Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 182

DR. HENRY MUNSON DEAN, physician and surgeon, of Muscatine, and the eldest son of Henry and Almira ( Munson ) Dean, was born in Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn., on the 8th day of November, 1836, and is descended on both sides from English ancestry. His paternal great-grandfather emigrated from England and settled in Canaan soon after the Revolution, where a large colony of his descendants still reside. His maternal ancestors emigrated at an early period to America, and some of them fought under Washington in the war for independence.

Our subject received his primary education in the public schools of his native village, and when thirteen years of age was sent to a private academy in the vicinity, where he studied the usual branches of learning, including the Latin language and higher mathematics. At the age of eighteen years he taught a district school, following that profession during that winter, and spending the summer months upon the farm. He commenced the study of medicine in 1857, under the direction of Dr. A. H. Aiken, at Falls Village, Conn., and subsequently attended two courses of lectures at the medical department of Columbia College, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, from which institution he was graduated with honors on the 14th of March, 1861. He soon afterward commenced the practice of his chosen profession at Canaan Center, some two miles from the residence of his father, where he remained until 1862.

At that time Dr. Dean offered his services to the Government as a volunteer medical officer, and on being examined at New York City by a board of medical men, consisting of Dr. Valentine Mott, President; W.H. Van Buren, Secretary; Thomas H. Markoe; Austin Flint and H. B. Sands, he was ordered to Fortress Monroe, and thence was sent to Gen. McClellan at Harrison's Landing, where he was assigned to the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. He remained with that regiment, excepting a few days that he was with the 2d New York Infantry at the battle of Malvern Hill, until after the second battle of Bull Run, when, the 3rd Corps Hospital being organized at Ft. Lyon, near Alexandria, Va., he was assigned to duty at that institution. He there remained until the spring of 1863, when the hospital was removed, and he was ordered to report to the medical director at Washington, D. C.., by whom he was placed on duty in the Lincoln United States General Hospital of that city, on the 5th of February, 1863. He remained in that hospital over two years, the last six months having charge of Barrack Branch Hospital of over 1,000 beds, which, although one-fourth of a mile nearer the capitol, was considered a portion of that institution. On the 20th of February, 1865, by order of the War Department, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the United States Veteran Volunteers, and assigned to duty with the 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, and 1st ( Hancock's) Army Corps, and was with them in the field, where he was appointed Surgeon in Chief of the operating bureau of the corps, and remained as such until after the close of the war. He subsequently had charge of several military hospitals connected with the defense of Baltimore, including Fts, McHenry and Federal Hill, then under command of Gen. Hancock, until he was mustered out of the service on the 10th of January, 1866, having served in all some three years and six months.

As a military surgeon the record of Dr. Dean is second to that of no other man in the service. His fame as a successful operator was spread far and wide, and whenever a critical or peculiarly delicate operation in surgery was to be performed, Dr. Dean's services were brought into requisition, if at all available. He was transferred from ward to ward in Lincoln Hospital, as the exigencies of his service seemed to require, and his skill and success became so noted that he was ultimately placed in charge of the wards appropriated to disabled officers, and the most severe surgical cases. He served as Medical Inspector of Lincoln Hospital, as Superintendent of the pathological department of the hospital, as President of the board of officers for the examining of men recommended for furloughs, veteran reserve corps, for duty or for discharge from the service, and for pensions, and as a leading member of the council of the board of administration of the hospital. He was one of the most prominent and distinguished surgeons of his years and experience in the institution. In addition to his official duties in the hospital, which were of a most exacting nature, Dr. Dean prepared and furnished to the United States Army Medical Museums as large a number of rare and valuable specimans as any other contributor. Among the many items bearing his name in the great catalogue of the museum are the smallest and largest hearts, the former weighing only five and a half ounces, and the largest seventeen and a quarter ounces. The body from which the smallest was taken weighed 160 pounds, and that from which the largest was taked, weighed 155 pounds. Both men had been perfectly healthy and died from injuries in the army. Dr. Dean is also credited with having contributed to the museum the only specimen of hernia of the stomach through the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity. He has performed successfully nearly every operation hitherto known in military surgery. The testimonials as to his efficiency, skill and professional qualifications, contained in "general orders," and his private letters from those in highest rank, are both numerous and flattering, and may well be a source of just pride and gratification to himself and friends.

On retiring from the army Dr. Dean located at Sandwich, Ill., where he remained in practice for nine months, and on the 30th of February, 1867, moved to the city of Muscatine, which has since been his home, and where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. He has held several honorable positions since coming to the city, among which is that of surgeon of the G.A. R. Post located here, which position he held as long as the organization lasted. At the reorganization he was again given the position, and he was also the first surgeon of the Veteran Association of Muscatine County. He was instrumental in organizing the Muscatine Medical Society, which meets alternately at Davenport and Rock Island, and of the Eastern Iowa Central District Medical Society. He is now Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Iowa State Medical Society, is also a member of the American Medical Association, and was on two occasions one of the examiners of the medical department of the Iowa University. He is surgeon of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroads at this point, and is also surgeon of four accident insurance companies: The Travelers', of Hartford, Conn.; the United States, of New York City; the World's Industry, of Dubuque, Iowa; and the South Bend, formerly the American; also is the examiner for several life insurance companies. For twenty years Dr. Dean has been United State Pension Examiner at this place, and President of the board wherever there has been one. Politically, he is a supporter of the Republican party.

On the 20th of June, 1866, the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Emma Johnson, of Philadelphia, Pa., and by their union three children have been born--- Harry Johnson, Lee Wallace, and Ray Herbert. Dr. and Mrs Dean are members of the Congregational Church.

To the most thorough of qualifications as a physician, Dr. Dean adds promptness and energy in professional duty, and is ever ready, regardless of distance or weather, to render immediate attention to calls. An honest, upright man, fearless of censure, strong in the right, he not only enjoys the confidence and respect of the citizens of Muscatine County, but is held in the highest regard in the medical world wherever he is known.


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