Bio of CHOWNING, Dr. William M. (b.1873), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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WILLIAM M. CHOWNING, M. D. - Vol II, pg 658-662
Dr. William M. Chowning, a man of advanced scientific attainments, has devoted
much time to research and investigation along medical lines and ranks with the
foremost surgeons of Minneapolis. He was born in Millersburg. Illinois, May 10,
1873, a son of Dr. John P. and Florence (Sheriff) Chowning, the former a native
of Tennessee and the latter of Illinois. The father, who was also a successful
physi­cian, was a graduate of the Iowa Wesleyan University and the Rush Medical
College of Chicago and for many years he engaged in practice at Aledo, Illinois,
gaining a high standing in his profession. In that city he was assassinated by
an insane patient in 1895, when fifty-two years of age. The mother passed away
in 1890. Dr. Chowning loyally defended the Union cause in the Civil war, joining
the army as a volunteer when but sixteen years of age.
After completing his preliminary training, which was acquired in the public
schools of Aledo, Illinois, William M. Chowning entered Knox College at
Galesburg, that state, from which he received the Bachelor of Science degree in
1894. The next year was devoted to postgraduate work at Johns Hopkins University
of Balti­more, Maryland, which conferred upon him the A. B. degree in 1895, and
he after­ward took up educational work, teaching physics and biology in the high
school at Warren, Ohio, and also at Rock Island, Illinois. This he followed by
postgraduate work in Chicago University, specializing in biology and
bacteriology. In 1901 he was graduated from the medical department of the
University of Minnesota and for four years was an instructor in that
institution, teaching bacteriology and pathology. In the early spring of 1902
his professional services were secured by the Montana state board of health,
which desired him to make an investigation of the spotted fever epidemic, which
was spreading throughout the Bitter Root valley, and he was engaged in this
research work until 1907, continuing it during the time that he was associated
with Dr. A. W. Abbott of Minneapolis, covering a period of five years. Since
1907 he has concentrated his attention upon surgical work, in which he has
developed a high degree of efficiency, and his practice is one of extensive
proportions. He has been a member of the surgical staff of the City Hospital and
chief surgeon for the Wells Memorial Hospital and for St. Andrew's Hospital. His
studies have covered a broad field and his investigations have been most
thorough, bringing him a comprehensive knowledge of the most advanced methods,
discoveries and theories of the science of medicine and surgery.
Dr. Chowning is a veteran of the World war. In September, 1917, he was
commissioned a captain in the United States army and in February, 1918, was sent
to Washington to organize the war emergency hospital and dispensary for the
government employes in the District of Columbia. For six months he was
com­manding officer and chief of the surgical service of this hospital and
during that time he was also chief of inspection of all troops stationed in the
District of Columbia. In September, 1918, he was made chief of the surgical
service and commanding officer of Base Hospital, No. 119, and in October he
sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey, landing at Brest, France. From there he went to
Savigny, France, a hospital center, and was mustered out of the service April 1,
1919, at Camp Dix, New Jersey, returning to Minneapolis, where he resumed the
practice of his profession.
Dr. Chowning was married May 24, 1902, to Miss Sophia Thies of Minneapolis, and
they have become the parents of four children: John P., Sophia, William M., Jr.,
and Jane. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to the commandery, consistory and
Shrine, and he is also a member of the Minneapolis Club. His professional
rela­tions are with the Hennepin County and Minnesota State Medical societies
and the American Medical Association and he is also connected with Alpha Kappa
Kappa, a medical fraternity. He is deeply interested in his profession, in which
he has gained a position of distinction, and his life work is one of broad
usefulness.