Joseph E. Colby, D. D. S.
COLBY, CHARLESON, GROENING, EIEL
Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/16/2010 at 07:55:10
JOSEPH E. COLBY, D. D. S.
Dr. Joseph E. Colby, of Lake Mills, occupies an enviable position as a dentist, for his ability is recognized by both his professional brethren and the general public, and his practice is large and extensive. He also owns valuable farm property, from which he derives a gratifying addition to his income. His birth occurred in Primrose, Wisconsin, April 21, 1869, and he is a son of Eli and Helen (Charleson) Colby, who in early manhood and womanhood removed from Norway to America. After following the lather's trade in Chicago for two years the father removed with his family to Primrose, Wisconsin, and purchased land in Primrose township, Dane county. He took up his residence upon that place, which he improved as rapidly as possible and to the operation of which he devoted the remainder of his life, passing away March 14, 1888. His widow subsequently married Hans Groening, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and they now reside in Lake Mills, Iowa.
Joseph E. Colby grew to manhood upon the home farm in Wisconsin and as a boy attended the public schools. When twenty-four years of age he took up the study of dentistry under the supervision of a local dentist and subsequently entered the Keokuk Dental College at Keokuk, Iowa, where he completed the required course. In the spring of 1898 lie came to Iowa and after successfully passing the state board examination, located for practice at Lake Mills, where he has since remained with the exception of nine months spent in Forest City. He did the first piece of bridge work in Winnebago county and throughout the years has kept up with the advanced thought that has been made in dental theory and practice. The gratifying success which he has gained is the direct result of his efficiency and his extreme cleanliness in his work, and his patients come not only from the city but also from the entire county. He has invested in farm land and now owns one hundred and sixty acres in Winnebago county and eighty acres in Worth county, all of which is well improved. He takes a great deal of interest in the management of his farms and has found his investment highly profitable.
He was the first to raise sweet corn for ensilage and put it in the silo, his being the first silo built in this section. Upon investigation he found that sweet corn stalks if left three weeks after the ears were snapped and then put in ensilage, made much better fodder than yellow corn with the ears left on. He arrived at this conclusion through scientific research and was the first one to fill silos with sweet corn stalks. The corn was raised for canning and the farmers considered the stalks worth nothing save that the fields were a good place in which to allow stock to run after the corn was picked. By analysis Dr. Colby found that by leaving the stalks standing for two or three weeks after the corn was picked they became matured and contained much more sugar and fattening substances. Until Dr. Colby had made this discovery, the farmers turned their stock into the fields to pick their living and over half of the value of the stalks was wasted. Dr. Colby, today devotes two hundred acres or more each year to the production of sweet corn and then uses the stalks as indicated, thus conserving every particle of the crop.
Dr. Colby was married on the 24th of March, 1898, to Miss Millie Eiel, a daughter of John and Olina Eiel, natives of Norway but pioneers of Winnebago county, Iowa. The father is now living retired with Dr. and Mrs. Colby after many years devoted to agricultural pursuits. The mother died January 1, 1915. Mrs. Colby was graduated from Palmer's Business College at Cedar Rapids and subsequently studied for one year at Ames College. She began teaching when but sixteen years of age and successfully taught for eight years prior to her marriage. To Dr. and Mrs. Colby have been born five children: John W. and Eli F., who are attending college at Annapolis, Maryland; and Joseph M., Olina S. and Hubert E., who are students in the Lake Mills Schools.
Dr. Colby exercises his right of franchise in support of the candidates and measures of the republican party and has always taken an interest in matters affecting the public welfare, although not an office seeker. He belongs to the Lutheran church and fraternally is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Mystic Workers. In his professional capacity and as a farmer he has made valuable contribution to business interests in this section. Scientific research has promoted his efficiency in each connection and he not only keeps abreast with the trend of modern thought and investigation but has also been a leader in advanced methods.
Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 422-427.
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