Sac County IAGenWeb - 1914 History - Physicians and Medical History

The first physician, Doctor Bence, arrived in the frontier hamlet of Sac City in 1856, but remained only a short time.

The next physician, Doctor Rising, came the next year, 1857, and remained about five years, and then removed from Sac City to Grant City, Sac county, where he died and was buried.

The next phvsician was Dr. Frank Stiles, who located in Sac City in 1858 or 1859, remaining perhaps ten years, part of this time being at Twin Lakes, Calhoun county. In the late sixties he ran a general merchandise business in Sac City.

Dr. R. G. Platt, a brother of Asa Platt, came in 1868, locating in Sac City. Doctor Platt remained five or six years, but, being in poor health, was unable to endure the hardships incident to the practice of medicine in a pioneer community, and therefore moved to Hillsdale, Michigan.

Dr. A. T. Brenton was the next physician to locate in Sac county, coming to Sac City in 1869, where he remained in active practice almost continuously for more than thirty years, the first medical man to identify himself permanently with the community. A more extended biographical mention of Doctor Brenton will be found at another place in this chapter.

Since the time of Dr. Brenton's arrival and up to the present (1914) many physicians have from time to time located in Sac City and at other points in the county, a good many remaining for only a lirief period, hardly long enough to warrant more than noting the date of their arrival, where the latter can be ascertained. Those remaining a longer time, long enough to warrant being considered permanent citizens, will have more extended biographical sketches in the following pages.

Perhaps no class of people in any pioneer country sees more of hardship and the strenuous life than does the physician. The homes of the pioneers were widely scattered over the desolate prairies, necessitating long and tiresome - and sometimes dangerous - drives, usually on horseback in all kinds of weather in their professional ministrations. And for such services the doctor's pay was often in the form of the possessions which are at least reasonably satisfactory, earning as well the gennine gratitude and respect of the communities in which they have labored.

The writer had a share in some of these experiences during the later pioneer days, many of which he looks back on with pleasure and no small degree of satisfaction, not the least of which comes from seeing a good many of those pioneers of the strenuous years now in comfortable homes and in possession of every other reasonable need for their declining years. All of which seems a fair compensation for the struggle of those early days. Returning now to the personal history of some of Sac county's physicians, it may be said that:

ANDREW THOMAS BRENTON was born in Johnson county, Indiana, September 15, 1848, and came by covered wagon, with his parents, to Dallas county, Iowa, in the fall of 1853, when but five years of age. Of the ancestry it may be said that the father, James Baird Brenton, was born in Kentucky. He was the son of Rev. Henry Brenton and Esther Baird and the grandson of Major James Brenton and Mary Woodfield. Major James Brenton served during the Revolutionary War from Virginia. His commission as major, signed by Governor Patrick Henry of Virginia, is in the family and very highly prized.

His mother was Elizabeth Glenn, daughter of Archibald Glenn and Lydia Rhodes, granddaughter of Archibald Glenn, Sr. and Sarah Furgason and Jacob Rhodes and Elizabeth Furlow, and great-granddaughter of Robert Furlow and Kittie McGuire. Archiliald, Sr., came to America from Scotland in 1770. He served from Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War, as did Jacob Rhodes and Robert Furlow from Virginia. With such Revolutionary ancestry, one would not wonder that Doctor Brenton was one of the most patriotic citizens.

The Doctor received his early education in the district schools, and later in the Adel schools. He read medicine with his father and attended the Medical College of Keokuk, Iowa, and later took a post-graduate course in St. Louis. He married Harriett Ella Wright, and they had four children, Glencora, Maude, Fay and Max. He practiced medicine at Dallas Center, Iowa, one year and then located at Sac City, Iowa, in the fall of 1871. Notwithstanding the wild prairie country, the unbridged streams, bad roads and dark stormy nights, the Doctor never let these things prevent him from answering the calls of suffering humanity. He frequently took his gun and dog along and, in season, killed many prairie chickens on his trips.

Doctor Brenton was the first physician to become permanently identified with the county in its pioneer davs, locating as he did in 1871. For more than thirty years he was continuously engaged in practice. For a large part of his time his practice extended over a wide range of territory, frequently into the adjacent counties. During the more active period of his life he doubtless had the most extensive clientele of any physician who has ever practiced in this county. This, being in the days of riding horses, meant almost continuous riding, night and day, sometimes for weeks together. But during all those strenuous years of widely scattered practice, in storm and snow and mud, he faithfully ministered to the people, a highly useful and much appreciated citizen.

