Early Doctors Of Renville County 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. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Kathryn Kelly Early Doctors Of Renville County The following lists the doctors included in this excerpt: R. L. Hitchcock W. D. Flinn J. B. Welcome Dr. T. H. Sherwin Dr. Willis Clay Dr. Wesley Smalley Dr. Frank L. Puffer Robert S. Miles Carrol Clinton Carpenter T. H. Murray John J. S. McCabe Ralph C. Adams S. Dulude George W. Nichols Jennie M. Miller (Mrs. S. R.) Albert G. Stoddard J. W. Barnard Dr. Knepper S. J. Northrup Ernest Z. Vanous W. A. A. Barns Frank M. Archibald Everett C. Gaines William C. Dieterich, M. D. Dr. Joy/Joyce C. S. Knapp A. M. Crandall H. E. Lucas George H. Walker William Philander Lee Herman B. Cole, M. D. Harry Lee D'Arms, M. D. Harry E. McKibben, M. D. Wesley Smalley Henry Schoregge Fletcher W. Penhall, M. D. Reuben D. Zimbeck George H. Mesker, M. D Adolph Augustus Passer, A. B., M. D. James B. Ferguson J. D. Ellis Glenn Hymer F. C. Miller Charles Weinsma Rock Phelps Miller Edward T. Congngham Dr. Fleishman Edward M. Clay, M. D. Joseph W. Preisinger, M. D. Edward Carle Adams Allison W. Lumley L. T. Francis John R. Peterson Rebecca Shoemaker Willis Clay Richard Randall O. K. Bergan F. L. Hammerstrand E. O. Lyders John B. Setnan Otis O. Benson Olaf E. Krogstadt Carl Henry Laws F. F. Laws Jerome H. Titus William H. Welch Erick Linger Fred Foss John Edmund Doran Lauritz Fop William Davidson Rea Howard S. Clark Early Doctors Of Renville County Excerpt from The History of Renville County - Vol II, compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, published by H.C.Cooper Jr. & Co., Chicago, 1916 pp. 727-742 Several of the pioneer farmers of Renville county had received more or less medical education and practice to a certain extent among their neighbors. Before the massacre the early settlers had the advantage of medical service from the Upper and Lower Agencies from Ft. Ridgely and from New Ulm. After the massacre, many of the settlers continued to avail themselves of the services of the surgeon of Ft. Ridgely and of the physicians at New Ulm. Two of the old-time physicians of Renville county did not live in this county, but across the river in Redwood Falls, from which place they attended a large practice in Renville county. R. L. HITCHCOCK came to Redwood Falls in 1865 and started practice. He was a gifted public speaker and was often called on to address audiences at Beaver Falls on various subjects. W. D. FLINN also came to Redwood Falls at an early date, and practiced extensively in Renville county. Both of these pioneer physicians lived to a good old age. J. B. WELCOME, of Sleepy Eye, also had a few patients in Renville county in the seventies. DR. T. H. SHERWIN practiced in Beaver Falls for some years, and was probably the first practitioner to be regularly located here. He was not, however, a regular physician, and had no medical education except what he had picked up as a hospital steward during the Civil war in 1861-65. Two of the early and prominent farmer-physician of Renville county were Dr. H. SCHOREGGE, who came to Henryville in 1870; and Dr. C. S. KNAPP, who came to Cairo in 1871. DR. WILLIS CLAY, DR. WESLEY SMALLEY and DR. F. L. PUFFER had many thrilling experiences as pioneer physicians in Renville county. One incident told by Dr. Puffer illustrates some of the hardships they had to endure in their work of relieving the distressed. On the evening of Friday, Oct. 15, 1880, DR. PUFFER was called to give medical attention in a farm house seventeen miles from his home. He hitched up, and after a long ride over the dismal prairies reached his destination. When he arose in the morning he found that all travel was completely blocked by a great storm, nearly two feet of snow falling between Friday evening and Saturday night. He was thus snowbound at the home of his patient and it was a week before he could get back home. Traffic was blocked on the H. & D. for over five days. In February and March, 1881, the railroad was blockaded for forty days. The doctors found it impossible to get their horses through the snow, and often they walked long distances to visit their patients. Dr. Puffer sometimes trudged through the snow and drifts for eight or ten miles to attend to cases, and Dr. Clay and Dr. Smalley did the same. What a picture of devotion to duty is brought before the mind as we see the solitary figure making its way across the bleak prairie. Snow lies everywhere, often there is no track of any kind, sometimes the thermometer is below zero, yet we see the self-sacrificing doctor keeping on his way, his little case in his hand, suffering the greatest of bodily and mental discomforts himself in order that illness might be alleviated, anguish soothes and lives saved. Present Physicians. The present physicians of Renville county are as follows : Sacred Heart, F. L. Hammerstrand; Renville, Ed. M. Clay, J. H. Preisinger, and L. T. Francis; Danube, W. C. Dieterich; Olivia, A. A. Passer and G. F. Mesker; Bird Island, F. L. Puffer and R. C. Adams; Hector, H. L. D'Arms and H. U. McKibben; Buffalo Lake, C. K. Gaines; Fairfax, G. H. Walker and William P. Lee; Franklin, H. B. Cole; Morton, F. W. Penhall. BIRD ISLAND FRANK L. PUFFER, M. D., practitioner and a man of affairs, now a leading citizen of Bird Island, was born in Rensselaer Falls, St. Lawrence county, New York, April 29, 1852, son of La Fayette W. and Rosamond B. (Rice) Puffer. The father, who was a New York farmer, was born in Rensselaer Falls, New York, Nov. 13, 1825, was