DR. J. H. BARNWELL
Dr. James H. Barnwell, one of the prominent physicians of Atlantic, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1841. When he had reached the age of six years, his father removed to Iowa, locating at Fairfield, Jefferson county, and after six years spent here removed to Indianola. His father was a merchant. James H. attended school at Blue Bird seminary, now Simpson College. In 1861, when the government was calling on the patriots of the country to assist in defense of the Union, he enlisted in the Tenth Iowa Infantry, in which he remained six months. At the end of six months he came home, but soon re-entered the service in the Thirty-fourth Iowa, in which he was made hospital steward. This position gave him an excellent opportunity for the study of medicine, which he duly improved. After his retirement from the army, he came home and entered the office of Drs. Davis and McCleary, at Indianola, where he pursued his medical studies for two years; he also attended Rush Medical College in 1866 and 1867, and graduated in the spring of 1868. He came to Grove City in June, 1868. He practiced in Grove City until the early part of 1869, when he came to Atlantic, at the same time Judge Loofbourow removed to the latter place. He practiced as an allopathist for two years, and then commenced the study of homoeopathy, which branch of the medical profession he has since been identified with. In 1883, he went to New York and spent the winter with Professor John Butler, in the study of electro-therapeutics, and became adept in the different methods of electric and galvanic treatment. He now makes a specialty of chronic diseases. He was married at Indianola, in August, 1869, to Miss Hattie Craig, a sister of Judge A. M. Craig, of the supreme court of Illinois. They have one child--a daughter--whose name is Susie D. Dr. Barnwell is the oldest practicing physician in Atlantic, in point of residence. He has been very successful in his practice, and has accumulated considerable property, located in Atlantic and Des Moines. His residence is on Linn street, between Fifth and Sixth, and his office is over Slaughter Bros.' dry goods store.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 398.
