Davis, Charles W.

DAVIS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/5/2021 at 12:19:23

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.590

DAVIS, CHARLES W., A. M., M. D.; Indianola, one of Warren county's honored citizens, and the oldest medical practitioner in the city; was born in Ohio in 1828; his father, Ephraim P. Davis, was a descendant of an old Welsh family, and died in Indianola on the 31st of August, 1867; the maiden name of his mother was Nancy Cottingham; the family removed to Lafayette, Indiana, when the subject of this sketch was twelve years old; he was educated at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind., and graduated in 1848; he turned his attention to medicine, and read with Dr. E. Deming, of LaPorte, Ind., and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1853; after practicing three years at Lebanon and Carlisle, Indiana, he came to Indianola in the spring of 1856, and has been here in constant practice, excepting when absent in his country's service; in 1862 he was commissioned surgeon of the 34th Iowa Infantry, and in 1864 was promoted to Surgeon of U. S. Volunteers, serving in the latter capacity until the close of the war; prior to going in the service he was examining surgeon for volunteers, and after its close was offered the position of United States examiner for pensions, but declined; while Dr. Davis' specialty is surgery, the business in Warren county is limited, and he does a general practice, standing at the head of his profession; he is a member of the Warren County Medical Society, the State Medical Association, and of the American Medical Association; he has represented the State in the National Association, and has read papers before them; he is a good writer in medical science, and has contributed several valuable papers to the western periodicals in the interest of his profession; he has pursued his chosen calling with untiring zeal, and with a success which has earned for him an enviable reputation; in his medical relations he has built up his own reputation by skill and energy, and has acquired an extensive practice; the Dr. is well known in every township, and the respect shown him is as wide as his acquaintance; he is kind to the poor, and has ridden hundreds of miles to administer to their necessities without expectation of pecuniary compensation; his intellect is quick and incisive as well as comprehensive, and possessing a wide range of experience, and fine conversational powers, is a most excellent social companion; he married Miss Sallie A. Pursel, of Greencastle, Ind., October 19, 1834; they have one son: William C. Davis, who is a practicing physician, and associated with his father.