married Dec. 24, 1846, and died there April 15, 1902. The mother was born at Rensselaer Falls, July 12, 1825, and now lives in Adams, New York. After attaining the usual preparatory education in the public schools of this neighborhood, Frank L. Puffer entered the St. Lawrence University at Canton, N. Y., leaving there in 1872. Then from 1873 to 1875 he attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In 1876 he entered the Medical College of Columbia University, New York city, from which he graduated with the degree of M. D. March 1, 1877. His first practice was at Taylor Falls, Chisago county, this state. In 1878 he came to Renville county and located at Beaver Falls. Since 1881 he has been in practice in Bird Island. He is a skilled practitioner, and is the family physician of hundreds of families for miles around, some of whom he has attended for over thirty-five years. Dr. Puffer has taken a deep interest in many public affairs outside of his profession. Among such ventures may be mentioned the State Bank of Bird Island, which he assisted to organize as a private bank in 1899 and which was incorporated as a state bank in 1908, he being its only president up to the present time. He helped to organize the High school system, and has served on the board of education twenty years. For five years he was village recorder. Fraternally, he is associated with Bird Island Lodge No. 144, A. F. & A. M., Bird Island Chapter No. 40 Order of the Eastern Star, the Bird Island Commercial Club and the Minneapolis Athletic Club. Dr. Puffer was married April 29, 1879, to Anna L. Ellison, who was born Jan. 1, 1853, in Marine, Ill., and died April 5, 1911, in Bird Island, leaving two children, Florence E., born April 9, 1880, and Howard A., born April 7, 1884. Her parents were John Ellison, who was born in Long Island, N. Y., and died in 1890 at the age of seventy-six, and Elizabeth (Danford) Ellison, who was born in Illinois, and died in 1893 at the age of seventy-eight. Feb. 27, 1913, Dr. Puffer married Ida Julson, who was born in Winfield township, Renville county. [the book contains a portrait photo of Frank Puffer.] ROBERT S. MILES received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Jan. 24, 1901, and offered it for record Nov. 25, 1901. He practiced in Bird Island two years and then moved to Excelsior, Minn., next removing to Enumclaw, Wash., where he is still practicing. CARROL CLINTON CARPENTER received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board June 10, 1897. He located in Bird Island in 1898 or 99 and remained about three years, next going to Dwight, Ill., for a year or two. Then he returned to Bird Island for a short time and since then has been in various places. He is at present at Litchfield, Minn. T. H. MURRAY, formerly of Bird Island, who recently died, practiced his profession at Bird Island for a number of years. He left Bird Island about nine years ago and lived in Iowa until his death. JOHN J. S. MCCABE received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Dec. 4, 1883, and offered it for record May 5, 1903. RALPH C. ADAMS, one of the rising physicians of Renville county, was born in Utica, Pennsylvania, in 1879. He attended the common schools and the McElwain Institute until 1898. In 1902 he graduated from the Westminster College at New Wilmington, Penn., with the degree of B. S. In 1906 he graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Penn. Then he spent six months as an interne in the Children's Hospital, in Philadelphia, and about four months as assistant to Dr. McClelland at Utica, Penn. Since April 15, 1907, he has been in active practice in Bird Island. He is well liked, public spirited, and a useful citizen. S. DULUDE practiced in Bird Island from 1912 to 1913. In 1913 he removed to Minneapolis where he is still in practice. BEAVER FALLS T. H. SHERWIN was the first physician of Beaver Falls village and probably the first village physician in the county. GEORGE W. NICHOLS graduated from the Vermont Academy of Medicine, Vermont, in 1861, received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board, Dec. 31, 1883, and presented his certificatefor record April 14, 1890. He remained in Beaver Falls for about three years. JENNIE M. MILLER (Mrs. S. R.) received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Nov. 28, 1883, and offered it for record Dec. 21, 1883. Previous to this she had been practicing as an obstetrician and when the law was passed requiring an examination of physicians she secured a license under the exemption clause of the law. She remained in Beaver Falls for a few years, and then went to Washington, D. C., where she became a worker in one of the government departments. ALBERT G. STODDARD graduated from the Rush Medical College, Illinois, in 1882, received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Nov. 14, 1883, and presented his certificate for record Dec. 15, 1883. In 1892 he moved to Franklin, next going to Fairfax and then removed to Idaho, where he is still practicing. J. W. BARNARD conducted a drug store in Beaver Falls prior to 1877. He and his wife, Jennie S. Bernard graduated from the medical department of the University of Michigan, in 1878, and that fall took up the practice of medicine in Beaver Falls. In 1880 they located in Bird Island. Two years later they moved to Motley, Minn. After three or four years there they moved to Oregon where they still reside. BUFFALO LAKE DR. KNEPPER practiced in Buffalo Lake in the early days. S. J. NORTHRUP practiced in Buffalo Lake about three years. He was