William Cyrus McGrath M.D. (1862-1917) Alternate

FORT, MCGRATH, MCLAUGHLIN

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:53

December 26, 1862 --- April 5, 1917

DR. W. C. MCGRATH CLAIMED BY DEATH

Entire City Saddened at Passing of Noted Physician and Surgeon—Practiced Medicine Here 26 years.

Last week when we were called upon to tell our readers of the critical illness of Dr. W. C. McGrath, we did not realize that he was in such a serious condition and that his earthly career was soon to end. Dr. McGrath was sick but a very few days, but pneumonia worked quickly with him. He was taken to his own hospital on Friday morning, March 30th, and passed to his home above on the evening of Thursday, April 5th.

On Thursday morning his friends, and they were by the hundreds, were told that he was passing thru a crisis. From about ten o’clock in the morning he commenced growing steadily weaker and in the evening his spirit returned to its Master.

Reverend Charles Elmer Chapler was called from Rockwell City to conduct the funeral Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of the Doctor, on West Broadway. The pall bearers were Dr. Peppers and Dr. Cunningham of Goldfield, Dr. Tompkins, Dr. Sams and Dr. E. E. Best of Clarion, and Dr. O’Toole of Eagle Grove. The choir was composed of Mrs. Peterson, Miss Platt, Mr. Baker and Mr. Duer. Interment was made in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Was Friend to Everybody.

It can truly be said of Dr. William C. McGrath that he was a friend to everybody. Whenever he was called to the bedside of the sick and the needy, he went in the capacity of not only a physician and surgeon, but as a friend as well. For twenty-six years he has been a practicing physician in this city. In many of the homes there has never been another doctor.

In speaking of Doctor McGrath, Reverend Chapler chose his text from the 10th Chapter of Mark, verses 43 to 46.

“But so shall it not be among you:
But whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
“And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

And so it was with Doctor McGrath. He ministered among his people with a tireless energy that will never be forgotten. He was always bright and cheerful and had a pleasant greeting for all. One of his best characteristics was his sympathetic nature—he was never too tired to sympathize with his patients and to cheer them up: his place can never be filled.

The Masons had charge of the service at the grave and it was a very impressive one, H.W. Barnes speaking words of deep sympathy and honor to the memory of the departed.

Obituary next Week

Dr. W. C. McGrath was a man who seldom talked about himself or his deeds. Therefore, we will have to ask our readers to wait until next week for a complete obituary of his life. His brothers, J. W. of this city, and M. H. of Chicago, are going over their brother's effects and will, if possible, present a complete sketch of his life next week.

Below we give the briefest of facts of his life.

Dr. William C. McGrath was born in White Side County, Illinois, December 26, 1862 and died in Eagle Grove, Iowa, April 5th, 1917. He was married to Miss Blanche M. Fort, July 1, 1896. To this union one son, Robert McGrath, now 14 years of age, was born. He leaves beside his wife and son to mourn his untimely death, one sister, Mrs. Thos. McLaughlin of Clinton, Iowa and three brothers, James F. McGrath and Martin H. McGrath of Chicago, Ill. and J. W. McGrath of Eagle Grove, Iowa., The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community. We all feel the loss of a “good friend,” and there is an aching void that can not be filled.

Dr. McGrath was graduated from the Chicago Medical college on April 28, 1891, and came to Eagle Grove where he registered and started to practice the same year. The Eagle Grove Hospital was completed October 7, 1908. He was railway surgeon for the North Western railroad and was Vice President of the American Association of Railway Surgeons. Dr. McGrath attended nearly all of the National, State, and County Medical conventions and kept progress with the advances made, spending a few weeks each year in study and research work.

Times Gazette --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
April 11, 1917

DR. MCGRATH PNEUMONIA VICTIM

Prominent Physician Summoned After An Illness of Just a Week’s Duration.

