CHAPTER XVII

THE FIRST PHYSICIANS ENDURED HARDSHIPS AND WERE POORLY PAID-PILLS AND QUININE COMPRISED THE PIONEER DOCTORS' PHARMACOPOEIA-PLACED GREAT RELIANCE ON THE LANCET AND BLED HIS PATIENT WITH OR WITHOUT PROVOCATION-NAMES OF SOME PIONEERS OF THE HEALING ART—THE MEDICAL SOCIETY -MERCY HOSPITAL.

The pioneers of the healing art in Centerville and Appanoose county were the guardians of a widely dispersed population. Aside from their professional duties they contributed their full share to the material development of a newly opened country. Some were men of culture who had gained their medical education in college; the great number were of limited educational attainment whose professional knowledge had been acquired in the offices of established practitioners of more or less ability in the sections from which they emigrated. Of either class almost without exception they were practical men of great force of character who gave cheerful and efficacious assistance to the suffering, daily journeying on horseback scores of miles over a country almost destitute of roads and encountering swollen, unbridged streams, without waterproof garments or other now common protection against water. Out of necessity the pioneer physician developed rare quickness of perception and self-reliance. A specialist was then unknown and he was called upon to treat every phase of bodily ailment, serving as physician, surgeon, oculist and dentist. His books were few and there were no practitioners of more ability than himself with whom he might consult. His medicines were simple and carried on his person, and every preparation of pill or solution was the work of his own hands.

Before the advent of the "regular" practitioner the sick and ailing were subjected to the tender mercies of the "yarb" (herb) doctor, the "bone-setters," and other "quacks," who knew of the virtues of certain nostrums which they compounded, and which were prescribed to their patients indiscriminately. Then there was the woman doctor, whose chief merit lay in the intensity of her passion for nursing and mothering the object of her ministrations. She gathered boneset, pennyroyal and other herbs, from which she made teas and syrups, the latter being much more palatable than the former. She was the dreadful ogre of the youth of early days, as she was wont to dose them with her bitter, nauseous decoctions, to her heart's content and the utter disgust of the little victims.

Patent medicines did not come until later on and those who took up the healing art were often put to severe tests to meet the exigencies of an extraordinary

Vol. I-19

case. Drug stores were few and far between and the doctor was compelled to use his wits to the stretching point in many instances.

In the "Forties" appeared the college bred, regularly prepared practitioner, who gave to his patient the benefits of a specially trained mind and hand. With ambition to become practical and expert in his chosen profession and a laudable determination to "make his mark" as a physician in the new field of his choosing, he soon made headway into the confidence of those who placed themselves under his care and the "quack" almost disappeared as a nondescript unit. of professional society. We still have the gentry with us, however, and the thousand and one "patent" cures for consumption, cancer and other maladies, which baffle the research and skill of the most adept in the science of materia medica. During the early settlement of the county the principal diseases were malarial fever and catarrhal pneumonia, according to Dr. S. W. Sawyers, of Centerville. At this time-1849 to 1853-"these diseases were usually sthenic in character and were almost invariably treated by vene-section, calomel and qui nine. In 1852-3 a very widespread epidemic of scarletina of severe form prevailed in the western part of the county." Typhoid first made its appearance in 1853 and prevailed to quite an extent, and in 1856 diptheria taxed the ingenuity and endurance of the physician, the first cases nearly all proving fatal. In the same year the scourge of smallpox menaced the community. There were forty cases, many of them resulting in death. In the winter of 1863-4. a number of fatal cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis were reported and in 1865 an epidemic of erysipelas was energetically fought before it could be exterminated.

SOME EARLY PRACTITIONERS

The first person to take up the practice of medicine and surgery in Appanoose, of which there is any record, was William S. Manson, who had acquired some little acquaintance with the uses and efficacy of drugs and medicines in his old Tennessee home. Arriving early in the '40s, he at once became known as the "doctor" and soon had quite a clientele, which he visited on foot or horseback, as the occasion required. He concocted his own medicines and carried them in saddlebags, which were thrown over the shoulders of his horse, or carried on his own back. It was said of "Dr." Manson that "he was a man of good judgment and, in ordinary ailments, was of considerable help." The chronicle does not state, however, that Manson was prepared for his vocation by a course of reading and training in college and hospital.

In the class with William Manson may be added "Dr." Shafer, a German; "Dr." Sales and "Dr." Pewthers. There was also a Mr. Stratton. All of these attended the sick and distressed and prescribed for the bodily ailments of their patients with more or less success. They were not required in those days to have a license to practice medicine and that, for one reason, was why the settlers took them upon trust, so to speak. Through a spirit of kindliness, earnestness of purpose and natural aptitude for the work at hand, these men undoubtedly did well, worked hard, withstood many privations and were poorly paid, for money was an extremely scarce article.

