Obit for DR. M. MIKKELSEN (b.1850 d.1919), Wright Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Carl ========================================================================= THE WELLS FORUM ADVOCATE, published Wells, Faribault Co., Minnesota Thursday, 9 January 1919, p.1 [Note: This issue also contained the obituary of Theodore Roosevelt, who died 6 January 1919 - The placement of Dr. Mikkelsen obituary was more prominent.] DR. M. MIKKELSEN, PIONEER PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON OF WELLS, PASSES AWAY Pneumonia is given as the cause of death of aged man - for thirty five years - leading doctor in locality - figured in county's early pioneer days - has two sons, Mitchell and William, in overseas service in France - Dr. Mitchell Mikkelsen, for twenty-seven years prominent in professional life in this village and pioneer physician and surgeon of the county, died at his home here shortly after the noon hour, on Wednesday, Jan. 8th. The old gentleman had been living semi-retired for several years and was in a feeble condition when afflicted two weeks ago with an attack of pneumonia. Mitchell, a younger son, a sergeant in the military service overseas, and William B., the other son, who is connected with Red Cross work in France, were the ideals of the doctor's main concern and his last hours were filled with a desire that he might see his boys again. [this obituary continues, by duplicating, word for word, the biography in the MEMORIAL RECORD OF THE COUNTIES OF FARIBAULT, MARTIN, WATONWAN, AND JACKSON, published 1895, p.708-709. DOCTOR MITCHELL MIKKELSEN, M.D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery, in Wells, Minnesota, was born in Dane County Wisconsin, on the 27th of July, 1850, and is the eldest in a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, whose parents were Knute and Caroline (Erickson) Mikkelsen. He attended the common schools of that locality until fourteen years of age, and then aaccompanied his parents on their removal to Faribault county, Minnesota, the father securing from the Government a tract of 160 acres on section 28, Lura Township. It was all wild land on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but in course of time it was transformed into fields of rich fertility. The Doctor had attended the Clagget school, almost opposite his home, and during the summer months aided in the labors of the home farm, giving to his father the benefit of his services until twenty-two years of age.He is very familiar with the experiences of frontier life and has shared in the hardships and privations of the pioneer. At length, when a young man of twenty-two, he determined to seek a home in South Dakota, and there in 1872 laid claim to 160 acres of land, just across the river from the Indian reservation. The little cabin was quite fort-like in appearance, and on several occasions he had visits from the Indians that were not altogether of a friendly nature. He frequently visited the reservation, for there had sprung up quite a warm friendship between himself and the Indian agent, J.C. Currier, who offered him the position as herder of the Texas cattle which was owned by the agency. It was while employed in that capacity on the plains of the West that he was enabled to earn and save enough money to prosecute his studies for the medical profession. He first entered the office of Dr. Winch, of Blue Earth City, Minnesota, with whom he read medicine for a period of two years. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Keokuk, Iowa, and was graduated there with the class of 1877. Wishing to further perfect himself in his chosen life work, he next became a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, and graduated with the class of 1884. He has ever been a close and thorough student of his profession, and, though not in college, keeps himself abreast with the latest discoveries and theories connected with the science of medicine. His skill and ability are indicated by the large practice which he now enjoys and which has come to him as a reward of merit. On the 22nd of October, 1879, Mr. Mikkelsen was united in marriage with Miss Ella Heffron, a native of the Badger State and a daughter of N.L. and Anna Heffron. She was born in Columbia, Wisconsin, August 24, 1859, and died in 1890 at her home in Delavan. Two children were born to that union, but the daughter, who was the elder, died in infancy. The son, Willie B., was born November 26, 1882, and is still with his father. The Doctor was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Perizo de Runo, a lady of French extraction, who was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, a adaughter of Bruno and Mary (De Lair) Perizo de Runo. There is also one child by the second marriage, L.M., who was born in Wells, April 2, 1894. The Doctor removed to Wells in June, 1891, and now has a commodious and well appointed office over the drug store conducted by C.L. Draper. His pleasant home is located on the corner of Fourth and B streets. On the death of Dr. Daniel Straw, the practice of that popular physician was largely given to Dr. Mikkelsen, who is now doing a most excellent business. He is serving as local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company at Wells, and is pension examiner for this locality. In politics, he is a Republican, and socially, is a Mason in good standing, belonging to Winnebago City Lodge, F. & A.M., and the commandery of Albert Lea. He also belongs to the Modern wood men of the World and the A.O.U.W. The Obituary continues: The old gentleman passed away at his home, at the corner of Fourth & B Streets. The Wells community had learned to love the worthy wife and mother and the expression of grief and sympathy on the occasion of her untimely death was general. Mitchell attended the local public schools until the time of graduation from the High School. He was always of an ambitious nature and took up the study of telegraphy while still a young boy. He enlisted in the signal branch of the military service shortly after the outbreak of the war and was recently promoted to the rank of sergeant. He has been in overseas duty for several months, having last visited his father here in the summer. Dr. Mikkelsen was a close friend of the late Dr. Daniel Straw. On the death of the latter the practice was largely given to Dr. Mikkelsen. This practice is said to be the largest volume and Dr. Mikkelsen is credited with administering to more patients than any other physician who had ever engaged