Dr. W. C. McGrath died at the Eagle Grove hospital last Week Thursday evening between 7 and 7:30 o’clock. He was stricken down with a severe attack of pneumonia last Friday. When he did not improve Dr. Bierring of Des Moines was called and everything known to medical science was done to relieve his sufferings and arrest the progress of this disease but without success. Dr. Bierring made a second trip and Dr. Bowen of Fort Dodge was also called in consultation. Hopes for his recovery were entertained Wednesday afternoon and evening when the pneumonia left one lung and the fever subsided. He rested well Wednesday night but had a relapse Thursday morning and was near death’s door all Thursday forenoon. In the afternoon he brightened up again and there seemed to be grounds for continued hopes for recovery but later his heart began to fail and the end was inevitable.

Obituary

William C. McGrath was born in Whiteside County, Illinois, December 26th, 1862 and died in Eagle Grove, Iowa April 5th, 1917. He was married to Blanche M. Fort, July 1st, 1896. To this union was born one son Robert, now 14 years of age. He is survived by his wife, his son, three brothers and one sister. The brothers are J. W. McGrath of Eagle Grove, Iowa, James F. McGrath and Martin H. McGrath of Chicago. The sister, Mrs. Thos. H. McLaughlin of Clinton, Iowa. All present at the funeral which was held at the home on West Broadway Sunday afternoon. It was one of the largest attended funerals ever held here, practically the entire city turning out en masse to pay their final respects and tribute to a fellow citizen and mutual friend. Rev. Chapler of Rockwell City preached the funeral sermon and Rev. Acheson assisted in the service. The Masonic funeral service was given at the grave.

Everyone feels in the death of Dr. McGrath that he has lost a personal friend. Not only will his loss be a severe one in the many families where he has ministered in the past twenty years, but everywhere, in every activity for the improvement and betterment of the city. He was ever alert on matters pertaining to public health. Always striving to make the city more healthful, cleaner and more sanitary. With Dr. Morse he built our first hospital which was a source of pride and comfort to our citizens.

In his professional work Dr. McGrath was more than a mere physician, he was a friend in the true interpretation of that term. Hardly a week passed that he not only gave his time and energy freely to some poor family with no hope of remuneration, but along with this service went groceries, coal and clothing, whatever the family needed. All done quietly and very seldom the family receiving them knew who sent them.

In his profession the doctor kept abreast of the times. Never a year went by that he did not go away for a few weeks course of lectures or attend clinics in some city hospital. Two years ago he spent several weeks in Boston. He was planning to go again this summer had not the war interfered. When the war with Germany seemed assured he offered his services to the government which were quickly accepted and he was assigned to a base hospital.

In Dr. McGrath’s death the community, state and nation’s loss is real genuine. His years of study, rich experience gained by 25 years of practice cannot be replaced. Some of his research work he leaves behind him his ability to do, to perform, to accomplish, to minister, to heal. His loss is irreparable and his fellow citizens mourn.

Note: —A complete history of the doctor’s life was not obtainable this week and will appear in a subsequent issue.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
April 12, 1917

Tribute to Dr. W. C. McGrath

The following tribute to the memory of the late Dr. William C. McGrath was prepared by one of his intimate friends as a testimonial to his life work among us.

Dr. William C. McGrath was born on a farm near Morrison, Illinois, December 26th, 1862. He attended the country school near his home and after the death of his mother in the fall of 1881 the family moved to Morrison where he attended the Morrison high school. Later he attended the Northern Illinois College at Dixon, Illinois, and the spring of 1884 he came with his brother J. W. McGrath to Iowa, where he spent the next two years on a farm near Rock Valley, Sioux County, and in the spring of 1887 came to Eagle Grove where he resided until the time of his death.

Soon after coming to Eagle Grove he became interested in the study of medicine and entered the office of Dr. C. H. Morse as a medical student. In the winter of 1888 he attended the medical department of the Iowa State University at Iowa City. In the fall of 1889 he went to Chicago and took up the study of medicine in the Chicago Medical College from which institution he graduated in 1891. Returning to Eagle Grove he became associated with Dr. Morse in the practice of medicine under the firm name of Morse & McGrath and took up the active practice of his profession. This partnership continued for four years.

