Hall County, Nebraska - Chapter 23: The Medical and Dental Professions in Hall County, 1920

Chapter 23: The Medical and Dental Professions in Hall County

The Doctor - Doctors Here in the 'Seventies - Early Physicians Registered - During THE 'Nineties - Since Then - Osteopathic Doctors - Hospitals - St. Francis Hospital - -Grand Island General Hospital - -Dentists of Hall County - Dr. Howard C. Miller - D. A. Finch - Between 1885 and 1896 - 1896 TO Date

A quarter century ago the doctor, with his little grip-sack of bottles and boxes of pills, capsules, and bitter liquids, his little old buggy and faithful Dobbin now replaced by the automobile, no one considered whether he needed to know a great deal - he was just the doctor.

Call the doctor, first thing done when you are sick. He gets you well and perhaps his bill is the last one paid. But never more forcefully was the necessity of the medical profession as an absolutely essential spoke in the wheel of community life evidenced than during the terrible influenza epidemic of 1918- 1919. With a number of Hall County's doctors away in army service, the remainder worked until sheer exhaustion endangered their own health and constitutions, but they never failed the constant calls that came to them.

From an apprenticeship, assisting as a "buggy chauffeur" and office assistant to an older doctor, the requirements of this profession have steadily advanced until five to seven years study in properly conducted institutions are required, and many doctors add a short intemeship in a good hospital to that course.

author of the centennial historical sketch of Grand Island in 1876, M. J. Gahan, and F. C. Churchill, homeopathic physician. Dr. Gahan graduated from the Galveston Medical college, entered the army as surgeon until about 1871, reentered as a hospital steward in the regular army until 1875, after which he came to Grand Island and began practice with a good fund of experience at hand. He was the first known surgeon in central Nebraska to practice ovariotomy successfully. He became surg.eon for the G. A. R. and chairman of the State Medical Society, assistant surgeon for the Union Pacific and surgeon for the St. Joe and Grand Island railroad. During the 'seventies the offices of coroner, county physician and city physician were bantered back and forth among these half dozen pioneer doctors, and sometimes the doctors indulged in that side-line hobby many physicians like to take a turn in, a good political scrap, and the files of the papers in the 'seventies indicate that the coroner was about as hotly contested as any office on the ticket.

Dr. Horace B. Lashlee had located in Palmyra, Nebraska, in 1877 and practiced there for four years and. then came to Grand Island. Dr. Hogan J. Ring was an eclectic physician who located in Hastings in 1879, and removed to Grand Island in 1881. Dr. A. L. Stevenson located in Grand Island in the spring of 1877.

Early Physicians Registbred

The register of physicians dates back to 188L and many of the physicians who registered at the opening of that record in the office of the county clerk had been practicing in the county before that time, and should really be rated in the list of the 'seventies. The following compilation on the early physicians shows the name, date of graduation, with name of alma mater when shown in the register, place in the county where they located; the word "practice" indicating training in office, or by practice and admitted upon examination - without a medical college degree.

Registered in 1881: Wilham A. Carter, practice, 1837, Wood River; Caswell T. Poe, Oincinnatti, practice, Doniphan andv Grand Island; Dr. Poe had located in Hall County in 1872, been county physician for some years, and his name will be found in many parts of this work showing his unusual activity in all of the affairs of the community in which he lived; Peter Janss, Keokuk, 1878, Grand Island; The Nebraska State Medical and Surgical Institute, at 304 West Third conducted by Dr. Janss about 1890 evidenced the fact that he was a physician of ability that reached beyond his usual practice and ambition to extend his professional efforts toward building up an institution that would reflect credit upon the community, but it started shortly before the hard times hit the country, and eventually disappeared from the business hsts; A. L. Stevenson, Keokuk, 1875, Grand Island, as has already been noted; John T. White, Chicago, 1875, Grand Island; Henry A. Krick, Austria, 1874; A. J. Sanders, Brooklyn, 1863, Grand Island ; Dr. Sanders continued in the practice for many years here, and about 1891 was conducting a medical and surgical institute ; J. B. Fitch, practice, 1863 ; practiced at Doniphan, lived in Martinsville precinct for many years ; M. J. Gahan, Dublin, 1867, Grand Island, already noted; Henry J. Brickett, N. Hampshire, 1875, Wood River; Louise Buns, Germany, 1869, Grand Island; Margaretha Kennedy, Missouri, 1867, Wood River; Horace B. Lashlee, St. Louis, 1876, already noted ; Nicholas Child, practice, 1836, Grand Island ; Geo. W. Whipple, Kansas City. 1836, lived at Exeter, Nebraska; M. H. Street, was here in 1881, registered in 1883 ; Sarah E. Whipple, practice, 1877, Exeter, Nebraska; G. M. Dixon, New York, 1871; Benj. M. Shockey, practice, 1886, Juniata, Nebraska.