Doctor Brenton did his work with energy and enthusiasm: he was in love with his work, giving always of the best that was in him and without regard to rank and station. He was a man of more than ordinary native ability, of excellent judgment in his professional work; quick to see the essentials and the main points in a case, and resourceful in treatment. The writer was twice associated with him in practice, and was many times with him in consultations, and this experience fully warrants the above statements.

Doctor Brenton was of quick wit and possessed a keen sense of humor. He enjoyed a good story, either as a listener or raconteur; and not a little wide popularity came from these qualities - qualities which are also at times invaluable at the bed side of the sick. In his later years he greatly enjoyed recalling from the rich fund of his pioneer experiences those incidents particularly which had an element of humor and drollery with which he would entertain his listeners. Of such, he had acquired a large collection, which, with his natural wit and humor, made him an entertaining talker. Not a few good stories about the Doctor are still current among the "old-timers," and a sketch without any of these would hardly seem fitting, which perhaps is sufficient warrant for the following:

During the latter part of the Doctor's practice, when not a few of the early settlers had become well-to-do, one of the latter, becoming seriously sick, summoned the Doctor, who, when he visited the patient insisted that he should remain with him continuously until he "was out of danger." This the Doctor was reluctant to do, as it was a busy season and to give his entire time to a single patient meant considerable loss to himself, not to mention the inconvenience or worse to others of his patrons. When this was intimated to the wealthy patient, he remarked that the Doctor "wouldn't lose anything" and that there were other doctors whom the people conld employ. The Doctor finally consented, and henceforth for about ten days remained in the patient's house, giving him his exclusive professional attention. When the sick man was at last convalescent and the Doctor announced that his services were no longer needed, the grateful patient asked for the amount of his bill that he might show his gratitude by prompt payment. The Doctor answered that his bill was four hundred and ninety-nine dollars, which amount seemed so large that the gentleman remonstrated, to which the Doctor exclaimed that during so busy a season he might have lost even a larger amount than this from other practice, remarking that the "exclusive services of a busy doctor" come high. But the wealthy patient still remonstrated, expressing his unwillingness and finally his positive refusal to pay such an exorbitant bill, to which the Doctor replied that "God has made you able and I will make you willing to pay that bill," and, getting into his buggy, started to drive off, but he was recalled and his bill was paid. When someone later asked the Doctor why he had not made the fee an even five hundred dollars, he dryly answered that "Five hundred dollars would have been too much."

Doctor Brenton was a steadfast Republican, all his life taking an active interest in political matters, both local and general, but never showing any desire for ofiice himself, his whole practical interest being centered in his profession. He was a member of the Masonic order, having membership in the blue lodge, chapter and commandery at Sac City.

During the last dozen years or more of his life, Doctor Brenton spent the winter seasons in Florida. His health had failed and he could no longer stand the rigors of the Northern winters. The last two or three years he remained in the South continuously at the home of his daughter. He died October 26, 1912, at Havelock, Iowa, in the home of his son Max, whose sick wife the Doctor had come north to attend professionally.

Doctor Brenton was twice married, first to Harriett Ellen Wright in Dallas county, Iowa, to whom were born two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Brenton died in Florida in the winter of 1895. His second wife, to whom he was married in 1898, was Mrs. Sarah E. Allen, widow of a Sac City pioneer, who survives him.

Being human, very human, Doctor Brenton had faults, his most serious faults, however, making him "his own worst enemy" and it would seem that generosity should restrain comment here at length, remembering rather the many good traits and the valuable service he rendered this comnuinity for so
many years.

THOMAS BROWNING MANSFILD, M.D. was born in Unionport, Jefferson countv, Ohio, June 15, 1844, where he lived until the outbreak of the Civil War, when at the age of seventeen years he enlisted in the Fifty-second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Dan McCook, serxing therein until mustered out at the close of the war. This young soldier showed special aptitude for nursing and otherwise caring for the sick and wounded, and was early assigned to the hospital corps where he remained throughout the service. This experience led him to decide to adopt the profession of medicine as his life work. At the close of the war he entered Harlen College, from wliich he was graduated in 1867. after which he taught school for some years, utilizing every spare moment in the study of medicine under the guidance of two physicians. Later he engaged in the drug business, at Smithfield, Ohio, in connection with Doctor Clancy of that place, afterward attending Ohio Medical College. Cincinnati, from which he was graduated.

