Cass County, Missouri - Chapter 33: Medical Profession, 1917

It is to be regretted so little is known of the early physicians of the county. The medical profession seems to have taken the least pride in preserving the history of those who served in other days. Today it would be quite interesting for gray-haired grandchild of the sires of other days to read of the old family physician, of whom their ancestors used to talk. What kind of men were they? What were their influences in shaping their county's history? It is too late to secure this information. These men of olden time, whose lives, as is the ordi¬ nary physician, were sacrificed, indeed, for humanity. These men who have long ago gone to their reward, bearing faithfully to the end the profoundest secrets of the family. Yet their successors have preserved no record of their hardships, privations and joys. But little can be said of any of them, save their names and places of residence, and these only by faint and uncertain memory of some old neighbor. No other profes¬ sion or occupation has so neglected their personal history. As we find no personal history of these doubtless noble characters, save their names, these we will give as far as we can, hoping another will undertake the task of rescuing from total oblivion the same, at least, of the life work of these men.

Dr.Guilford D. Hansbrough lived at and practiced his profession in Harrisonville in 1850. Dr. Isaac M. Abraham came to Harrisonville, October, 1865, and practiced his profession at this place until his death. Dr. George S. Akin practiced his profession in Harrisonville from 1865 to the date of his death. Dr. Thomas Beattie settled near East Lynne, in the county, in 1858, and practiced his profession in the county until about 1895, when he retired from active work. Dr. Jacob F. Brookhart came to Cass County in 1852 and followed the active practice until his death. Dr. James M. Suggette came to Cass County in 1854 and prac¬ ticed medicine at and near Harrisonville until the early part of the War of the Rebellion, when he moved to Illinois, where he died. Dr. M. H. L. Schooley came to Austin in 1867 and there practiced his profession until his death. Dr. William T. Schooley, in 1872, practiced medicine with his father, M. H. L. Schooley, at Austin, until his father's death, when he removed to Harrisonville. Dr. J. M. Thornton, at one time - we are unable to learn when - practiced medicine at Harrisonville. Dr. G. L. Love, in 1871, located near Belton and practiced his profession at this place for several years. Dr. A. J. Sands practiced medicine at Belton in 1872. Dr. R. M. Slaughter practiced his profession in Belton about 1875. Dr. A. W. Schenck and Drs. Spruill and Clark were early physi¬ cians of Belton vicinity. Dr. Logan M. McReynolds, one of the very earliest physicians of whom the writer can learn, located at and prac¬ ticed his profession in Pleasant Hill from 1844 until 1849, when he went to California to engage in mining. Upon his return to Missouri, in 1880, his health failed him and he retired from active practice. Dr. W. H. H. Cundiff, one of the early historic characters of the county, came to Cass County in 1854, where he practiced his profession until his death. He was associated part of the time with Dr. James A. Shuttleworth and afterward with Dr. W. T. Lamkin. Dr. William L. Lamkin, in May, 1849, commenced the practice of his profession at Pleasant Hill, and so continued until a short time before his death. Dr. James A. Shuttleworth came to Pleasant Hill in 1868 from Kentucky. He practiced his profession in this county from 1868 until 1880, when he retired from active labor. He was a success, financially and otherwise. He was a most affable gentleman.

Dr. A. H. Shively, probably one of the best educated physicians of the early professionals in the county in his day, located in Pleasant Hill in 1869, coming from Kentucky. He was devoted to his profession. He had little to do with anything save his practice of medicine.

Dr. James W. Smith grew to manhood near Pleasant Hill, studied medicine, afterward taking a course with an uncle in Kentucky, and after this attending a medical school at Louisville, Kentucky. After his graduation in 1879 he began his profession at Pleasant Hill, where he became prominent in his profession. He left for a California home about six or seven years ago.

Dr. David O. Ravenscraft grew to manhood in Polk Township in Cass County and practiced medicine at Strasburg from 1881 and enjoyed a lucrative practice. He was a sociable, kind hearted and lovable man and was universally liked.

