Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 332

WILLIAM STEPHENSON ROBERTSON, M. D., late Professor of theory and practice of medicine and chemical medicine in the Iowa State University, was born at Georgetown, Lancaster Co., Pa., June 5, 1831, and was a son of James M. and Maria (Armstrong) Robertson, the former of Scotch parentage, and the latter of English origin. His early education was obtained in the common schools, while he pursued the more advanced branches in the preparatory department and freshman class of Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. Being an ardent student, he applied himself with such diligence to his studies as seriously to affect his health, so that in the third term of his freshman year he was obliged to discontinue attending school, and spent a year at home in recuperation. Returning to the college, six months' incessant mental application again caused his health to fail, and he was compelled to return to his home a second time, after which he did not again attempt a college course. In 1852 he entered the office of his father as a medical student, and during the autumn of 1854 attended his first course of lectures in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. The ensuing summer he spent in his father's office, assisting him in his practice, and in September, 1855, returned to Jefferson College, and was graduated from that institution on the 8th of March, 1856. In the same year he located at Columbus City, Iowa, his old home, where he entered upon his career as a physician. His studies had led him to cultivate a fondness for surgery, and while attending faithfully to his general practice he was especially careful to treat all the surgical cases that came legitimately within its scope. His senior professional friends, seeing his inclination in this direction, sent him many interesting and important cases. After spending twelve years at Columbus City, enjoying a large general and surgical practice, Dr. Robertson went to New York City, where he spent the winter of 1868--69 in the hospitals under the special direction of Prof. Frank H. Hamilton, M. D., and the following spring sold his property at Columbus Junction, and removed to Muscatine. At the opening of the medical department of the Iowa State University, he was offered the chemical medicine, which he accepted, and was commissioned accordingly on the 22d of December, 1869.

At the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, Dr. Robertson raised the first company of volunteers that was recruited in Iowa, and tendered them to the Governor, but for some reason which has never been made public they were not accepted. On the 13th of June, 1861, he was mustered into the army as Major of the 5th Iowa Infantry, being present at and participating in every march and siege, skirmish and battle of that gallant regiment, until the 23d of July, 1862. On the 22d of May, previously, the brave Commander of the regiment, Col. W. H. Worthington, was killed, and at a meeting of the officers of the regiment called to nominate his successor, an informal ballot gave Maj. Robertson every vote for the vacancy, and he was accordingly nominated by acclamation. Duly appreciating this expression of confidence from his fellow officers, he resolved to accept the position to which he had been so flatteringly nominated, and desiring to arrange his affairs at home, applied for a thirty-days leave of absence, which he was refused, however, in consequence of orders issued from department headquarters, detaining all officers able for duty in the field. Having some important business imperatively demanding his presence at home, by the advice of Gen. Halleck, and with the district understanding that he would rejoin his command on receipt of his commission as Colonel, his resignation as Major was tendered, and accepted July 23, 1862. Notwithstanding the fact that the officers of the regiment were asked by the Governor why they did not recommend promotion in their regiment according to seniority of rank, they reiterated their demand for this appointment by a unanimous vote, giving good and sufficient reasons for the same.

In his political sentiments Dr. Robertson was always recognized as one of the strongest Republicans, never swerving an inch from his allegiance to that party. He was one of the original stockholders, and a member of the first Board of Directors of the Muscatine Water Works Company. In 1873, while acting as City and County Physician, his attention was called in the sad condition of the feeble-minded children in the county poor house, and for the first time he realized the fact that the State had made no provisions for the care, education or maintenance of this unfortunate class. On visiting other parts of the State, he found the same condition of affairs existing. and when contrasting this state of things with the manificent arrangements which had been made for the education of other classes of unfortunates, less helpless and forlorn than these, it occurred to him that it was time the subject was forced upon the attention of the people and their legistators, and that it was the bounden duty of the State to make some provision for them. Deeply impressed with this idea, he brought up the subject before the State Medical Society in his annual address as its President, in January, 1874, and asked the co-operation of that body to that end. The society "resolved", but took no further action at the time. The subject was again brought forward at the next meeting, and Dr. Robertson appointed a special committee of one to present the subject to the Legislature. He accordingly drafted a bill as a guide in the formation of a law, and prepared a "Plea for the Feeble-minded Children of the State of Iowa", which he had printed at his own expense, and a copy placed upon the desk of each member of the Legislature. The subject was subsequently presented to the respective Houses by Hon. C. C. Horton, of Muscatine, and Hon. J. Y. Stone, of Glenwood. To the action of Dr. Robertson, seconded by the gentlemen named, is due the fact that Iowa now has a magnificent institution in successful operation, located at Glenwood, Mills County, for the education and maintenance of this lowest class of unfortunates, and Dr. Robertson very properly was the President of its Board of Trustees. He was also a member of the Muscatine County Medical Society, late President of the Iowa State Medical Society, late President of the Eastern Iowa District Medical Society, of which he was a member of the Judicial Council, and was also for many years a distinguished member of the Masonic fraternity. The Trustees of Knox College, situated at Galesburg, Ill., conferred on him the honorary A. M.

On the 10th of June, 1856, Dr. Robertson was united in marriage with Miss Annie E. Charlton, a lady of high culture and refinement, born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., but of English parentage. To them were born five children, three sons and two daughters, but only two are now living. The death of Dr. Robertson occurred in Muscatine, Iowa, Jan. 20, 1887. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. As a physician, he was prompt to respond to the calls of duty, was skillful in surgery, and was numbered among Muscatine County's best citizens.


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