Brown County MN Archives History - Books .....The Medical Profession 1916
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 21, 2014, 9:25 pm

Book Title: History Of Brown County, See Below

CHAPTER XV

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

     The medical profession has been represented in Brown county from the time
of the earliest settlement. The hardy pioneer and his family needed the good
"family doctor" and in the dead of night, with the drifting snows of a severe
winter, or the almost impassable roads of a rainy season, the early physician
was expected to make his rounds over hill and valley to attend upon the sick of
the county, and he seldom ever failed to put in his appearance, though sometimes
he was on horseback and again on foot, having had to swim some deep, unbridged
creek or river in order that life might be prolonged, or saved in the settler's
household. The faithful doctors who practiced in Brown and adjoining counties
thirty, forty and sixty years ago are deserving of honor. It is not the object
of this chapter to treat on diseases, nor to prove the great advancement that
has been made in the medical profession in the last half century, but rather it
will be confined, largely, to reviewing in a short and personal way, the lives
of some of the early-day doctors, concluding with a list of all practicing in
the county at the present time.

EARLY PHYSICIANS.

     The first doctor to take up the profession of medicine in this county and
at New Ulm, where the first settlement was effected, was Dr. John Kaula, who
accompanied the German Land Company from Chicago in 1855, locating in New Ulm.
This pioneer physician was a graduate of the University of Budapesth, Hungary,
and probably held the oldest diploma in the state of Minnesota. He graduated
about the year 1838. He died in New Ulm about 1892, having reached his
eighty-fifth year.

     Dr. Charles Berry was born in Wyoming county, New York in 1838. He studied
medicine in Concord, New Hampshire, and in 1859, at the University of Michigan,
from which institution he graduated; also graduated from a medical college in
Buffalo, New York. He enlisted as an assistant surgeon in the One Hundred and
Sixth New York Regiment, serving until the Civil War closed, three years later.
He came to Minnesota on account of his health, in 1866. He first located in
medical practice in this state at Belleplaine, but in 1872 commenced at New Ulm.
He had for his partner for a time Doctor Wellcome, under the firm name of
Wellcome & Berry.

     Dr. Alfred Mueller was born in Berne, Switzerland, in 1825. There he
obtained his literary and medical education, graduating in 1852. In December, of
that year, he came to the United States, locating in New York City, but in 1856
came to Minnesota, practiced his profession at Stillwater until 1861. At that
date he was appointed surgeon in charge at Ft. Ridgely, where he remained until
1867. After the military post had virtually been abandoned he removed to New
Ulm, where he followed his profession. He married Eliza Eichelberger, who died
in 1876. A monument has been erected to her memory at old Ft. Ridgely, in honor
and respect to a woman who in the trying hours of the Indian siege at that post,
spared not herself in order to render her husband and other wounded men all the
assistance as nurse she possibly could. It was believed that undue exposure and
intense excitement hastened the good woman's death. The commonwealth of
Minnesota erected the monument to her memory. Doctor Mueller retired from
practice in New Ulm in the year 1889 and returned to his native land,
Switzerland, to pass his declining days. He died about six years later.

     Doctor Wescheke, born in Prussia, 1831, was educated in that country;
passed through the military surgery department of the University of Berlin, then
to the University at Greifswald, and afterward to Halle University, where he
served one year in the army according to law. In 1860 he came to New Ulm and was
the only resident physician here during the Indian massacre in 1862. He was
employed as military surgeon for the soldiers. In 1868 he went to California;
returned that autumn and established the first drug store in New Ulm in 1865,
now known as the "Pioneer Drug Store." He sold the store when he went West, but
purchased it again upon his return. In 1870 he was elected to the New Ulm city
council, and subsequently was appointed to the office of mayor in 1877; elected
in 1878, and re-elected in 1880 without opposition.

     Dr. T. M. Marcellus was a native of Canada, born in 1852. He came to the
United States in 1866, and lived at Northfield, Minnesota, for twelve years. He
was a student at Carleton College; attended medical lectures at Michigan
University, graduating in March, 1878. He at once commenced the practice of
medicine at Sleepy Eye, where he practiced several years.