Dr. Robert W. Collins, a prince of gentlemen, no eulogy could be too good for him, was another Kentuckian who came to Missouri to practice medicine and made one of our most useful Christian gentlemen. In 1861 he began the practice of his profession. This was soon interrupted by the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion. After the close of the war he returned and practiced his profession at Pleasant Hill and Strasburg until about eight years ago when he retired. He died, perhaps, a couple of years ago.

Dr. F. T. Buckner, another faithful physician, arrived at Pleasant Hill in 1865, and continued in the practice; in 1881 was connected with his drug store.

Dr. H. A. Sastle practiced the medical profession in the 80's at Raymore, Missouri. Dr. L. F. Gray, a native of Ohio, located at Raymore in 1869 and, in his day, was considered one of the leading doctors of the county. He died at Raymore quite a number of years ago.

Dr. M. F. Kyger settled in Sherman Township at the close of the war and practiced his profession with much success, financially and otherwise. He opened a drug store which did him no good. Dr. Richard A. Conover, a native of Illinois, located at "Old Peculiar" in 1868 and continued to practice his profession there until his death, which occurred about twenty years ago.

Dr. George W. Farrow practiced medicine at East Lynne, Missouri, from 1868 until about six years ago, when he removed to Kansas City, Missouri. He is still in the active practice of his profession in Kansas City.

County, is now in the active practice of the medical profession at Pleas¬ ant Hill. He studied his profession with Dr. Thomas Beattie of Harrisonville and attended the medical department of the Missouri Univer¬ sity. In June, 1875, he began practice at West Union, returned to Harrisonville, and for many years he practiced with great success at East Lynne.

Dr. G. E. Elley came from Scott County, Kentucky. He was in the active practice of his profession at West Line as early as 1880. Dr. Joe D. Cook practiced medicine at Austin, Missouri, from 1880. Dr. H. W. Tuttle located in Archie in 1882 and for a time enjoyed a good practice. Dr. J. M. Wilhite practiced medicine in Dayton in 1879. Dr. J. M. Chap¬ man was a faithful physician of an early day, coming to Dayton, Cass County, in 1872. He will be kindly remembered by the few remaining old settlers in that part of the county. He was a man of many trials. He sacrificed much and died poor.

Dr. Alfred B. Sloan settled at Harrisonville prior to the war. He was a son of the Rev. Sloan of the Presbyterian Church. The doctor, after a successful practice, removed to Kansas City during the war. Dr. John W. Colburn was reared near Pleasant Hill, Missouri. His medical services had mostly been at Freeman, Missouri. He was a firm, reliable, public spirited man and an able doctor. Dr. Philip C. Horney was a native of North Carolina, came to Cass County in 1853 and from 1867 resided on his farm near Daugherty and practiced his profession until his death. He was always active in matters for the betterment of his county. He was president of the Mutual Protective Fire Insurance Com¬ pany of Cass County to his death.

Dr. H. Clay January was a native of the county and practiced medi¬ cine at Freeman about 1875. He was a son of Joseph H. January, an old settler at Harrisonville, and a brother of George W. January, who now resides at Freeman. Dr. B. A. Bathurst attended patients near Lone Tree for many years. Dr. H. B. Tout, a faithful physician, lived and followed his profession at Archie until his death a few years ago. Dr. J. F. Bennett was a practitioner at Drexel from and after the laying out of that town. Dr. Henry D. Palmer settled near Harrisonville about 1852 and at the breaking out of the war moved to West Point and then to Clay County where he died several years ago. Dr. C. A. Seaton, after the war, became a partner of Dr. J. F. Brookhart at Harrisonville. Dr. Brookhart had studied medicine under Dr. Seaton's father in other days.

Dr. Coleman McReynolds came to Harrisonville from Tennessee in about 1844, and was an active practitioner until 1850, when he went to California and died. Dr. Amos Palmer came to Harrisonville prior to 1850 and moved to Texas prior to the war, where he died. Drs. E. G. Goforth and John Hamilton were early physicians located at Freeman. We can but mention the names of Drs. I. W. and Charles E. Ammerman, brothers, who were once in active practice in the county; so with Drs. B. F. Berry, T. A. Grant and J. W. Mount. The later day professionals we hope to cover under other heads. S. A. Kauffman and R. D. Raney each at Garden City.