Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 886
JOHN F. STAGEMAN, M.D.

Who can estimate properly, or convincingly, the influence for good upon the life of a community wielded by the village physician? What record, save that of the great Recording Angel, ever will contain a complete transcript of the unselfish labors of the healer who goes about his business in behalf of ailing humanity, all uncomplaining, patiently, devotedly and sincerely giving himself, the strength of his hand, of his mind and of his heart, to all who call for such relief of bodily suffering as may be therapeutically possible? A mere formal historical and biographical work, of this character, is highly informative and instructive and to future generations of this county this volume will be held as a priceless heritage of the past, but there is very much that future generations ought to know of the doings of their forebears that can not be put down in cold letters and figures on a printed page. Among these phases of communal life that only can be recorded in the hearts of men here below, that relating to the unselfish labors of the village physician properly may be considered as of paramount importance. While no attempt will be made to convey a further message of sentiment in that connection on this page, it is but proper that, in a work of this nature, something of the life's record of the well-known and popular physician, whose name forms the caption for this biographical sketch, shall here be presented for the information of those generations yet to come who will want to know all that is obtainable of the history of the devoted men and women who wrought, giving the best that was in them, in order that richer material blessings, than they had ever known, might descend upon those who were to follow.

John F. STAGEMAN, M. D., physician and surgeon, of Persia, Harrison county, Iowa, was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, January 8, 1876, the son of John and Eliza (SUTHERLAND) STAGEMAN, well known citizens of that city, and was the fourth born to his parents' union, those children, in the order of their birth, being: Harry, a well-known painter and decorator of Council Bluffs; Nettie, wife of George ROE, who resides at Harlan, Iowa; Frank, who is a locomotive fireman, running out of Council Bluffs; John F., the subject of this narrative; Ada, the wife of August HEINZE, who resides in Pottawattamie county, Iowa; Iva and Nancy, infants, deceased.

John STAGEMAN, father of John F., was born in 1828, in Cumberland county, England, where he followed the trade of painter and decorator until 1849, when he decided to come to America for the purpose of bettering his prospects of fortune. He located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he worked at his trade for a period of one year and then, attracted, as were so many others about that time, by the golden lure of California, made the overland trip to the gold fields. Finding, after two years of diligent prospecting in California, that gold was not to be found by all, he returned to Council Bluffs and resumed his trade as painter and decorator, in which he became quite successful. He married Miss Eliza Sutherland, who was born in the year 1850 in San Antonio, Texas, and remained in Council Bluffs the remainder of his life, dying there in 1907. His widow still lives at Council Bluffs.

John F. STAGEMAN, M. D., was reared in Council Bluffs, where he graduated from the high school, after which he decided upon a mercantile career and, for eight years, served as a clerk in various stores, in Council Bluffs. He then determined to become a physician and entered the Creighton Medical College, at Omaha, Nebraska, from which institution he was graduated in 1903. Looking about for a suitable location for the practice of his chosen profession, he was attracted to the situation in Persia, Harrison county, Iowa, and opened an office there. He quickly made his presence felt in his new home and has been highly successful in his practice, which has attained a wide scope in Persia and vicinity.

Since locating in Persia, Dr. STAGEMAN has taken an active part in promoting all the best interests of the town and community and ever is found in the forefront of those who have the public welfare nearest at heart. He has been successful in a material way and is one of the stockholders in the Persia Savings Bank, beside which he owns city property, both in Council Bluffs and Persia.

Dr. STAGEMAN was united in marriage with Miss Vesta LANG, February 11, 1904, who was born in Persia, Iowa, in 1885, daughter of James and Mary (ROUNDY) LANG, the former of whom was a native of Scotland, the latter a native of Shelby county, Iowa. To Doctor and Mrs. STAGEMAN three children have been born, John, James and Olive, all of whom are at home, and there is no happier household anywhere than is theirs. Both he and his wife take an active part in the social activities of the village and are deservedly popular among their wide circle of friends. They are members of the Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints, and he is an earnest adherent to the principles of the Republican party.

Not only is Doctor STAGEMAN recognized as an efficient practitioner, in his private practice, but this fact has been recognized by the public, which has shown its appreciation of his ability by making him public health officer of the town of Persia.

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