     Dr. A. P. Poaps was born in 1859 in Montreal. After receiving his early
education at the common schools, he entered Kingston Royal College of Physicians
and Surgeons, which he attended during 1877-78, then entered Bellevue hospital,
New York City, graduating in the spring of 1881. In August, that year, he
located in the medical practice at Sleepy Eye.

     Dr. Jacob W. Wellcome was born in New Portland, Maine, in 1825. At the age
of sixteen years he entered Burnham's high school and remained three years, then
studied medicine. He received his diploma, and in 1856 went to Wisconsin and
commenced practice, continuing until 1858; then came to Minnesota, and the
following year located at Garden City. In 1862 he was appointed examining
surgeon for the drafted men for the Civil War, with offices at Mankato; in 1863
was first surgeon, in place of Dr. W. W. Clark, who was ill; was surgeon of the
hospital seven months; in 1872 was appointed surgeon for pensions, holding the
position four years. Doctor Wellcome assisted in forming the first medical
society in the Minnesota valley. He was surgeon for the Northwestern Railway
Company. He was at Garden City during the Sioux uprising in 1862, but practiced
at Sleepy Eye many years. He is now deceased. His son is still practicing at
Sleepy Eye.

     Dr. Harper M. Workman, born in Circleville, Ohio, in 1855, graduated in
medicine in Chicago Medical College in 1878. In 1881 he located in Sleepy Eye,
this county, where he engaged in medical practice, continuing a number of years.

     Other doctors recalled by old settlers are: Doctor Scott, who came from
Morristown, Minnesota, in 1872, and after a year or two moved to Dakota. Doctor
Wilson, a Scotchman, was here early in the seventies. He was addicted to drink
and when imbibing freely used to entertain his company by singing in good old
Scotch style such songs as "If a Body Meet a Body, Coming Through the Rye."

PHYSICIANS OF A LATER DAY.

    Prior to the year 1887, in Minnesota, it was not difficult for one to engage
in the practice of medicine, almost anyone so inclined was allowed to practice
this profession, whether he had a very limited education or a better one. But
since the date named the state has kept apace with other commonwealths in
placing a safeguard around the practice of medicine. One who desires to practice
must now pass a rigid examination and be registered as having passed such
examination in the office of the clerk of the court in the county in which he or
she wishes to practice. All who had been in active practice for five years
previous to the passage of the legislative act of February, 1887, were allowed
to continue in practice without examination.

    In Brown county the following have registered their names as required by
law—a number more in practice have failed to do so: L. A. Fritsche, July 14,
1887; J. L. Schoch, October, 1888; William P. Phister, July 5, 1890; J. W. B.
Wellcome, July, 1892; George B. Weiser, October 2, 1892; Ernest Pucklitsch,
July, 1894; Norman C. Davis, April 28, 1894; J. Albert Schultz, October 24,
1902; E. H. Current, April 17, 1908; William A. Meierding, October 15, 1909;
David Alderman Herron, April 24, 1912; Otto J. Seifert, June 24, 1912; Frank
William Pfiesterer, July 7, 1915; Theodore F. Hammermeister, July 7, 1915;
Arthur W. Eckstein, June 26, 1912.

PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY IN 1916.

     In the spring of 1916 the following were the physicians of the county:
Those residing in New Ulm were Drs. L. A. Fritsehe, George B. Weiser, Frank W.
Pfisterer, George F. Reineke, Otto J. Seifert, Ora C. Strickler, T. Hammermeister.

     Those practicing at Sleepy Eye are Drs. Michael Keifer, Mrs. Mary R.
Strickler, Gottfried Schmidt, Jacob W. B. Wellcome.

     Those at Springfield are Drs. William Meierding, John S. Shrader and John
C. Rothenburg.

     At Comfrev, Dr. David Herron.

     At Hanska, Dr. Mathia Sundt.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA
ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D.
Editor

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Old Families

VOLUME I
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana


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