BIO: MEDCALF, William M., M.D., Vincennes, Ind, DaviessCo., KY -------------------------------------------- Contributed for use in USGENWEB Archives by: Phyllis Hill Date: September 04, 1998 -------------------------------------------- **************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. ***************************************************************************** Submitted by: phill@redrock.net (Phyllis Hill) BIO: MEDCALF, William M., M.D., s/o Allen & Frances (Winkler) Medcalf MEDCALF WINKLER LEATHCO History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co. 1886 Knox County, Vincennes Twp, page 371 WILLIAM M. MEDCALF, M.D., of Vincennes, Ind., was born in Dale, Spencer Co., Ind., September 11, 1838, and was the son of Allen and Frances (Winkler) Medcalf, natives respectively of Maryland and North Carolina. The father, who was born September 23, 1791, removed in early life with his parents to Nelson County, Ky., where he followed farming. In the war of 1812 he was a soldier in a Kentucky regiment, and was engaged fighting the Indians at Vincennes and at Tippecanoe. After the war he resided in Daviess County, Ky., until 1828, whence after his marriage he immigrated to Spencer County, Ind. Here he followed the occupations of farmer, carpenter and millwright, paying most attention to the latter. He was the first trustee of the town- ship and served a number of years as justice of the peace. He was also postmaster at Dale for a long time. He was well known throughout that section of country as a man of ability, energy and integrity, and he was a ruling elder of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His death occurred May 29, 1876. The subject of this sketch was brought up by his parents in his native place on a farm until he was sixteen years old, securing an academic education, and studied Greek and Latin under a private tutor. He then took a course in theology and prepared himself for the ministry, and followed this calling in Monroe, Greene and Carroll Counties, Ind., and at Lincoln, Ill., Eldora and Iowa Center, Iowa. In 1872 he assumed charge of the congregation at Washington, Ind., and remained there two years. Having given some attention to the study of medicine he now began the study of Homoeopathy under Dr. Goodhue. In 1874 he removed to Gibson County, Ind., locating in 1876 in Fort Branch, where he had charge of a congregation, still pursuing the study of medicine. In 1878 he graduated from the Missouri Homoeopathic College at St. Louis, and then took a course in the Missouri School of Midwifery, graduating and receiving the Franklin prize in surgery in his first college, being a member of Dr. E.C. Franklin's private class. Returning to Gibson County he entered regularly on the practice of medicine at Patoka and Fort Branch, remaining until February, 1884, when he came to this city, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession meeting with well=deserved success. He is a member of the Indiana Institute of Homoeopathy. He received the ad eundem degree from his alma mater in 1881. He was married, March 28, 1859, to Eugenia Leathco, a native of Kentucky, by whom he has five living children: Ella J., William E., Thomas R., Carrie E, and Ireanius A. He is a Republican in politics, a Knight Templar, and though not actively engaged in the ministry, is a member of the Indiana Presbytery, still holding his credentials and frequently officiating as a minister. His son William E., a young man grown, is totally blind, from an accident early in youth. Notwithstanding this he has received a finished education at the State Asylum for the Blind, and is one of the most accomplished organists and pianists in the city of State.