J. H. Worthington was the first regular physician to practice his profession in Appanoose county. He was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, in December,

1822, and commenced the practice of medicine at Exline in 1846. He died at Exline in 1885.

In the year 1851 there were four physicians in Centerville: W. W. Cottell; Hugh McCoy, Amos Patterson and Jeremiah Brower. Dr. Cottell, a bachelor came from Ohio and removed to Jefferson county in 1855 and from there to Fairfield, where he died in 1883. He was considered a very good physician. Dr. McCoy was in good standing, but relinquished his practice for farm life in 1868, moving to Walnut township. Dr. Patterson also tired of the routine of a professional life and retired to a farm a mile and a half south of Centerville. He is still living, but the years are bearing heavily upon him.

Dr. Jeremiah Brower immigrated from North Carolina and located in Centerville in 1850, where he became well known as a physician. He practiced three years in Centerville and then removed to Warren county, continuing there as a physician until incapacitated by physical infirmities.

Dr. Pewthers was a botanic doctor, or an herbalist or "yarb" doctor.

Dr. Nathan Udell was one of the early settlers in the county, coming here in 1848 and locating in Unionville. The township and village of Udell were named in his honor. He practiced his profession at Unionville for many years. and in 1885 removed to Kansas. Dr. Udell was an able physician and became a prominent citizen. He was a member of the state senate. His death took place in Denver, Colorado, in March, 1903, and his body was brought back for inter

ment.

Henry Hakes was born in New York in 1823 and studied medicine with one of the leading physicians of the Empire state. He practiced his profession in his native state and after his marriage came to Appanoose, in 1853, and located. in Centerville and opened an office. He also kept a drug store. Dr. Hakes died in 1885.

Dr. E. Mechem was a resident of Centerville some time before the war and many patients were on his list, all of whom spoke a kindly word for him, both as a man and physician. After a short stay he left Centerville for Decatur county, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Dr. Walker practiced medicine in Centerville in the days of its infancy, but left the village for a more lucrative field of endeavor.

Dr. Robert Stephenson, Sr., immigrated from Ohio to Centerville while the Civil war was on and maintained a successful practice until his death in 1880.

Sylvester H. Sawyers was the son of Elisha Sawyers, who left Nashville, Tennessee, with his family in 1850 and settled in the free state of Iowa, choosing Centerville as a location for his energies. For a while he kept a hotel and later one at Unionville. Sylvester H. Sawyers, the son, became noted as a physician and surgeon, acquiring a large practice, not only in the county but in other localities. To Dr. Sylvester Sawyers Appanoose county is indebted for the two physicians and surgeons of his name, John Lazelle Sawyers and Clyde E. Sawyers, both of whom have a large and lucrative practice at Centerville.

Hague Hoffman was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1831. He came to Iowa in 1857 and lived in Unionville several years. Here he studied medicine under Dr. S. H. Sawyers, an eminent physician and surgeon of his day. Dr. Hoffman graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons,

Cincinnati, Ohio, and practiced his profession at Unionville until 1865, when he moved to Moravia.

Franklin Eells located in Centerville in 1855 and began the practice of medicine with Dr. McCoy. He graduated from Rush Medical College in 1864. The doctor went into the manufacture of medicine later on and from the fact that he advertised, it is probable he was not in the best of standing with the "regulars," who make a fetich of the so-called "professional ethics."

Moses Y. Sellers began the practice of medicine in Moulton over four decades ago. He spent part of the year 1864 in the medical college at Keokuk and then opened an office in Iconium, where he remained four years. He graduated from the Keokuk Medical College in 1880.

As a physician, John M. Sturdivant was eminently successful. He was born on a farm in Van Buren county, Iowa, in 1838, and died November 7, 1890. Dr. Sturdivant read medicine under Dr. O. A. George, at Bonaparte, Iowa, and graduated from an eye, ear and throat infirmary of St. Louis; and Keokuk Medical College in 1861. He began practice in Cincinnati, Iowa, and remained there until 1882, when he came to Centerville.

Dr. William Sayres was one of the early regular practitioners of Appanoose county and established a splendid reputation as a physician and surgeon. He was a man of high character and his death, which occurred March 14, 1891, was deeply regretted. He was born on a farm in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1818, and when a lad learned the tailor's trade. Being ambitious, he read medicine, began the practice and, in 1851, located in Drakesville, where he remained until 1855, when he removed to Cincinnati. Dr. Sayres held the position of postmaster at Cincinnati under Abraham Lincoln and retained the office until the first election of Grover Cleveland.