in the profession in the vicinity. He served as local surgeon for the Milwaukee lines and for years was the pension examiner for this locality. It was not at all uncommon for the most efficient and expert medical men of the state to call Dr. Mikkelsen into consultation in perplexing cases. Another feature of the late physician's practice was his charity to those in need. Dr. Mikkelsen never refused to answer a signal of distress. He administered to the afflicted throughout the day and long night without any thought to his own comfort. During the recent and somewhat prevalent epidemic of the influenza it was found necessary to call upon the retired veteran physician for aid. His physical condition was such that in many cases it was almost impossible for him to visit the sick and distressed but he was conscious of his duty to mankind to the last and responded cheerfully whenever called upon. His presence in the sick room gave confidence to the sick; he was dearly loved by his intimate acquaintances, reverenced by those who knew him and highly respected by all. A short service at the home Thursday afternoon at five O'clock marked the last tribute to the venerable gentleman in this village. The remains were then removed to the railway station, followed by out-of-town relatives and a number of the older residents of Wells. C.H. Draper, who for years past has been one of the closest friends of the Mikkelsen family, had charge of the arrangements for the removal of the remains and he was assisted by a committee of the membership of the local lodge of Masons. Rev. H. Armstrong, of the Presbyterian Church, officiated at the short house service. The remains were removed to Winnebago, where they were placed in a cemetery vault until such time as the sons, Mitchell and Willie, have been released and have returned home, when the interment will be made at the former home Delavan--the resting place of those of the family who have gone before. Note: Dr. Mitchell Mikkelsen was buried in Blue Earth.next to his first wife, Ella Heffron. SAINT PAUL DISPATCH, published Saint Paul, Ramsey Co., Minnesota Friday, 10 January 1919, page 9 DOCTOR GIVES HIS LIFE Answers Call in Blizzard and Contracts Pneumonia Wells, Minn., Jan. 10. --With his two boys serving their country in France, Dr. M. Mikkelsen, oldest practicing physician in Faribault County is dead at his home in this village, having sacrificed his life in a final act of service. Last Friday night, while a blizzard was ragging, there came an urgent call for help from a country home. No other doctor could be found and Dr. Mikkelsen promptly answered the call and successfully ushered into the world a pair of twins. The following day he was attacked with pneumonia, which proved fatal. Dr. Mikkelsen had been practicing in Faribault County for nearly fifty years. He located first at Delavan and came to Wells twenty-seven years ago. He was a family doctor of the old school and hundreds of people in meager circumstances bless him for services rendered for which payment was never asked or expected. He was the best loved man in this section of the country. Letter from C.H. Draper to Martha Mikkelsen on the death of her brother, Dr. Mitchell Mikkesen. [letterhead] THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK CAPITAL $100,000.00 SURPLUS $30,000.00 C.H. DRAPER, President WELLS, MINNESOTA January 27, 1919 Miss Martha Mikkelsen #1522 Yesler Way, Seattle, Wash. Dear madam: I acknowledge your letter of January 22nd, and would say that this thing all came onto us so suddenly that there was hardly time to think about it. The Doctor was induced to make a long trip into the country, over some very rough roads in extremely cold weather, in fact, it was about twenty degrees below zero. This trip should not have been undertaken under any circumstances, by him, as other doctors had refused to go, but out of kindness of heart he said he thought it was up to him to do his share. It was a confinement case and turned out to be a pair of twins. He came back and went to bed and never got out, although on Monday before he died, he seemed very bright and I could not see any reason why he should not get along all right. He thought so himself, but he seemed to be unable to discharge the accumulations in his bronchial tubes and lungs, and on account of his extremely weak condition he gradually sank until he passed away, at about one o'clock on Wednesday, January 8th. I talked with him about an hour before he died, that is, enough so that I made him understand what I said and he recognized me. It being just at the noon hour, there was no one present except the Doctor, nurse and myself. The change for the worse had not been really perceptible until that morning, and I immediately got word to the people at Delavan, his sister at Mapleton, and Knute at Nome, North Dakota. His sister came down that afternoon on the first train, but of course, was too late. Knute came the next day. We had the services at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and the next morning took the remains to Winnebago and placed them in a large vault they have there, to remain until the boys should decide what they wanted to have done. Of course, you know the Doctor has been more or less feeble ever since he was sick at the time you were here, and simply did not have the strength to overcome this last sickness. The railroad Company put on a special coach to take us to Winnebago, and brought it back on the freight train so that we did not have to stay up there all day. There were, I think, about twenty went up, and as I am not able to tell you all of the names, I won't attempt to enumerate any of them. The minister that administered the last rites was an old friend of his, and I think is probably the one he would have selected, if he could have done so himself. I cabled both of the boys immediately after the Doctor passed away, and I received a return cable from Will stating that he had received my wire and was writing. I have not yet had time to receive letters from them, although letters have come addressed to the Doctor, that were dated there on January 6th, so probably within two or three days, I will have letters written since they received my word. The addresses, if you care to write to the boys are: W.B. Mikkelsen, Camp Hospital No. 85 A.P.O. No. 701 American Expeditionary Forces, France Sgt. M.L. Mikkelsen, Company A. 313, Field Sig. Bat. A.P.O. 795, 88th Division American Expeditionary Forces, France. Very truly yours, C.H. Draper [signature] President