From this point on, if not otherwise noted, the physicians who located at Grand Island, so far as the records show, were : 1882, Dr. Hogan J. Ring, practicing here before then; C. G. Hurford, Keokuk, 1882; William T. Royce, Columbus, Ohio, 1882, located at Doniphan ; Welcome Smith; John H. Galligan, located at Wood River, Alfred F. Naulteus, James McLean, Mary J. Breckenridge, 1883 ; A. S. Fishblatt, Omaha; Francis M. Osborn, Hansen, Nebraska ; Emanuel Stringfellow, J. C. Brubaker, located at Alda; Ira N. Barker; E. Christiansen, located next to Koenig's Bank in Grand Island ; 1884, Martin L. Carter, practiced for years at Wood River ; John Janss ; Henry J. Smith ; James N. Harrison, located for years at Wood River; Thomas J. Eaton.

1886: Rosa Day, graduate of School of Midwifery; Edward D. Barrett; P. J. Scallon, located at Wood River; Milo Leonard Kinsington, located at Lincoln ; J. E. Anderson ; S. E. Delhorne, J. A. CoiTman, the first University of Nebraska medical graduate to locate in Hall County, and Anna D. Jackson, at Wood River.

1887: H. S. Aley, who with Dr. Free established the Grand Island sanitarium at 121 East Front a few years later; W. B. Kem, who located at Cairo, where he practiced a number of years and afterwards achieved an enviable reputation through the state ; Edwin L. Smith; Arthur D. Smith; Joseph Weyerhorst, J. G. Cave, of the Cave Smith Dental offices in Grand Island; S. D. Smith, C. D. Severe, located at Cairo ; Louis Turner, Albert Eisenbeiss, located at Doniphan ; George B. M. Free, later of firm of Aley & Free ; M. A.

Otterbourg. and Dr. J. Lue Sutherland, who has been in the practice in Grand Island since then, and after thirty-two years of ser\'ice stands as the Dean of the Medical Profession of Hall County. In recent years, Dr. Sutherland has specialized on eye, ear, nose and throat afflictions and is an especial expert on insanity and nervous matters.

1889 : William McGregor ; W. J. Bonesteel, probably first Creighton University medical graduate to register in the county ; Jennie Ellen Tarbox, and Bell English.

1890: A. J. Sanders filed registration but had practiced before then under a prior registration : John D. Jackson, Albert Puringer ; Minnie Schretter, obstetrical only; Frederick W. Fochtman ; Dr. J. B. Hawk, who came here before then; Jas. S. Thomas, located at Wood River ; G. W. Gorman, located at Wood River ; J. Janes ; Wm. H. Caulk, at Cairo ; Dr. Joseph P. Riddle; Frederick E. Dalrymple, at Doniphan ; L. W. Hammer, at Cairo.

During The Nineties

In 1891 a new physician's record was started in Hall County. During the remainder of that year three physicians registered in Hall County who became very prominent in the profession here. Dr. C. M. Robinson at Cairo, Dr. George Weeter, and Dr. Sumner Davis at Grand Island.

The year 1892 brought two more. Dr. P. L. Moore, ^yho left Grand Island some years ago but returned here in 1918 in the interests of a manufacturing concern he is now connected with, at Denver; and Dr. George Roeder.