Joseph P. Smith, a native of the Keystone state, graduated from the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1852. He located in Centerville in 1859 and in Orleans in 1860, where he practiced his profession nine years. In 1869 Dr. Smith removed to Moulton, and there built up a good practice during his residence in the village.

E. M. Reynolds located in Appanoose county with his parents in 1849. He began the practice of medicine in Centerville in 1873 and continued until his death. Dr. E. E. Bamford bought his practice a short time before his death.

Dr. M. L. Culp practiced for some time at Moulton, locating there in 1873. Dr. Price N. Landis served as an army surgeon during the Civil war and located in Exline in 1865. He remained in the practice a number of years. Dr. Beebe lived a busy and practical life and for many years practiced medicine in Franklin township.

Dr. G. S. Stansberry took excellent care of the sick in and about Dean and was early in the field as a physician, the '50s having just commenced when he came to Appanoose county.

In her pioneer days, Moravia was fortunate in having two good physicians in the persons of Drs. Harvey and Bradley. Both of these worthy men died at Moravia many years ago.

At Moulton the first physician to practice there was Dr. M. B. V. Howell. He was followed by Dr. James P. Smith and later, Dr. W. F. S. Murdy. Dr. J. D. Hawkins settled there in 1884, but none of these physicians are in the

village at this time. W. F. S. Murdy came to Appanoose county with his parents in 1861, when a lad of seventeen years. He read medicine in the office of Dr. M. V. Howell, of Moulton, and, after graduating from the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis in 1848, he opened an office in Moulton.

Other physicians who practiced in Centerville, early in its history, and who are long since gone to their last resting place, were Drs. N. L. Price, C. H. Bishop, H. D. Shontz, J. C. Whitney and G. A. Henry. Dr. William M. Scott is still living, although in retirement. For an extended sketch of this dean of the profession, see Volume II.

APPANOOSE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY

Prior to the year 1909 the physicians of Appanoose county joined with members of their profession of Wayne county and organized the Appanoose and Wayne County Medical Society. The medical men of Appanoose county separated from Wayne in a formal manner, at a meeting held in the assembly room of Drake Public Library building, January 26, 1909. This meeting was called to order by Dr. E. E. Bamford. Dr. C. P. Tillmont was placed in the chair and Dr. Frank Sturdivant was chosen as secretary of the proceedings. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following officers of the newlycreated society elected: President, W. L. Downing; vice president, E. E. Bamford; secretary and treasurer, C. P. Bowen; delegate to state convention, C. S. James; board of censors, U. L. Hurt, W. A. Harris, A. B. George. Interesting papers were read and discussed and President Warher of the State Medical Society delivered an address. At this meeting it was determined that all members of the erstwhile Appanoose-Wayne County Medical Society should be eligible to the Appanoose County Medical Society. A permanent meeting place was secured in Drake Public Library building.

The present officers and members of the society are:

President, J. L. Sawyers; vice president, T. J. Case; secretary-treasurer, C. S. James; censors, J. A. Replogle, U. L. Hurt, C. P. Tillmont; delegate to state convention, E. E. Bamford. Members: Centerville, E. E. Bamford, C. P. Bowen, T. W. Blachley, A. B. George, C. S. Hickman, E. E. Heaton, W. A. Harris, C. S. James, W. B. Miller, J. McFarland, J. L. Sawyers, J. W. Shuman, C. E. Sawyers, B. F. Sturdivant, G. F. Severs, W. W. Syp, W. Scott, C. P. Tillmont; Cincinnati, H. C. Hoch, J. M. Sturdivant, A. P. Stevenson, W. H. Stephenson; Moulton, W. L. Downing, E. T. Printz, M. Y. Sellers, W. F. Ware; Moravia, W. R. Day, G. D. Lynch; Unionville, T. J. Case; Mystic, W. J. Fenton, N. W. Labaugh; Exline, L. J. Sturdivant; Udell, J. A. Replogle; Numa, U. L. Hurt.

MERCY HOSPITAL

Through the efforts of the medical fraternity of Centerville, funds were raised by subscription and otherwise in the year 1902, amounting to about $10,000, for the purpose of establishing a hospital. The William Peatman residence, on South Main street, was purchased and another, close by, was also secured and moved to the west end of the lot. In this latter building are rooms for the nurses and a chapel. Before work on the hospital had been completed,