Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 895
EDGAR T. GIDDINGS, D.D.S.

A residence in Harrison county, Iowa, of forty-five years, gives Edgar T. GIDDINGS, D.D.S., the right to be classed among the pioneers of the county. He has been following his profession of dentistry for more than a quarter of a century in the county and is now its oldest graduate of a dental school. In addition to being connected with the dental profession, for so many years, he has also taken no small part in the life of his community, and has had a prominent part in the general welfare of Harrison county.

Edgar T. GIDDINGS, D.D.S., the son of Dr. Josiah and Sarah (GIDDINGS) GIDDINGS, was born in Hebron, McHenry county, Illinois, February 13, 1861. A native of Franklin county, Vermont, as was his mother, his father was born on August 10, 1832, and removed from Vermont to Illinois in 1856. He had previously taught school in New York state, just across the line from Vermont. At the opening of the Civil War he was commissioned and joined the Ninety-fifth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served as a surgeon with this regiment. After the close of the war, he returned to McHenry county, where he resided until 1866. In that year he moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he engaged in the drug business, and followed this line of activity during the remainder of his days. He lived in Council Bluffs about one year and then located in Magnolia, Harrison county, Iowa, where he continued to follow the drug business for some time. He then bought a farm in Magnolia township, which he owned for seventeen years, but did not live on it all of the time. He practiced medicine in Magnolia for about a year and at Logan for about three years. After selling his farm he removed to Woodbine, in 1887, where he was a partner in a drug store. He continued to practice medicine, in addition to his interests in the drug business, until his death, February 28, 1906. Josiah GIDDINGS, D.D.S., was a prominent man in school affairs in the early days in Magnolia. He was a Republican, and, though frequently importuned to aspire for office, he would never consent to become a candidate, with the exception of some minor positions, which he held. He was mayor of Woodbine for eight or nine years. Sarah GIDDINGS, the wife of Doctor Josiah, was born on October 16, 1842, in Franklin county, Vermont, and was married to Josiah GIDDINGS on October 17, 1858. Nine children were born to this union, only two of whom are living, Dr. Edgar T. and Mrs. Jennie A. McKinney, who live near Woodbine, Iowa. The wife of Josiah GIDDINGS, D.D.S., died on March 25, 1894, and he later married, a second time, September 19, 1896, Jane GIDDINGS, a sister of his first wife. The second wife is now living with Edgar T. GIDDINGS.

Edgar T. GIDDINGS, D.D.S., was educated in the public schools, completing his course in the Magnolia and Logan high schools. He was a student of J. D. Hornby at Magnolia, one of the best instructors who ever taught in that place. As a young man, Doctor GIDDINGS followed various occupations and worked in his father's drug store for five or six years. He entered the Iowa State University in 1885 and graduated from the department of dentistry in 1887. He at once began the practice of his profession, at Logan, and in November of the following year, moved to Missouri Valley, where he has since resided. He has devoted his life, since his graduation from the university, to the practice of dentistry, with the exception of two years, which he spent in the mountains, on account of ill health. He is the oldest graduate of his profession in the county, and is not only a skillful dentist, but a man who is highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities.

Doctor GIDDINGS was married on February 26, 1891, to Abbie S. WHITE, the daughter of Dr. A. White, of Missouri Valley. Doctor White and his wife are now living with his son, Edgar.

Doctor GIDDINGS is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Brotherhood of American Yeoman. He gives his hearty support to the Republican party, but has never cared to take an active part in political matters. He has two or three farms in the county, in which he takes an active interest and gives them his personal supervision.

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