Doctor Mansfield commenced the practice of medicine at Jefferson, Greene county, Iowa, in 1873. A year or two later, having occasion to be in Sac City, he became so favorably impressed with the place that he removed there in 1875. Throughout all the remaindei of his life there was no other place so dear as Sac City and surroundings. Here nearly all the remainder of his life was spent, althougli circumstances led to his absence at times for considerable periods.

On September 30, 1879, he was married to Cornelia Kate Taylor, a daughter of Samuel C. and Jane H. Taylor, pioneer residents of Cedar township, Sac county. In 1892, because of his wife's failing health, he removed to Denver, Colorado, where they remained about two years. From there they moved to Harrison county, Ohio, to care for his aged parents, where they remained until the death of his father in 1900. The Doctor and his wife then returned to Sac City where he resumed his practice. His wife's failing health induced him to remove to California in 1906. They located first at Ocean Park, but later went to the Sierra Nevada mountains, near Yosemite Park, but returned to Ocean Park in September, 1909, where he died of apoplexy, February 11, 1910. His widow survives him ( 1914) and lives at Ocean Grove. California. They had no children.

In the words of her who perhaps knew Doctor Mansfield best: "He was a man of fine presence and generous to a fault in his professional life. The qualities of character which were fundamental in him led him to the places where the work was hardest, the strain heaviest, the need greatest. It was a part of his very nature to help the poor, to relieve the distress of those who had little with which to repay him. Doctor Mansfield was genial, generous, and had many and steadfast friends in the communitv where he so long labored, having an etxensive practice during all the vears of his residence here."

In politics, Doctor Mansfield was a life-long and steadfast Republican and was at various times honored with positions of trust and responsibility. The one which he, perhaps, prized the highest was as a member of pension examining boards, which he held in Iowa for more than twenty-five years, during Democratic as well as Republican administrations. He was also a member of an examining board during his residence in Harrison countv. Ohio.

Doctor Mansfield was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and also a member of the Methodist church.

DOCTOR WILLIAM WARREN came to Sac county in 1870, settling on land in section 17, in Boyer Valley township, where he henceforward lived for thirty years, managing his farm and also serving as physician in the surrounding community. During the pioneer days, especially when physicians were few and far apart, Doctor Warren's professional services were much in demand, without which the pioneers should have been obliged to depend for such services upon physicians much farther away - Sac City, Storm Lake and Ida Grove - which in those days, before telephones and automobiles, would have necessitated travel of from twelve to twenty miles, usually on horseback. To have a physician in their midst was certainly a great convenience to that rather isolated Boyer Valley community, which was well appreciated, and Doctor Warren had an extensive practice. Doctor Warren was born in Rutland county, Vermont, December 29, 1817. When he was thirteen years old his parents removed to Genesee county, New York, remained two years, then to Orleans county and later to Niagara county. At the age of about twenty-one years young Warren commenced the study of medicine with Doctor Pratt of Somerset, New York. In 1857 he came west, locating in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he remained three or four years, then to Dodge county, coming from there to Sac countv, Iowa, where he remained until his death, June 20, 1901.

B. F. STEVENS, M.D., was born in Montrose, Pennsylvania, where he lived until fourteen years of age when he came with his parents to Illinois, settling near Elgin. He remained there until he came to Sac county in 1871, settling in Levey township, on section 21, where he resided about ten years, then removed to Odebolt where he died in 1891.

Doctor Stevens was graduated from Bennett Medical College, Chicago, in 1869, and practiced about two years before coming to Iowa. He wished to abandon practice, but several of his Illinois neighbors settling near him in Levey township, being remote from other doctors in the early days, they naturally called upon him for professional servics. He was thus called upon so frequently that he became actively engaged in practice, having little or no time left for the business of farming, to which he had intended to devote his entire attention on coming to Sac countv. After about ten years' residence on his farm, he removed to Odebolt, where he was engaged in the practice until his death, March 20, 1891.

Doctor Stevens' eldest son, A. E. Stevens, also took up the study of medicine and was graduated from the same college as his father (Bennett) about 1878. He located at Wall Lake, where he was in practice about two years, then removed to Odebolt, where he practiced with his father for a time, removing to Malino, Florida, and there practiced until his death in 1908.

