Dr Robert Emmett Conniff

CONNIFF SCHLAWIG

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 21:53:11

Woodbury County History 1984

Dr Robert Emmett Conniff
By Eleanor Louise Lang Darrell

Dr Conniff was born April 20, 1858 in Houston County, Minnesota (see Thomas Hubert Conniff). He received his elementary education there, quite possibly at the hands of his older brother, William, who was the first teacher in the first schoolhouse to neighboring Caledonia. His name denotes his rich Irish heritage, for he was named after the Irish patriot.

At the age of eleven, he and his family moved to a farm just outside Sioux City, Iowa, and Sioux City thus became home. Theirs was a close-knit family, and kinship was something he carried throughout his life. He was taught to work, to serve and to respect his fellowman-values nevr forgotten by him. One earned what one received, and he diligently did his farm chores and kept up with his studies to achieve his one goal, a Doctor of Medicine degree. He graduated fromt The University of Iowa Medical School in 1884 and returned to Sioux City to practice medicine. Little did he realize this was but a step in his career.

Dr Conniff was both a medical and surgical practitioner. House calls were made by carriage. If a house call was required in the country, he often spent the night-two nighs or so, if necessary, until the patient recovered sufficiently. The welfare of a single patient, or a community, was his objective. Throughout his career this was paramount. He was the greatest advocate of health measures speaking to churches and any gathering on precautionary measures to be taken during days of endangering epidemics. He became an expert on the dreaded tuberculosis. Due to this, he was later made President of the National Anti-Tuberculosis League.

He wed Christina Schlawig (see John Jacob Schlawig) September 21, 1886. They had two children, a son dying shortly after the birth, and Anna Marie, who was his great joy. Both Dr Conniff and his wife were civic-minded people ever mindful that there were tasks to be done. Hopefully, their city would become a better place for their having been here. Neither was to be disappointed.

Dr Conniff continually endeavored to improve his knowledge, medical courses at New York City University, two trips to Europe with one summer spent at the University of Edinburgh. He was affilated with The Samaritan Hospital, The Lutheran Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital and St Joseph’s Hospital in Sioux City. He served as President of The Sioux City Board of Education form 1891 to 1893. Due to his efforts, Sioux City High School (now called Central High) was erected to accommodate the growing population. This building is now on The National Register of Historic Places. He was Shriner, a Consistory Mason, and a Knights Templar. For twenty-eight years he gave of himself as Elder and Trustee of The First Presbyterian Church.

He was honored by his professional peers by being elected President of The Iowa Medical Society and presided at the 50th annual meeting. He was also a member of The Iowa State Board of Health for eighteen years, during part of which time he served as president. He was a member of The American Public Health Association. During World War I, he volunteered his services and was a member of The Expert Examining Board at Camp Logan, Texas.

Dr Conniff was highly respected citizen of his day. He was much admired for his wit, his wisdom, his gentleness and his gentlemanlines. He had time for all who ished to see him, no reason was too small. He had a keen intellect and gracious manner. He was a family man. Life centered around his wife and daughter, and they were included in all his plans. He was proud of his Irish lineage. To quote from a newspaper of his day:

‘When God Almighty set the stamp of nationality upon him, the task was accomplished with such Divine perfection that no Judge of human nature could be mistaken as to his origin. If you met Dr Conniff in Greenland or Nova Zembla, your first impulse would be to ask him the latest news from Connemara.”

The Sioux City Public Museum has papers and memorabilia of this gentle generous man who left us all to soon at the age of sixty-three.