Dr. Robert P. Plimpton, M. D.
Dr. Robert P. Plimpton, of Denison, has attained marked success in the practice of his profession in the city of his birth and is recognized as one of the leading homeopathic physicians in this section of the state.
He was born July 13, 1871, a son of Edward S. and Salina J. (Bond) Plimpton, both natives of Massachusetts. Silas W. Plimpton, the paternal grandfather, was three times married and by his first wife had four children, namely: Maria, the wife of a Mr. Peabody; Edward S.; Albert; and Silas Jr. He died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. The maternal grandfather was Albert Bond, also a native of Massachusetts, and by trade a mason. He lived to be about seventy years old.
Edward S. Plimpton, the father of our subject, received his early education at Providence, Rhode Island, his parents having moved there when he was a child. At the age of sixteen he entered a bank at Providence, in which he worked for five years. In 1857 he came to Denison, Iowa, which he made his home until 1900, when he removed to Salida, Colorado. He was in the mercantile business in Denison and continued in the same line at Salida. Here he took an active part in politics and was elected city treasurer, serving in that office for several years. He was also a member of the school board and has filled a similar position in Salida. The mother of our subject passed away in March, 1909, at the age of seventy-one years, and in 1910 Mr. Plimpton was married to Miss Lucy Tucker.
There were seven children in the family of Edward S. and Salina J. Plimpton, namely: Caroline, now the wife of Rev. E. T. Fegtly, of Des Moines, Iowa; Edward, Jr., of Salida, Colorado; Lilian, the wife of Rev. H. S. Black, of Portland, Oregon; William, of Glenwood, Iowa; Robert P., the subject of this review; George who died in infancy; and Elfreda, the wife of A. H. Fisher, of Long Beach, California.
Robert P. Plimpton received his preliminary education in the public schools of Denison and later graduated from the high school. He then entered Des Moines College, graduating in 1896 with the degree of A. B. Having decided upon a professional career he became a student in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and in 1900 was graduated with the degree of M. D. He began practice at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, but in the fall of 1901 came to Denison and bought out Dr. Bolles. He has since continued in this city, where he has made for himself a creditable name and gained a goodly measure of financial success.
On the 10th of December, 1902, Dr. Plimpton was united in marriage to Miss Etta F. Walker, who was born in Bloomington, Illinois, and is also a graduate of the Des Moines College, being a member of the class of 1897. She is also a post-graduate of the University of Chicago of 1898, and previous to her marriage successfully engaged in teaching school in this county for four years.
Her parents, Henry C., and Sophia (Darrow) Walker, were both natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they removed to Bloomington, Illinois, and in 1880 came to Iowa, locating on a farm near Atlantic in Cass county. In 1890 they removed to Des Moines but are now living at Boulder, Colorado. Mrs. Plimpton is their only child.
Her paternal grandfather was John Wallace Walker, who married Mary (House) Foster and lived at New Milford, Pennsylvania. He was a teacher during the greater part of his life and died at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife lived to the advanced age of eightynine years and eleven months. In their family were seven children, namely: Catharine, Henry C., Byron F., Harriet, Emma, William and Ella.
Mrs. Plimpton is entitled to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution as she traces her ancestry back to Nathan Darrow, who fought for the independence of the colonies. He was the youngest of four brothers but the others were all forced into the British service and died at sea. He married Anna Perkins, whose father and his two brothers were taken prisoners during the war and the two brothers were later killed in the battle of Fort Griswold.
Gurdon Darrow, the son of Nathan, was born at Groton, Connecticut, and married Sally Moxley. In early life he left his old home in the Nutmeg state and traveled on foot to Pennsylvania, locating at Harford, Susquehenna county, where he built a log cabin and developed a farm. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. His son, Austin Darrow, has spent his entire life on the old homestead at Harford. By trade he is a carpenter and he followed that occupation for some time but later turned his attention to farming. He married Sarah Evans and they are the parents of Mrs. Sophia Walker, the mother of Mrs. Plimpton. He was one of the founders of the Odd Fellows lodge at Harford and is a member of the Baptist church, to which the Darrow family have always belonged.
Dr. Plimpton and his wife are both identified with the Baptist church and he is a member of its board of trustees, being one of the most active and efficient supporters of the church. Fraternally he is identified with Sylvan Lodge, No. 507, A. F. & A. M., and his wife holds membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Ever since casting his first ballot he has voted with the republican party. He stands high in the estimation of his professional brethern and the large practice he enjoys is evidence of generous appreciation on the part of the public.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.