J. W. CANNON, M.D. was among the pioneer physicians of Sac county, who located in Grant City October 12, 1874, where he remained in practice until October, 1883. Doctor Cannon was burn in Carthage, Illinois, April 15. 1849, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, June 17, 1873. He also attended lectures at the same college during the winter of 1876, and in 1889 did post-graduate work at the Post-Graduate College and Hospital of New York City. During his residence in Grant City, Doctor Cannon was married to Jennie Dobson, a daughter of one of the most estimable Sac county families. After his removal from this county, he was engaged in practice for a time in Atlantic, Cass county, Iowa, from whence he removed to Canyon City, Colorado, on account of his wife's health. Later he removed to Boise, Idaho, where he is now located.

DR. W. S. DUNCAN came first to Sac City, July 3, 1874, remaining perhaps a year or so, was elsewhere four years, and then returned in 1878, remaining several years and acquiring a considerable practice. He received his medical education at the Cincinnati Medical College and Eclectic Institution (now extinct). Doctor Duncan possessed considerable natural ability, as well as professional skill. During his later residence here he became interested in the profession of law, and read law for a time with a thought of changing to that profession, but that was never done, so far as known to the writer. He left Sac City sometime in the eighties and located in Sheldon, Iowa.

D. C. COOK, M.D. located in what was then Fletcher (now Lake View) in 1881, being associated with L. A. Chapman in a drug store at that place. He received his preparatory education at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and was graduated from the medical department of the Iowa State University in March, 1873. He commenced practice at Calamus, Iowa, from whence he removed to Sac county and remained several years.

CALEB BROWN, M.D. was born January 27, 1850, on a farm in Knox county, Ohio, where his boyhood was passed. He received his earlv education in the common schools of the state and from a private tutor, who gave him instruction in Latin. In 1870, he came with his parents to Iowa, where the first year he was engaged in teaching school; the next year he entered the Iowa State Unixersity in the classical department. While so engaged, he began the study of medicine, entering the medical department of the university in September, 1874. He received his degree in medicine from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, in 1877. For two vears, beginning in September, 1892, he held the chair of chemistry, toxicology and microscopy in that college, but resigned that position on account of interference with other professional work. A part of two years he spent in postgraduate work in Chicago. He was a member of the Northwestern Iowa Medical Society, the Medical Society of the State of Iowa, the American Medical Association, the International Association of Railway Surgeons, and in 1894 was elected a member of the American Electro-Therapeutic Association, of which he was made second vice-president in 1897. He was an active worker in all these societies, having prepared and read papers of merit before each of them at various times, having special interest in electro-therapeutics, some of the papers prepared by him in this latter eliciting very favorable comment from men of note in this specialty. Doctor Brown held the position of local surgeon for the Chicago & Northwestern railway for several years preceding his death; had been health officer of Sac City; had been county coroner, and was a trustee of the Sac City Collegiate Institute, in which he was lecturer on phvsiology and chemistry. He took not only an active interest in this but in all other educational matters. He was a member of the United States pension examining board for this district. Doctor Brown located in Sac City, 1882, where the remainder of his life was spent in active practice of his profession.

On November 7, 1884, he was married to Elizabeth Prindle Baxter, who survives him. They had no children. Five weeks before his death, the Doctor was attacked by pneumonia and, his vitality being a good deal reduced by overwork and his general health having been somewhat impaired during several weeks preceding, there was apprehension from the first as to the result. The attack proved to be comparatively mild, however, but during convalescence catarrhal jaundice [infectious hepatitis] supervened, then gastritis and other complications resulting in death, June 4, 1899.

Doctor Brown was a man of marked ability, a close student and a hardworking practitioner, keeping fully abreast of the advancement of his profession; a man of the .strictest honor and integrity, with an active interest in all that is good and right; a gentleman in the best sense of the word; a valued and much appreciated citizen of the community. He had a wide acquaintance with many fast friends and an extensive practice. He had good business ability, an attribute lacking in most physicians. During the later years of his life he owned and conducted a drug store in Sac City, which was a profitable business. He acquired considerable means, all of which was invested in Sac City property.

SURGICAL WORK IN THE COUNTY

Like most similar communities having no hospital facilities, very little major surgical work has been done in Sac county, excepting such as comes under the head of emergency surgery, of which there has been perhaps about the usual amount, though not large, incident to communities almost wholly agricultural. When such emergencies have arisen they have been met and such service rendered as was possible by general practitioners. They have necessarily done a very wide range of surgical and medical work, anything which came in the line of duty, and usually with creditable success, and in some cases with results that were really brilliant.

