V. C. Birney, M.D.
Dr. V. C. Birney, the oldest medical practitioner in Butler county,
dates his residence in Greene from 1872 and since that
time has become established as one of the leading and prominent
physicians and surgeons in this section of the state. He was born in
Ontario, Canada, November 1, 1849, a son of Dr. Lewis and Mary
(Ferris) Birney, the former a native of New York state and the
latter of Canada. The father grew to manhood in his native community
and later moved to Toronto, Ontario, where he studied medicine.
After receiving his degree he moved to the States, locating in Floyd
county, this state, in 1856. He engaged in general practice there
for many 3 years, afterward moving to Nora Springs, where he spent
his declining years, his death occurring about 1908. His wife
survives him and is still hale and hearty at the age of
eighty-eight.
Dr. V. C. Birney came to Iowa with his parents when he was but a
child and he grew to manhood in Floyd county, acquiring his primary
education in the public schools. He supplemented this by two years
at Osage Academy. From his boyhood he had studied medicine under his
father and before he was twenty-one he became thoroughly familiar
with the basic principles of the science. He took his first course
of lectures at Rush Medical College in Chicago but he completed his
studies at Keokuk, receiving his degree of M. D. in 1878. Prior to
receiving his degree he practiced with his father for a short time
and then in March, 1872, located in Greene, where he has since
remained in practice. He is without doubt the oldest physician in
Butler and adjacent counties and his broad and varied experience is
one of his
greatest assets. He has, however, kept in touch with the most
advanced thought of his profession, supplementing his early training
by special courses in medicine and surgery and by constant reading,
research and investigation. He is a prominent surgeon, having
performed many difficult operations most successfully, and his
practice is large and important — the result of forty-one years of
earnest, conscientious and disinterested work. Dr. Birney is a
member of the Butler County, the Austin Flint and the Cedar Valley
Medical Societies and in this way keeps in touch with the most
advanced medical thought. He has remained always a close and earnest
student of his profession and has a fine medical library of which he
makes constant use. He has prepared and presented articles before
the medical societies to which he belongs and is a recognized
authority upon many branches of his profession. In the course of
time he has secured a comfortable fortune and he today controls
valuable property interests in Greene, owning an attractive
residence on the west side of the river and a large business house,
in which he has his office, where he carries a large stock of drugs
and medicines for use in his own practice.
Dr. Birney has been twice married and has two children by his first
wife : Nellie, who married Frank Ellis, of Los Angeles, California,
and Dr. V. C, Jr., who is practicing medicine in Portland, Oregon.
In Mason City, in 1897, Dr. Birney married Miss Ida H. Hartz, who
was born in Wisconsin but reared in Iowa. Dr. and Mrs. Birney have
become the parents of a daughter, Varillas Helen.
Dr. Birney gives his political allegiance to the republican party
and served for six years as county coroner and for a number of years
as pension examiner and member of the board of health. He is active
in Masonic circles, holding membership in the blue lodge at Greene,
the chapter at Clarksville, the commandery at Charles City and the
shrine at Cedar Rapids. He has served through all of the chairs and
is past grand of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, which he represented in the Grand Lodge of Iowa. He is also
a member of the Knights of Pythias. A residence of forty-one years
in Greene has gained for him the respect and confidence of all who
have had professional, social or business relations with him.