Chapter 17 cont. EARLY PHYSICIANS. "Dr. Thomas J. Saunders, recognized by the profession as a scholarly M. D., graduated at the Pennsylvania university in 1843, to please his father.  The law was his choice as a profession; but as that did not accord with the moral sentiments of a highly worthy disciple of George Fox, he acceded to his father's wishes and became an M. D., practiced medicine for a while in New Jersey, and traveled for a time in Europe.  After his return, in connection with his practice in New Jersey, he was prominently engaged as a politician, serving several terms as secretary of the senate.  In 1855 Dr. Saunders came to Davenoport and practiced his profession successfully.  His ability for public service has for the last twenty years kept him engaged in its employ.  He was secretary of the constitutional convention of 1857; was member of the senate from Scott county; served four years as paymaster in the army which handled the rebellion.  For the last few years has been engaged for the war department in assessing damages, or taking evidence to that effect, caused by Sherman's army in east Tennessee.  But with all these diversitities of engagements he has never ceased to entertain a respect, together with an interest kept up, for the medical profession. "Dr. E. Fountain and Dr. J. M. Adler came to Davenport in 1854, from Aspinwall, on the isthmus, where they had been engaged for two or three years as surgeons of the Panama Railroad Company. "Dr. Fountain was from West Chester county, New York, a graduate of the College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, in 1851; was most estimable for his many moral virtues and fully competent, and master of his profession for his term of experience.  In 1861 he became infatuated with the supposed medical virtues of an article called chlorate of potash, which he claimed to have used with great success, and to confirm his own conscientious opinions of its action on the system experimented upon himself rather than his patients, took an overdose on March 27th, and died from its effects within forty-eight hours. "Dr. Adler, as partner of Dr. Fountain, continued the practice until 1865, then removed to Philadelphia, where he continues at present in a large and successful practice. "Dr. C. C. Perry, from Sandy Hill, New York, came in 1852 or 1853, practiced for a few years, then devoted his attention wholly to a scientific branch of the profession which he has made a specialty, and at present is engaged in exploring southern California.  As a botanist Dr. Perry possesses a celebrity to which he is worthily entitled, and second to very few. "Dr. ______ McCarn came to Davenport about 1860, remained a year or two, went to Memphis, Tennessee, and died with yellow fever in 1867." In the north part of the county there settled the following practitioners, as furnished by Drs. Gamble and Knox: Dr. Zebulon Metcalf, regular, from New York, came here in 1841, practiced three years, and removed to Clinton county. Dr. Zachariah Grant practiced here in 1835, died about 1844.  Dr. Nelson Plummer, irregular, came here in 1842, and removed to Farmington in 1848, and now resides there.  Dr. Philander Chamberlin, irregular, commenced practice here in 1844; he removed from here in 1848 and now resides in Oregon.  Dr. James Gamble, regular, graduate of Missouri Medical college in 1847, came to LeClaire in July of the same year, and has been and is now in active practice here.  He is the oldest practicing physician in the county.  Dr. Sylvenus Rowe, irrgular, commenced pactice here in 1846.  He removed to Michigan where he now resides.  Dr. Austin, irregular, came here from New Jersey in 1848, and practiced two years, then returned to New Jersey.  Dr. William P. Hills, regular, came here in 1850 from Pennsylvania, practiced about five years and now resides in Clinton county, Iowa.  Dr. James Van Horne, regular, came here in 1853, from Pennsylvania, practiced about two years and now resides on a farm near Cordova, Illinois.  Dr. S. W. Tret, irregular, came here in 1856, practiced until 1863, now resides in Denver, Colorado.  Dr. W. F. Hays, homeopathist, came here in 1857, practiced about five years, and now resides on a farm in Clinton county, Iowa.  Dr. T. S. Smith, regular, came to Pleasant Valley in 1860, practiced several years, and now resides on a farm in Pleasant Valley.  Dr. F. W. Bellfield, regular, located in Valley City in 1861, and practiced there until his death in 1873.  Dr. E. D. Allen, regular, located in Pleasant Valley in 1879, practiced two years and now resides in Madison county, Iowa.  Dr. Barnes, irregular, located here in 1867, and remained about one year.  He now resides in Henry county, Illinois.  Dr. Bradway, irregular, came here in 1855, practiced two years and now resides in Cass county, Iowa.  Dr. Taylor, irregular, came here in 1870, practiced two years, and died in 1875.  Dr. Brown, irregular, came here in 1869, practiced four years and now resides in Guthrie county, Iowa.  Dr. Barkalow, regular, located here in 1880, practiced one year and now resides in Muscatine county, Iowa.  Dr. J. A. DeArmand, regular, located here in 1876, and is now practicing here; graduated at Pennsylvania university.  Dr. T. C. McClery located here in 1875, in partnership with Dr. Gamble, and now resides at Exeter, Nebraska.  In 1853 Dr. Joseph P. Hoover, a graduate of Pennsylvania Medical college, located in Princeton and practiced medicine three years.  Dr. J. T. Tate moved to Princeton in 1854 and practiced one year.  In 1856 Dr. Thomas Gault, a graduate of Berkshire Medical college, Massachusetts, located in Princeton, and practiced in partnership with Dr. Samuel Knox for six years, and now resides in Rock Island, Illinois.  In 1856 Dr. Samuel Knox, a graduate of Pennsylvania university, located in Princeton and practiced in partnership with Dr. Gault for six years; after Dr. Gault left he still continued in practice there and is still in active practice.  In 1855 Dr. C. G. Martin, a graduate of Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, came to Princeton and practiced one year.  Dr. S. Semple, a graduate of Jefferson Medical college, came to Princeton in 1858, and stayed two years.  In 1858 Dr. G. L. Bell came to Princeton and practiced ten years; he is now in Chicago.  In 1859 Dr. Bowman came to Princton and practiced one year.  Dr. Logan came to Princeton in 1860 and practiced one year.  In 1869 Dr. S. Gast, cancer, commenced practice in Princeton and is still there.  In 1869 Dr. Blackburn located in Princeton and practiced until his death, in 1880.  In 1875 Dr. D. A. Kettle located for practice in Princeton and is still there.  In 1878 Dr. C. W. Knott located in Princeton and practiced medicine three years; now resides in Benton county, Iowa.  In 1878 Dr. John Knox, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, located in Princeton and is still practicing there. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L