1893: Dr. Thos. H. Line, of Doniphan; John W. Tiffany; DeForest E. Tififany ; Howell B. Givin, from Omaha; L. F. Saxenberger, from Gage County, who practiced here

1894: F. L. King, from Lancaster Co., Carson W. Pittman ; Chas. E. Brown, from I-iamilton Co. ; G. A. Weirick, from Webster Co. ; Henry D. Boyden, who practiced at Grand Island for a great many years, until his death, registered in July, 1895. Chas. Lucas also registered that year. J. P. Dullard, practicing at Wood River registered March 9, 1896, and 1897 brought four new names on the roster. Dr. M. L. Rich, who is still practicing in Grand Island, Dr. J. M. Hardy of Cairo, and.W. M. Follett, from Saunders Co. and Geo. D. Sitzer, from Gage Co.

1898: the new arrivals on the roster were, F. V. Johnson, from Wahoo ; E. J. Porter, who practiced here for some years : I. S. Stevens, from Merrick Co.

The year 1900 brought four doctors to the list, of whom three are still practicing in this county, Etta C. Hewitt, not here, but Dr. Clement A. Stone is successfully engaged in the practice at Doniphan and Grand Island, and Dr. P. C. Kelley practiced for some years at Alda, then moved to Grand Island where he is now located, and Dr. A. H. Farnsworth has become one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the county.

The year 1901 brought Dr. Marcus P. Piersol to Cairo where he practiced for over fifteen years. In 1902 came Chas. B. Dyde to Wood River, C. J. Horton to Grand Isand, and Oscar J. Vallicolt to Wood River.

In 1903 Ora M. Caldwell registered from Omaha but never opened an office here. Dr. Willis J. Redfield located at Wood River and in later years moved to Grand Island, but has recently been in the military service, and Dr. Charles V. Crooks located at Wood River.

1904 Dr. E. O. Weber of Wahoo, who has also attained some political fame, registered in this county, but never located an office here; Wellington A. Thomas, of Alda; Andrew J. Baker, who practiced for a number of years at Grand Island, and Benjamin R. McGrath, still practicing here, having recently returned from military service; A. Galloway from Merrick Co., and Joseph Flickinger.

In 1905 those who registered were: John W. Earel, from Furnas Co.; Benj. A. Root, of Shelton, Buffalo Co. ; Henry Janss, JohannesWeiss, A. A. Potterf of Douglas Co., and Dr. Edward W. Rowe who practiced at Wood River and Grand Island, and in recent years at Lincoln, and has been in military service in past couple years.

The year 1906 brought two new names. Dr. Frank Grabel of Wood River, and Chas. D. Eby, and 1907, three, J. M. Tische, of Cairo, Chas. C. Stivers, and Ben W. Kinsey.

The year 1908 brought in a goodly list, a number of whom have been "stayers." Dr. Edward S. Dungan was at Grand Island for about ten years ; Martin H. Deft'enbaugh, recently in military service; Nellie G. Carr Deffenbaugh, afterwards superintendent of the new Tuberculosis State Hospital at Kearney; Joseph Soper, from Shelton, Nebraska ; Clyde A. Roeder, who has been very successful and in recent years has removed to Omaha ; Leopold Phelan, who is still practicing here, and for a number of years past has been city physician of Grand Island ; Joseph B. Grinnell, of Wood River; John G. Gehringer, Frank EGordon and D. L. Trowbridge.

Registered in 1909, J. R. McKirahan, from Minden ; Stacy B. Hall, William T. Putt, who -came over from Hastings as surgeon at the Soldiers' Home and has since remained in practice in Grand Island; Edna Smith Pells, who has been successful in the practice here ; Frank E. Stoaks; Wm. B. Kern, re-registered; Harvey L. Starkey; Wm. T. Engleman, who has remained in practice here; Joseph E. Higgins, who specializes in ear, eye, nose and throat work, with Dr. Carson ; Eugene M. Stansberry; William F. Dugan ; William J. Heflin, who is still one of the successful practitioners in Hall County, located at Grand Island, and two others, Edward C. Hayman and Godfrey C. Fritschel registered in 1910. Frank H. Bent, at Wood River was the list for 1911.