Such other surgical procedures as needed hospital facilities for their proper care have been sent away, a good deal of such work going to Dr. A. L. Wright, of Carroll, Iowa, who established a small private hospital at that place about 1893. His hospital was later superseded by St. Anthony's, a general public hospital, where Doctor Wright continued to do his surgical work during the remainder of his life. A good deal of such work has been sent to Chicago, Des Moines, Omaha and Rochester, Minnesota. At the present, probably the most of it is going to Des Moines: some of it, chiefly from the western part of the county, going to Doctor Crane's hospital which was established at Ida Grove and later moved to Odebolt. Doctor Speaker at Lake View recently fitted up some hospital facilities in connection with his
office, where some surgical work is being done. Doctor McCray of Schaller is doing more surgical work, perhaps, than is usual with general practitioners having no hospital facilities. He operates at patient's homes for appendicitis, as well as doing some other major surgical operations. But the medical men in this county generally hold to the common opinion that, aside from minor and emergency surgery, it is usually preferable and more satisfactory to send surgical cases to surgeons of special training and experience doing their work in the general hospitals of the larger cities. The lollowing is a list of piiysicians of various schools of medicine who have registered under the stale law of 18S5. in and for Sac county:

ADAMS, CHARLES B., Sac City, born in New York, graduated Cleveland, Ohio, certified in this county December, 1886, eight years in practice.

ANDRE, T. J., Schaller, born in Ohio, graduated at Rush Medical, certified here December. 1886, four years in practice when coming here.

ACRES, LOIS F. (homeopathic), Sac City, born Pennsylvania, graduate of Chicago Homeopathic College.

BROWN, CALEB, Sac City, born in Ohio, certifietl here September, 1886, nine }ears in practice when he came here.

BRENTON, THOMAS ANDREW, born Indiana, certified April, 1887, eighteen years in practice before coming here.

BERRY, JOSEPH P., Auburn, born Illinois, certified May, 1891.

BROOKHART, EDWARD W. (eclectic), Ulmer, certified April, 1906.

BEHRENS, GEORGE W., born Illinois, certified here 1911, graduate of the Chicago Medical College.

BLACKSTONE, BIGELOW P. (homeopathic), born Iowa, certified here May, 1899, graduate of Iowa State University.

DUVALL, W. H., Schaller, born Kentucky, certified August, 1886, in practice at time of coming here nine rears.

DUNKELBURG, B. C. (regular), Schaller, born New York, graduate of University of New York, certified 1889.

DOBSON, WILLIAM C., Sac City, born in New Jersey, certified April, 1910, when four years in practice.

DUNCAN, WILLIAM CASS (regular), Sac City, born Wisconsin, certified Novmber, 1898, graduate of Iowa State University - medical department - in practice fourteen years when he came here.

DENNY, B. F., Nemaha, born Missouri, certified October, 1909.

FRANCIS. WILLIAM H., Sac City, born Ireland, certified 1886, in practice at time of coming twenty-six years.

FARQUHAR, THOMAS (regular), Early, born Pennsylvania, eighteen years in practice at date of coming here.

FULLER, Z. (regular), Sac City, born Indiana, certified here March, 1876, eleven years practice before coming here.

FARQUHAR, ELWOOD M. (regular), Early, born Pennsylvania, certified May, 1897, graduate of Chicago College of Physicians and Surgeons.

FINDLEY, WILLIAM JOHN KENNEDY, Sac City, born Iowa, certified May, 1904, graduate Chicago Medical College, five years in practice when he came.

GRAHAM, J. W. (regular), Early, born Iowa, certified November, 1886, six vears in practice at date of coming here.

GRONIAN, AUGUST, Odebolt, born Indiana, certified here July, 1887, graduate of Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, in practice eight years when he came here.

GANNON. W. 1. (eclectic), Grant City, born New Jersey, certified September, 1880, graduate of Bennett Medical College, Chicago, in practice twenty-seven years at date of coming here.

GIBSON, GEORGE G. (regular), Odebolt, born Ohio, certified May, 1898, graduate Iowa College Physicians and Surgeons, Des Moines.

GEORGE, ALBERT B. (regular), Lake View, born Illinois, certified May, 1890.

GREGG, ORION RUSSELL (regular), Nemaha, born Iowa, certified July, 1908, graduate of Kansas City Medical College.

GREEN, LOREN (osteopath), Sac City, born in Wisconsin, certified August 1912, graduate of Still College, Des Moines.

HOPKINS, CHRISTOPHER M. (regular), Wall Lake, born Illinois, certified January, 1887, graduate of Chicago Medical College, eleven years in practice at date of coming here.

HIGGINS, I. W. (regular), Grant City, born in Vermont, certified here January, 1887, in practice nine years.

