Reuben H. FIELDS, MD

FIELDS, CUTMAN, FARNHAM

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/16/2013 at 17:22:53

DR. REUBEN H. FIELDS, physician and surgeon practicing at Gardiner, a large measure of success indicating public confidence in his ability, was born near McVeytown, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of June, 1873, his parents being William M. and Xancy (Cutman) Fields, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state and of Scotch descent. The father was one of the prominent farmers of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, where he died in early manhood, passing away on the 5th of June, 1873, prior to the birth of Dr. Fields. At the time of the Civil war he became a member of the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry and served under Kilpatrick and later under Stoneman. He was captured while at the front and sent to Libby prison where he was confined for four months which contributed largely to the cause of his early death. His wife long survived him, passing away in 1903, at the age of fifty-eight years.

Dr. Fields was reared in his mother's home and acquired his early education in Pennsylvania in the Soldiers Orphan School, at Loysville and in the public schools. Later he attended the Brothers Normal College, now Juniata College, at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, and after leaving that institution at the age of eighteen years, he taught one term of school in his native county. The following year he went west to Iowa where he was employed for some time at farm labor. In the fall of 1893 he returned to Pennsylvania and the following year took up the study of medicine, entering the Atlantic Medical College in Baltimore, Maryland, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. Following his graduation he went directly west to Rudd, Floyd county, Iowa, where he engaged in practice for four years. He also spent three years in professional work in Clarion, Iowa, and in the spring of 1905 came to Oregon. He spent some time in looking over the state in search of a suitable location and at length determined on Gardiner, here opening an office. In the intervening period of seven years he has built up a large and remunerative practice and is now accounted one of the foremost physicians of this part of the state. On the 1st of June, 1912, he became associated with Dr. Frank S. Pratt, formerly of Stevenson, Washington, and they are now fitting up a modern private hospital in connection with their office, which will accommodate ten patients. They are progressive physicians, thoroughly in touch with the advanced methods of the medical science, and their work is proving highly satisfactory in checking the ravages of disease.

Dr. Fields was married, in 1897, in Rockford, Iowa, to Miss Mae Farnham, a daughter of John Wesley Farnham, a prominent farmer of Iowa, and unto this union have been born two children, Nancy Ruth and Richard Henry. Dr. Fields belongs to Aurora Lodge, No. 59, F. & A. M., of which he is now serving as master. He also holds membership with Gardiner Lodge, No. 132, I. O. 0. F., and with the Modern Woodmen camp. Both he and his wife are members of Martha Chapter, 0. E. S., and of Riverside Lodge, No. 100, Daughters of Rebekah. Their religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and to its teachings they are loyal. In politics Dr. Fields is independent, with republican tendencies. His professional relations are with the Southern Oregon Medical Association, the Oregon State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and he is justly accounted one of the progressive and successful practitioners of Douglas county, where he has again and again given demonstration of his ability to cope with the intricate professional problems and check the ravages of disease

The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912, Volume 4, by Joseph Gaston, George H. Himes, 1912.