Registered in 1912 were Zellmond E. Mathey, from Washington County, Frank H. Wray, and two others who are very successful members of the profession at the present time, Dr. David H. Carson, eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, of the firm of Higgins & Carson, Dr. Earle E. Farnsworth, and also Sollis C. Pitts, at Alda. During 1910 Dr. C. A. Flippin came here from Stromsburg and has practiced since then. Dr. H. C. Pederson and Dr. Edith Saunders Spence were practicing here in 1912.

The year 1913 brought Henry B. Boyden, nephew of Dr. H. D. Boyden, who has succeeded to his uncle's offices, and recently returned from a military service, Frederick H. Kuegle, from Madison Co., Johanna E. Laogon, C. B. Edmunds, Edgar S. B. Gresman, Julius Lingenfelder, D. G. Griffiths at Burkett; Claude P. Fordyce at Burkett; Gilbert D. Loffler, Frederick W. Buck ; John G. Stadden and Eli A. Watson, who is still located in the practice here.

Registrations in 1914 showed Wm. F. Race of Buffalo County; W. C. Buel; Earle G. Johnson, still a successful practitioner at Grand Island ; Geo. L. Wagner.

In 1915 the arrivals were Charles H. Barnes, from Saline County; Earl Matheny of Lancaster County ; in 1916, Dare Woodruff, Albert J. Griot, J. M. S. Chesshir, and three of Hall County's present medical roster, Rolland C. Woodruff, who is now practicing with Dr. McGrath ; John G. Woodin, who is now practicing in Grand Island, and John H. Regan, who closed his office at Grand Island, when he left for military service, and made an enviable record with Mayo Brothers' Hospital at Rochester, Minnesota, and may return to Grand Island for practice.

The year 1918 brought Almo J. Chapman, Willis J. Raynor, who is practicing here, and also H. O. Conoway who came to Grand Island then, and Edward Dodd, at Cairo.

Osteopathic Doctors

The growth and development of osteopathy has brought a number of practitioners of that line of treatment to Hall County. The first one was Carrie B. Miller, in 1906. Florence Taylor Rusk registered in 1914 ; Ernest H. Brown, the same year; Victor V. Renicha, 1915; Josephine C. Armstrong, 1912; Dr. Rusk is still practicing here, with Orren S. Eckerman, James F. Blanchard and Thos. H. Vallier. Several chiropractic practitioners have located here ; Leroy Parks, the first to come in 1915, is still practicing here; W. P. H. Parks registered the same month, October 1915; Lyle D. Smith came in October, 1915; Anna H. M. Aye, in 1917; Herman C. Kuhr who came in 1917 is still located here.

There are a good many doctors listed in the foregoing pages who merely registered in Hall County for the purpose of temporary or transcient purposes, or to comply with certain provisions of the medical laws, and who never opened an office in any Hall County town, but the registration list has been taken as it appears in the office of the county clerk.

Mention has heretofore been made of several institutions which started in Grand Island about 1890, among these being the Nebraska State Medical and Surgical Institute, conducted by Dr. P. Janss ; Grand Island Sanitarium, by Alee & Free ; and Medical and Surgical Institute of Dr. A. J. Sanders.

St. Francis Hospital

The St. Francis Hospital of the Sisters of Mercy is situated in the western part of the city, between Division and Koenig streets, thirteen blocks west of the court house grounds at Locust street. The Sisters of St. Francis purchased two acres from Charles Wasmer in May, 1885, and located their hospital, the work of building being at once entered upon, and on August 22, Messrs. Hedde and Cleary reported $422 received for the hospital fund which was paid over to Sister Mary Magdalena. They erected originally a fine two-story brick building, with a high basement under it, and about ten years or so later added to it a great two-story wing, and later another wing. In more recent years an entirely new building somewhat of the proportions of the first has been built adjoining the first, and doubling the capacity of the institution. Early in 1887 a present of drugs and medicines were made by Parke, Davis & Co. to help the institution get started, and Dr. Gahan and Dr. Poe attended patients without charge for a short time, and C. W. New superintended the construction of a laboratory.