HALL, A. A. (regular), Odebolt, born Iowa, certified July, 1889, twelve years in practice then.

HAYDEN, A. S. (homeopath), Wall Lake, born Illinois, certified May, 1894.

HENDRICKS, J. M. (osteopathy), Sac City, born Missouri, certified August, 1902, now in Woodbine. Iowa.

IWERSON, J. C. (regular), Early, certified October, 1904, graduate of University of Nebraska, six years in the practice at date of his coming here.

JOHNSON, FRANK S., Odebolt, born Iowa, certified here May, 1887, graduate Iowa State University, in practice at date of coming here eleven years.

LANYON, WILLIAM H. (regular), Wall Lake, born in England, certified August, 1894, graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago: in practice fifteen years at time of coining here.

MANSFIELD, THOMAS B. (regular), Sac City, born in Ohio, certified here December, 1886, graduate of Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, sixteen years in practice at date of his coming here.

MAKER, LOUIS G. (regular), Sac City, born in Iowa, certified -May. 1897, graduate Iowa College of Physicians and Surgeons.

McCRARY, FRANK H. (regular), Schaller, born Iowa, certified May, 1897, graduate of Sioux City College of Medicine, one year in practice when he came here.

MERENESS, H. D. (regular), Carnarvon, born in Iowa, certified May, 1898, graduate of Iowa State University.

PIERCE, EDWARD F. (regular), born Pennsylvania, certified 1889, graduate of Iowa State University.

PRESNESS, JAMES F. (regular), Lake View, born Iowa, certified May, 1894, graduate Iowa State University, seven years in practice at date of coming here.

PETERSMEYER, WILLIAM (regular), Odebolt, born in United States, certified May, 1898, graduate of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago.

RAY, NEWTON D. (regular), Lake View, born Illinois, certified here May, 1889, graduate of Iowa State University, seven years in practice.

ROBERTS, THOMAS G. (osteopath), Odebolt, bom Iowa, certified here July, 1911, graduate Still College, Des Moines.

STEVENS, ALLEN E. (eclectic), Odebolt, born Illinois, certified here December, 1886, graduate of Bennett Eclectic College, Chicago, eight years in practice when he came here.

STEVENS, BENJAMIN (eclectic), Odebolt, born Pennsylvania, certified December, 1886, graduate Bennett Eclectic College, Chicago, seventeen years in practice at date of coming here.

SITZER, GEORGE D. ( regular), Sac City, born New York, certified June, 1887, graduate of Iowa and New York State Universities, eleven years in practice when coming here.

STAFFORD, JOHN H. (regular), Sac City, born in Iowa, certified here May, 1892, graduated at Iowa College of Physicians and Surgeons, in practice two years at date of coming here.

SLEMMONS, WILLIAM T. (regular), Odebolt, born Iowa, certified June, 1893, graduate uf Rush Medical College, Chicago, thirteen years in practice at date of coming here.

SPEAKER, E. E. (homeopathy), Lake View, born in Illinois, graduate Iowa State University.

SELBY, I. MILTON, Odebolt, born in Ohio, fifteen years in practice when coming here.

STENSGAARD, X. C. J., born in Denmark, certified December, 1898, graduate Keokuk Medical College, four years in practice when he came here.

SEBERN, RICHARD C, Odebolt, born Iowa, certified July, 1904, graduate Iowa State Universitv.

SHAFFER, RAYMOND C., Odebolt, born in Iowa, certified July, 1912, graduate of St. Louis College of Medicine and Surgery.

SWEARINGEN, GUY H. (regular), Sac City, born Illinois, certified July, 1911, graduate of Drake University, Des Moines.

TIMIN, JOHN F. (homeopathy), Schaller, born Germany, certified here June, 1895.

TOWNSEND, WILLIAM H. (regular), Sac City, born Iowa, certified here May, 1897, graduated at Iowa State University.

GYSBERT, PETER VAN MARCEL (regular), Odebolt, born Iowa, certified here August, 1896, graduate of Sioux City College of Medicine.

WARREN, WILLIAM (eclectic), Early, born Vermont, certified November, 1886, thirty years in practice at date of coming here.

WILLIAMS, WILLIAM C. (osteopathy), Sac City, born in California, certified here June, 1901, one year in practice at date of his coming here.

WILCUTT, CLARENCE E., Schaller, certified 1909.

DR. ELWOOD M. FARQUHAR, son of Dr. Thomas Farquhar. studied medicine with his father, graduating from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, class of 1898, entered practice with his father at Early, where he remained about ten years, removing thence to Denver, Colorado, and later to some point in Nebraska.

