Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa; 1887 ----------------------------------------- 'PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY' Not a great many physicians have been residents of Leon, and those that have come have remained. Very few "transients" can be enumerated. Samuel C. Thompson came to the county in 1851, and was a prominent figure in the early history of the county. He was a native of Ohio, but came here direct from Davis County, Iowa. He practiced medicine more or less, but always successfully during his twenty years' residence. During this time he was for several years county judge, and for some time treasurer. Though not a graduate, he had considerable native ability. J.R. McClelland located at Leon in 1853, and has practiced continuously since, a third of a century. W.J. Laney stopped at Leon a couple of years, in an early day, and then fixed his residence at Decatur City, where he has been in practice since. He has served one term as representative from Decatur County, in the General Assembly. L.H. Sales, one of the best known of Decatur county pioneers, practiced to some extent in early years, but has given his attention mostly to other business, being for a quarter of a century proprietor of the Sales House. He has also traded to some extent, and was at one time county judge. John P. Finley was a native of Ohio, but came to Leon from Galena, Illinois, in the spring of 1854. He was an able physician, and earned an enviable reputation during his long residence in Decatur County. He was examining surgeon at Des Moines during the war, and died in March, 1883. C.P. Mullinnix has practiced for thirty years, in or near Leon. Robert D. Gardner, a botanic physician, has also been in Leon about thirty years, in continuous practice. G.W. Baker located at Decatur City in 1858 or 1859, but is now living a mile north of Leon. He devotes his attention chiefly to agriculture. B.F. Raiff, an eclectic, came to Leon before the war, during which he was in the service as assistant surgeon. About 1869 he removed to Osceola, where he is now in practice. The younger physicians of Leon, in point of residence, are H.R. Layton, H.C. Van Werden and W. Van Werden. All are in high standing, and have extensive practice. A physician named Macey was at Pleasanton a number of years, in early times. He removed to Missouri after the war, and died. His son is now in practice at the same place. Another early physician of Pleasanton was Dr. Burns, who died there after a few years. Elijah Glendenning, for the last thirty years a prominent physician, residing at Lineville, Wayne County, studied with Burns, and practiced at Pleasanton for some time. A Dr. Mullinnix, brother of the Leon physician, of the same name, was killed at Pleasanton during the war. The first physician at Garden Grove was named Smith. He settled there more than thirty years ago, remaining not long. A Dr. Johnson came here about 1857 from Ohio, and after several years went to Corning, where he died. His son, Richard, is now in practice at the same place. John Sigler came to the Grove shortly before the war, practiced a number of years, then retired, and in 1883 he died. W.A. Todd had his first course at the University of Michigan, and graduated at the Indiana Medical College, Indianapolis, in 1864. He came to Garden Grove in 1866, and practiced there fifteen years. He now lives in Chariton. John Carder was his partner here one year, and then practiced alone for a time. He is now in east central Iowa. H.C. Van Werden was at Garden Grove before locating at Leon. V.L. Chester is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, and has practiced at Garden Grove since 1875. E.W. Doolittle is a graduate of the University of Iowa, and has been in practice about eleven years. He came to Decatur County in 1879, and was a partner of Dr. Todd until the latter removed to Chariton. He succeeded to Todd's practice at Garden Grove, where he still resides. W.D. Duff came to Garden Grove in the spring of 1866. At Decatur City W.J. Laney is, of course, the pioneer physician. He has resided there a third of a century. J.R. McClelland, of Leon, lived at Decatur City for a time. O.A. Day was here from 1856 to 1865, and is now in Kansas. Sam. Day, his brother, was here from 1865 to 1868, and is now in Tennessee. Dr. Stringer was here from 1868-1870. H.C. Bone practiced at this point in 1875-'6. E. Meacham was here from 1868 to 1882. He removed to Kansas, where he died in 1885. Joseph Puckett, a cancer doctor, lived here from 1856 to 1879, when he died. J.R. Teller was here in 1876-'7. H. Parrish came in 1877, and has remained since, practicing in medicine and dealing in drugs. David R. Springstein has practiced here since 1883. At Van Wert there was a Dr. Darmeille in 1855 and 1856, and a Dr. Powell after him, for a short time. B.R. Walker has practiced at this point for a quarter of a century. Dr. Pugh came here from Green Bay Township, Clarke County, remained a short time, and left in the autumn of 1882. N.J. Hyatt came in 1882, and W.H. Todd, and both are now in practice, dealing in drugs also. T.M. Wall was among the first at Weldon, in 1880. He has moved frequently, and at present writing is at Osceola. David R. Springstein was at Weldon during 1884, and is now at Decatur City. George A. Stuart was here from 1880 to 1883, and is now in Greene County, Iowa. O.W. Foxworthy came in 1884, and is now here. Enos Mitchell has been at Weldon since 1880. L.P. Greenlee, from Promise City, Wayne County, located here in 1882, and deals in drugs, besides practicing medicine. I.O. Day was the first physician at Davis City, and remained about two years His son-in-law, named Murphy, practiced here one year. N.M. Smith was here two or three years, and is now in Kansas. J.B. Horner has been in practice for about ten years. J.H. Barber was here some years ago, then went to Kansas, and in the autumn of 1885 returned, and resumed the practice of medicine. W.C. Wheeler, from Pleasanton, has been here for about three years. At Lamoni the first physician was named Bissell. The present practitioners of Lamoni are four in number: J.W. DeMoon came in 1880; J.J. Stafford in 1882; J.H. Hansen in 1884, and D.D. Steiner in 1886. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert August 14, 2005 iggy29@rnetinc.net 'A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot'.

Thanks for posting these, Nancee. Robert D. Gardner is my 1st cousin 4X removed. Donna Wood Wyoming Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa; 1887 ----------------------------------------- 'PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY' Robert D. Gardner, a botanic physician, has also been in Leon about thirty years, in continuous practice.