When the institution had been running one year, in 1888, a report was made that showed in the first year of its existence that 216 patients had been cared for, with nineteen deaths. These nineteen deaths were classified as to causes, as follows: typhoid fever, 11, old age, 4, consumption, 3, malarial fever, 2. lung fever, 1, heart disease, 1, and tumor 1. As to religious connections the patients were divided as follows : Roman Catholic, 106, Methodist, 12, Presbyterian, 6, Lutheran, 17, other protestant denominations, 47, no profession of religion, 28. The sisters expressed a public desire to thank Drs. Poe, Gahan, Sanders, Stevenson and Fitch.

The annual report for the year 1916, almost twenty years later, showed the institution to have handled 350 patients during the year of whom 135 were charity patients. There were sixty-one surgical operations, and twentythree deaths that year.

The number of patients handled in this hospital in 1918 was 1,572; 6i these 1,230 were surgical cases and 342 medical cases. This explains the necessity for the improvemenst and extensions being planned for this institution.

Plans have been made to increase materially the capacity of the St. Francis hospital. This is to be accomplished by adding two floors to the old hospital building between the new hospital and the chapel.

The remarkable growth and development of this institution is explained by men more or less familiar with hospital service generally as resulting from both the superior service given and the increasing ratio of operations in the elimination of human ailment. It is stated that even Omaha's hospital service does not excel that given by the St. Francis institution.

In August, 1919, Sister Bianca, Mother Superior, left for another field and the Mother Superior at St. Elizabeth's, Lincoln, was sent to succeed her.

Grand Island General Hospital

The Grand Island General Hospital, an excellent addition to the city and a splendidly arranged and equipped institution, was founded and built largely as a result of the tireless energy and enterprise of Dr. P. C. Kelley, then of Alda. Dr. Kelley felt that Grand Island needed a second hospital and he didn't stop until it was an accomplished fact. He served as the first president of the institution. Upon a reorganization and shifting of the stock, D. M. Douthett of Lincoln, became ])resident. Dr. Kelley. the first president, served as speaker of the Nebraska house of representatives in 1913. Mr. Douthett, the present president of this institution while living at Overton, Dawson County, served his district as state senator. Frank E. Slusser is secretary of the company which owns the building, and the institution is now leased to Miss Bertha Bryant, who is superintendent of the hospital. The directors of the company are Messrs. Douthett. Slusser, C. H. Tully. S. D. Ross, and Mrs. Dr. Starkey of Wood River. In 1918 this institution handled 740 cases, of which 332 were surgical cases.

A quarter-century ago dentistry was not looked upon with the high regard it has attained today. It was considered a matter of painful necessity that each person should lose about so many teeth, at stated intervals of life. The idea that extraction of teeth could be performed, practically painlessly, and that fillings of various ingredients could be so skillfully placed in teeth as to both' save the tooth itself and be practically beyond detection had never occurred to most people. The further advanced theory that a study of medicine and anatomy by a dentist might enable him to diagnose many of the disorders of the system and suggest a course of dieting, conduct, or care which would correct many of these ills and preserve the teeth, and prevent more serious complications of the digestive system and other functions of the human system was even further away from the general human mind. But all of these things have transpired. The rise of dentistry has been steadily becoming a fact, until today it is a necessary profession to every community of any size.

Dr. Howard C. Miller

who was born in Lewis County. New York, January 15, 1859, a son of Isaac S. and Sarah A. (Stone) Miller. He attended school at Rome, New York, and in 1879 began the study of dentistry at Camden, New York, in the office of Dr. A. T. Van, and continued to pursue this study in the office of Dr. G. W. Wertz, of Omaha, coming to Grand Island in October, 1881. Until his death in 1914 he continued the practice of dentistry in Hall County, and was then dean of the profession in this county. As early as 1888 he was recognized by the dentists of the state as one of the leaders of the profession in Nebraska and was elected president of the Nebraska State Dental Society, of which he was one of the "fatherly" promoters. He served his national society of dentists, and was recognized nationally in clinical work and in the theories and practices of his profession and upon his death the dental journals of the country expressed a sincere regret for the profession's loss. He took a very active part in the establishment of lodges and societies in the community, and during the latter part of his life sen-ed as postmaster of Grand Island.