DR. CHRISTOPHER M. HOPKINS located at Wall Lake soon after the founding of the town, in the seventies, engaging in practice for a number of years, and then took up other business, retiring from active practice. He died at his home in Wall Lake about 1900.

DR. GEORGE W. ANDERSON located in the new town of Nemaha June 12, 1901, where he continued in practice perhaps five or six years, then moved to Colorado.

DR. ORIN RUSSELL GREGG located in Nemaha, July 29, 1908, but remained only a short time.

DR. BENJAMIN F. DENNEY located in Nemaha, Julv 6, 1910, remained a short time.

DR. WILLIAM J. HERRICK located in the new town of Lytton, June 12, 1901, and remained about four years.

DR. DAVID W. WHEELWRIGHT was in practice at Wall Lake a number of years, perhaps eight or ten.

DR. WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS, a young physician who hatl grown up in Sac county, located at Wall Lake and soon acquired a large practice, but after a few years died of appendicitis.

DR. NEWTON D. RAY located at Lake View, March 4, 1898, and remained three or four years.

The following named physicians have been located at the several towns of this county at different times, in most cases for only short periods of time, and of which the writer has no further knowledge: Alfred G. Hopkins, John H. Hovenden, Peter Jauss, Samuel I. Kirby, William H. Lanyon, Ambrose M. Longel, Ray S. Leadingham, Carl P. Mueller, Charles E. Orelup, Edwin F. Price, William Petermeyer, Thomas G. Roberts, William T. Slemmons, I. M. Selby, Neils C. J. Stensgaard, Richard C. Seborn, Raymond C. Schaffer, William M. Tigner, John F. Timm, Edward W. Bookhart, J. J. Crider, Henry A. Cobb, W. H. Durall, William C. Dobson, William H. Francis, W. T. Garmon, George G. Gibson, Abel B. George, J. W. Higgins, Elijah H. Hall, Edward T. Twining. Peter Van Marel, Augustin H. Warren, William Claude, Claren E. Willcutt.

DR. (MISS) ALETA DAVIS, whose parents were long-time residents of Sac City, graduated at the State University about 1899, locating in Sac City the same year, for a short time associated with Dr. Adams; remained about two years, then moved to Fremont, Nebraska, where she married, gave up practice and removed to California.

DR. (MISS) ARNOT located in Nemaha about 1908, remained two years and returned to Chicago.

DR. GEORGE W. BEHRENS, of Nemaha this county, was born October 16, 1883, in Chicago, Illinois, eldest son of Henry A. and Nathalie Behrens, both natives of Cook county (Chicago), Illinois. The Doctor's early education was obtained in the Chicago public schools. He was a member of the Bancroft school and class of 1902, Northwest Division high school. He then entered Valparaiso University (Indiana) as a medical student in 1904 and after one year's preparation entered the medical department of that university, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine in May, 1909. He received an appointment on the house staff of physicians at St. Anne's Hospital, Chicago, December, 1909, served there one year and received a St. Anne's Hospital diploma dated December, 1910. He then engaged in the general practice in Chicago, coming to Iowa November 17, 1911, locating at Nemaha, Sac county. He was married to Rose Ellen Panzer of Chicago November 1, 1911.

DR. L. H. JONES, practicing at Wall Lake, Iowa, is the son of James H. Jones and Ortha A. (McFall) Jones. He was born in Plattsville, Wisconsin, March 28, 1870, and came to Iowa with his parents in 1878, settling on a farm near Odebolt, Sac county. He graduated from the Odebolt high school in 1889 and later attended the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. Iowa, graduating from the State University in 1894. He located at Wall Lake the year of his graduation, and has built up a lucrative practice at that place. He is a member of American Medical Association, Iowa State Medical Association, Missouri Valley Medical Association and American Railway Surgeons' Association, and is the surgeon for the Chicago & Northwestern and Illinois Central railway companies.

THE TRANSIENTS

This is an account of the physicians of Sac county whose stay has been brief. Of the physicians who have located in Sac county at various times in its history have remained for a variable time and then have sought other fields, the following list, while possibly not complete, includes all of whom there is any satisfactory record.

DR. LEWIS F. AKERS practiced in Sac City for a time, registering August 15, 1887.

DR. FRANK S. JOHNSON located at Odebolt May 25, 1887, where he was engaged in practice ten years or more, removing thence ta Sioux City.

