of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 354-355
PIONEER PHYSICIANS. Dr. Eli Reynolds practiced medicine in this county for about fifty-six years. He was a native of Indiana, came here in 1835 and laid out the extinct town of Geneva, then a few miles above Bloomington, and was the first representative in the Belmont Legislature from this section. While in the legislature, he fought vigorously in the effort to have the county seat located at Geneva, but failed only after numerous petitions were sent from Muscatine, protesting against Dr. Reynolds' measure. The bill, however, had passed the legislature and needed but the signature of the governor to make it a law. Governor Dodge failed to approve the bill and Bloomington was retained as the county seat. Dr. Reynolds resided in Geneva about twelve years, and for some time lived at Fairport and at Moscow. He died at the home of S. R. Drury, at Drury's Landing, May 10, 1873.
Dr. Charles Drury came to Muscatine county in 1836, and in company with a man by the name of Webster laid out the town of Moscow. In 1841 he commenced the study of medicine in the office of his uncle, Dr. Eli Reynolds, and when admitted to the practice formed a partnership with Reynolds, which continued until 1844, when he removed to Illinois. He returned to Muscatine county in 1851 and continued in the practice of his profession with success. He was a man of sterling integrity and sound judgment. As a physician and citizen he was held in the highest esteem. His death occurred February 11, 1891.
One of the first physicians in Muscatine was Dr. McKee, who was some-what of a character. At the time of his arrival almost everyone had ague, which brought him considerable practice. He lived in a little house on the then high hill, where he "kept batch."
In October, 1839, Dr. Benjamin Weed came to this city, then Bloomington, with his family, consisting of his wife and son, Dr. James Weed, and a daughter, Miss E. A. Weed. The Doctor secured a log cabin on the south side of Second street between Chestnut and Pine and commenced practicing medicine, in which he was successful. In 1849 Dr. James Weed owned a fine herd of Devon cattle, and Weed park is a magnificent benefaction of his to the city.
Dr. George M. Reeder was born in St. Mary's county, Maryland, August 3, 1820, and died June 29, 1862. He graduated from William and Mary College in his literary course and from the University of Maryland in medicine in 1840. He came to Muscatine in 1841 and a year later formed a partnership with Dr. Benjamin S. Olds, which continued until Dr. Olds went to California in 1849. In 1848 Dr. Reed married Miss A. L., daughter of Dr. B. S. Olds, of which union there were five children. At the outbreak of the war Dr. Reeder was commissioned surgeon of the Second Iowa Cavalry but June 2, 1862, was compelled to resign on account of physical disability. Ten days after his return to Muscatine his death occurred. Dr. Reeder stood preeminent among his professional brethren of the state. He was one of the pioneers in the organization of the Iowa State Medical Society and was at one time its presiding officer. His manner was courteous, disposition genial and his professional success drew about him a host of friends.
Associated with Dr. George Reeder at one time was Dr. C. 0. Waters, who had previously opened a drug store near the middle of the block on the north side of Second street, east of Iowa avenue. Dr. Waters finally went to Chicago and entered the ministry.
Dr. George W. Fulliam was a native of Kentucky, where he grew to manhood, but when fifteen years of age he began studying medicine. In 1839 he was in Sangamon county, Illinois, carrying a surveyor's chain for Abraham Lincoln. In 1842 he graduated from the Curtis Medical College, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterward attended Pennsylvania Eclectic College, graduating in 1848. He came to Iowa in 1843 and first located In Wapello, Louisa county, but in a few months thereafter, through the efforts of T. S. Parvin and s. Clinton Hastings, was induced to locate in Muscatine, where he remained to the time of his death. He was a sucessful practitioner and two of his sons, Drs. Edward B. and Jefferson D. Fulliam, are practicing physicians of Muscatlne at this time. Dr. Fulliam died May 31, 1893.
Dr. D. P. Johnson began practicing medicine in Muscatine in 1848. He died February 13, 1900.
Dr. James S. Horton was born in Hamptonburg, Orange county, New York, in December, 1805, and died in 1878. He was a graduate of Union College and also took a medical course, after which he settled in Goshen, where he remained until 1848, when he came to Muscatine. While living in Goshen, in 1840, Dr. B. W. Thompson commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Horton and the two were afterward in partnership for a short time in that place. The friendship then formed between them was never broken and Dr. Thompson was his old preceptor's physician in his last illness. Dr. Horton practiced in Muscatine about three years and then removed to a farm a few miles northwest of the city, where he resided to the day of his death.
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