioneer settlers. His father. Isaac S. Surber, was born in the same county in January, 1819, and was there married to Miss Margaret J. Mountain, a native of Washington county, born in April, 1818. Their family consisted of four sons and four daughters, and three of the latter are now deceased, two having died in infancy, while Mary Jane became the wife of Mr. Carter, and died in November, 1874, near Atlantic, Iowa. Erastus, the eldest, now follows farming near Cherryvale, Kansas; Jesse C., is a farmer of Warren county, Iowa; Isaac L. carries on agricultural pursuits at Somerset, Iowa; Ruth is the wife of Joseph Copeland, a farmer of Madison, Nebraska; Erastus and Jesse C. both served for three years in the Union army during the late war, the former a member of Company I, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, and the latter of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry. The history of frontier life in Warren county is familiar to Dr. Surber. He was reared to manhood upon his father's farm and acquired his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. Not desiring, however, to make agricultural pursuits his life work, he determined to enter the medical profession, and in 1875 became a student in Simpson Centenary College, of Indianola, pursuing a scientific course of two years. He then entered the office of Dr. C. W. Davis, under whose direction he pursued his medical studies for two years, when, in 1875, he became a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1877. In December of the same year he entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Cool, Iowa, where he remained until March, 1892, - the date of his arrival in Indianola. The Doctor is well and favorably known throughout Warren county, and is recognized as a very successful physician and surgeon.
On the 17th of October, 1878, at Cool, Iowa, Dr. Surber was united in marriage with Miss Frank H. Young, who was born in Iowa, and is a daughter of David and Margaret A. Young, early settlers of Warren county. One child graces this union, Nellie M., who was born August 16, 1879, and is now attending the city schools of Indianola. The parents are worthy and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his political affiliations the Doctor is a staunch Republican, and is now serving as a member of the Indianola City Council. He has also served as County Physician for the poor. He is prominently identified with several social orders, being a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the lodge and the encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the Warren County Medical Society, and to the Iowa State Medical Association, and has excellent success in his professional work, building up a fine practice in Indianola and vicinity. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.503