DR. GEORGE D. SITZER registered at Sac City June 30, 1887, remaining perhaps three or four years.

DR. BIRT C. DUNKELBURG located at Schaller May 31, 1889, and remained eight or ten years.

DR. C. E. MAKER located in Sac City about 1900, and after two or three years removed to Sibley, Iowa; later he retired from practice, returned to Sac Citv, engaged in farming a number of years, and then removed to Grimes, Iowa, where he resumed practice.

DR. HUBERT D. MEREBESS, who studied medicine in Sac City, graduating from the medical department of the Iowa State University about 1898, located at Sac City, but remained only a short time, removing to Carnarvon, where he remained one year or possibly longer, and then moved to some northwestern Iowa town.

DR. JAMES F. PRESNELL located at Lake View August 21, 1894, remaining from three to four years, and then received an appointment in the medical service of the United States government.

DR. BIGELOW P. BLACKSTONE located in Sac City March 9, 1900, forming a partnership with DR. C. R. Adams, remaining two or three years, when he removed to some town in northern Iowa. He later returned to Sac City, practiced with Doctor Adams for about three years and then removed to Montana.

DR. WILLIAM C. DUNCAN located in Sac City November 24, 1903, being associated for a time with Doctor Adams; he remained about two years.

DR. THOMAS FARQUHAR located at Early December 29, t886, where he remained in active practice about fifteen years, then retiring from practice, being succeeded by his son. He removed to Montana, where he died in 1913.

PRESENT PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY

In addition to what Dr. Z. Fuller has written concerning the medical profession in this county, the following should be added. Here will be found a list of the doctors now in active practice:

Drs. Z. Fuller, Guy H. Swearengen, William H. Townsend, Charles B. Adams, William J. K. Findley, Sac City; Arthur S. Hayden, L. H. Jones, Wall Lake; John Christianson Iwerson, J. W. Graham, Early; Frank H. McCray, T. J. Andre, Schaller; Richard C Sebern, Raymond C. Schaller, E. Thomas Crane, August Groman, Odeliolt; Fred Leroy Blair, Lytton; George W. Behrens, Nemaha; also the osteopathy physicians, Loren Green, Sac City, and possibly a few not identified with regular schools of medicine.

THE SAC COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY

A county society has been organized several times, the first being in the seventies, perhaps in 1878. But the numlier of physicians in the county were so few, and a sufficient interest was so difficult to maintain, that alter a few meetings had been held, with but small attendance and little enthusiasm, interest in the matter would soon wane and the organization would cjuietly die. But following the reorganization of the American Medical Association in 1903, when membership in state and national organizations was made obligatory on membership in the county society, the county society being the unit, the present society was organized.

A meeting was called for the purpose and the organization effected in the court house at Sac City September 29, 1903. At that meeting the following physicians were present; Thomas Farcpihar and J. W. Graham of Early; W. Y. Herrick of Lytton; F. H. McCray of Schaller; A. T. Brenton, Z. Fuller, J. H. Stalford, W. J. Findley and W. H. Townsend, of Sac City. Dr. Thomas Farquhar was elected president; Dr. Herrick, vice-president ; F. H. McCray, secretary, and Dr. Stafford, treasurer. Meetings were to be had quarterly.

Fairly regular and satisfactory meetings were held for a year or more, attendance being almost wholly by those present at organization, although considerable effort was made to secure attendance of all physicians in the county, social features being added for the purpose, but with little or no success. Meetings were later made semi-annual, still later they became irregular, until during the last three years or so there have been only annual meetings, at irregular times, with hardly more done than was really necessary to maintain the organization.

This seems to be about the common experience with county medical societies, at least in Iowa. Sufficient interest cannot be maintained to keep up an active and efficient society with so few members or regular attendants, meetings soon become monotonous when there are so few to prepare papers and take part in their discussion, with the result which seems inevitable. The fundamental fault seems to be lack of appreciation of the benefits possible from county societies; the press of personal work and difficulty in getting away from the daily grind doubtless has much to do with the matter. Possibly plain indifference has no small part. At the present time (1914) the officers and members of the Sac County Medical Society are as follows: President, J. C. Iwerson; secretary, F. H. McCray of Schaller; treasurer, J. H. Stalford, Sac City; members, W. J. Findley, W. H. Townsend, Guy H. Swearingen and Z. Fuller, Sac City, and L. H. Tones of Wall Lake.

Chapter VII Medical History of Sac County 1914

Chapter VII
Medical History of Sac County
1914