He was a close student and a tireless worker. He believed that the practice of medicine was a progressive calling and that any man who would be of the largest service to his patients must keep in touch with the latest discoveries in the science of medicine, and aside from reading the best medical journals published he completed the following post-graduate courses:

In the Chicago Polyclinic July 2d, 1900 a course in Ophthalmology, Neurology and Clinical Optics in 1905, and a course in the New York Post-Graduate Medical school in 1907. In 1914 he completed an X-Ray course at Minneapolis, and the following year a course in the Massachusetts General Hospital at Boston. It had long been his intention to continue the study of medicine in the universities of Germany.

He also took an active interest in the various organizations of his profession and in their deliberations he was an earnest student as well as an excellent teacher, his papers read before these bodies have been published and when published always attracted attention because of their advanced views and courageous devotion to conviction. A clear and logical thinker he brought to his work not only the best results of the experience of others but the results of his own reason and research. Add to these qualities an intense love of humanity, an ever increasing desire to relieve suffering and a high appreciation of the value of human life, coupled with an unfailing cheerfulness of manner and a depth of sympathy for those in sadness or suffering and you have the secret not only of his success as a physician but also the secret of his personal popularity.

It is indeed a happy combination that enables a man to be a success in his chosen calling, whatever it may be and at the same time to transform those who employ him into personal friends, and this ability he enjoyed in a remarkable degree.

He was public spirited and always interested in whatever would help to upbuild his home town and state. He served without stint the community in which he lived. He was health officer of Eagle Grove for a number of years, and as the town grew he realized the necessity of a hospital here, and realizing it he took active steps to make it a reality, and in connection with his old friend, Dr. Morse he labored to bring it about with the result that the hospital was completed in 1908.

In his moments of relaxation he was a boy in his love of all that was beautiful and good, and his hearty laughter was as contagious as was his devotion to his work, to his family and his friends. Flowers, birds, music, beauty in nature and art, these all rested and cheered him.

On July 1st, 1896, he was married to Miss Blanch M. Fort and the following year built the home on West Broadway where he resided at the time of his death. When not other wise engaged he liked to work about his home and many incidents are told of his skill in doing things about the home that added to it's beauty or to it's comfort, and then when evening came he delighted to sit with his wife and little son and visit with them in that rare companionship that they enjoyed, the product of similar tastes and aspirations, a unity of life and purpose and a love that was as tender as it was abiding.

No one knew better than he the value of life and character in accordance with his own high ideals of life and conduct. If it be true indeed "that kind words can never die", then in the lives of hundreds to whom he ministered in his twenty-six years of active practice, his words of kind ness and cheer in the dark hours of pain and suffering will linger in memory even when his skill as a physician is forgotten.

The final chapter of his life story is written. To it nothing can be added. From it nothing can be taken. As husband, father, brother, citizen and friend his place cannot be filled. His contribution to the day and generation in which he lived has been made. His heart held no ill will toward any man, and the cause of human fellowship and brotherhood has been advanced because he lived. His legacy to those who are still charged with the responsibility of life is the priceless heritage of his example of cheerfulness, unselfishness and abiding faith.

He died on April 5th, 1917, after the very best of medical skill and nursing; and on the following Sunday afternoon, a proof of the grip he had on the community was given by the procession of crowded automobiles, one mile in length, who escorted the remains to the cemetery, amidst a floral decoration rarely seen, and placed in his final resting place.

An evidence of his love of the beautiful and his thoughts on things spiritual was given a short while previous to his death; when, while caring for some plants in their yard, his little son came to him and said, "Papa, do you believe the streets of Heaven are paved with gold? Where does God get the gold?" "Why sure, son", says the doctor, "Don't you suppose a God who created the foliage of these trees, the beautiful plants and grass could create gold also for the streets of Heaven? Why, he could pave them with diamonds if he desired it. "

As we consider his early life, his struggle for entrance in his profession, his overcoming of all environments, and his wonderful service to humanity, as testified to by scores of patients in this community, we believe but very few were better prepared to receive the summons.

"Servant of God, well done!
Thy glorious warfare's past,
The battle's fought, the race is won
And thou are crowned at last.”

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
May 17, 1917