the office of Doten & Martin, of Camden, N. Y., and upon his preparation for practice he followed Dr. Miller to Grand Island and began practice in Hall County in 1885, and after thirty-four years of service to the people of this county still maintains a practice of such proportions it puzzles him to secure suflicient leisure for the pleasures of life. It will be noted in this chapter that many of the dentists who are now practicing in Grand Island have at one time or another been associated with either Dr. Miller of Dr. Finch. A more complete biographical sketch of Dr. Finch appears in a later chapter in this work.

Between 1885 And 1896

In 1887 Drs. Finch, Miller and F. O. Welker and the offices of Cave Smith & Co. were the dental offices of Grand Island. By 1894 Dr. L. S. Moore had located here. Dr. Moore is still practicing in the Michelson block, and with his son Dr. J. Ross Moore who is now associated with him they have fitted up one of the most modern and splendidly equipped offices in the state.

The Dental Register of Hall County opened January 27, 1896. The first name shown is that of Merton E. House, from Dawson County registered August 26, 1897 : the next is Wm. H. Romine, from Colfax County, July 21, 1897. The Romine Dental Co. had offices at 119^/^ W. Third At that time the Boai^d of Dental Secretaries of the state were Drs. Geo. S. Nason, president, Howard C. Miller of Grand Island, vice-president and treasurer and Orion T. Lambertson, secretary.

The next dentists to register were Charles Sitzer. December 13, 1897; R. H. McCrosson, from Box Butte County, May 4, 1898; Clarence E. Brown, Grand Island. July 25, 1899; and A. T. Withers, Douglas County, August 3. 1899.

June 18. 1900, Oscar H. Mayer registered as a dentist. Dr. Mayer is one of the practicing dentists in Grand Island in 1919. Other registrations during that decade were: 1902, Ancel M. Bradley, from York, J. M. McEvoy;

1903, L. G. Holmes, Vincent M. Robinson to practice at Wood River; 1904, Butler M. Honeywell, 1905, Sidney A. Seal, who still conducts offices at Grand Island, Claude W. Percival, whe remained at Wood River a short time and later moved away, W. H. Patterson, who moved from Grand Island to California, where he resides on a fruit farm, Wm Lee Withers, who later practised in Douglas County, never opened an office in Grand Island, but only operated here occasionally.

Two of the leading dentists of Broken Bow at the present time, Drs. W. V. Beck and T. W. Bass, both worked under Dr. Finch at Grand Island before entering practice at Broken Bow. Dr. Farnsworth was another dentist associated with Dr. Finch prior to this time, 1910.

River, who died in 1918, Geo. E. Lyons, Grand island; 1908, John H. Meyers, who is still practicing at Grand Island, Oscar A. Vieregg; 1910, Emil A. Graf, who left in 1918 to enter army service, and is now in Omaha, Charles L. Heyne, who never entered actual practice here; 1911, Lawrence A. Gates, who left here to go to Holdrege, Nebraska, and is now in northwestern Nebraska; Finch & Chollette were practising together in 1914, but now Dr. F. J. Chollette is alone in the practise as is Dr. Finch ; 1914, John Ross Moore, who entered the service in 1918, but upon his return re-entered practice with his father, L- S. Moore; Louis N. Wente, who was only here about one year, Geo. Glaze, from Lancaster County, only here a short time; Alva L. Rousey, who is now at Walt Hill, Nebraska; 1915, Chas C. Fall, never in actual practice here, now in Lincoln, P. C. Holson ; 1916, Samuel R. Butler, still practicing here. 1917, Geo. Lester Weir, only registered. 1918, Dr. M. W. Jenkins came to Grand Island and opened in the Hedde building, and in 1919, Dr. E. C. Emigh opened in the McAllister building, and also Dr. Lechinsky.