run over by the cars in the railroad yard in the fall of 1903, and died the next morning. He is buried at Hutchinson, Minn. ERNEST Z. VANOUS practiced here for about a year after his graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1897. He was reared at Glencoe, and is now a physician in Minneapolis. W. A. A. BARNS practiced in Buffalo Lake a short time about 1897. He was not considered a good physician and is understood to have experienced considerable trouble after leaving here. FRANK M. ARCHIBALD was located in Buffalo Lake a few weeks, coming from Gibbon in March, 1895. Then he located in Atwater, from which place he continued to practice to some extent in the northeastern part of Renville county. He was a large, jovial man, and is well remembered by many of the residents. He moved from Atwater in 1906 and is now in Mahnoman, in the state. EVERETT C. GAINES received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board, April 10, 1900, and offered it for record Feb. 17, 1906. DANUBE WILLIAM C. DIETERICH, M. D., was born at St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 25, 1871. He received his education in St. Louis and graduated from the Homoepathic Medical College of that place, March, 1895. He practiced in St. Louis until 1898 when he moved to Minneapolis, where he remained until 1912, coming to Danube at that time. He was married January 1, 1912, to Nellie Converse of Minneapolis. FAIRFAX The first physician in Fairfax is but dimly remembered and but little is known about him. His name is said to have been JOY and by others to have been JOYCE. C. S. KNAPP was born in 1826, in Connecticut, and when twelve years old moved with his parents to the state of New York. He was given an academical education and then followed the drug business four years. Began the study of medicine at the age of eighteen, and in 1851 graduated from the Syracuse Medical College; practiced in that city five years and then continued in the work of his profession in Columbia county, Wisconsin, until 1871, at which time he came to Cairo. He engaged in farming and in the practice of his profession. In 1883 he opened a drug store in Fairfax. Married in 1848, Miss E. M. Imson; the children are W. E., Frank S., B. A., Ida May and William H. A. M. CRANDALL received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board June 9, 1896, and offered it for record Sept. 18, 1908. H. E. LUCAS practiced here for a while. GEORGE H. WALKER received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board June 26, 1908, and offered it for record June 17, 1909. WILLIAM PHILANDER LEE received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board, July 10, 1884, and offered it for record July 19, 1894. FRANKLIN HERMAN B. COLE, M. D., a well-known physician of Franklin, was born at Buffalo, New York, Sept. 6, 1872. His father, Nelson W. Cole, is a retired farmer and at the age of seventy-seven is living with his son Herman. His mother, Josephine (Blackmar) Cole died in 1897 at the age of fifty-four. Dr. Cole attended school at Hamburg, N. Y., and graduated from the High school there in 1890. Having decided to study medicine he entered the University of Buffalo, and graduated from the Medical Department in 1896. In 1910 and 1912 he attended the Post Graduate Medical School at New York City. He was interne in the Erie County Alms House Hospital at Buffalo for one and one-half years and another year and a half was spent at Hamburg, New York. Feb 1, 1898, he located at Franklin, where he still resides. Dr. Cole is greatly interested in affairs pertaining to his work and is a member of several medical societies, belonging to the Camp Release District Medical Society, the Minnesota State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a specialist in diseases of the eye. He has been recognized as an efficient worker in village affairs, has been mayor for two years and is at present a member of the village council. He is also the health officer for the village of Franklin and for Palmyra township. He has taken a part in the educational advancement of the village and is president of the school board. Dec. 8, 1896, Dr. Cole united in marriage to Ella M. McCue of Buffalo, New York. Her father, James McCue, is a well-known real estate man and horseman. Her mother was Margaret (Cleary) McCue. Dr. and Mrs. Cole have been blessed with five children: Josephine Virginia, born Sept. 15, 1900; Donald Francis, born Jan. 9, 1902, and died Jan. 20, 1906; Burgess Luke, born June 8, 1904; John Gordon, born August 28, 1907; and Margaret Audrey, born July 6, 1914. HECTOR HARRY LEE D'ARMS, M. D., was born in Stillwater, Minn., May 14, 1868, son of John and Mary (Wheeler) D'Arms. He attended the public schools of his locality and graduated from the Stillwater High school. Then he entered the University of Michigan and during 1888-90 was a student in the medical department. In 1891 he entered the medical department of the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1892. He became an interne in the City Hospital at Minneapolis, remaining for one year, and then went to the Iron Range where he followed his profession for five years at McKinley and Eveleth. For three years he was president of the council at Eveleth. In 1896 he came to Hector, opened an office, and has since continued in practice here. From 1910 to 1912 he was county coroner. Fraternally he is a thirty-second degree mason, and a memberof the M. B. A. and M. W. A. of Hector. Dr. D'Arms was married Sept. 27, 1893, to Maude O. Brearley of Minneapolis. HARRY E. MCKIBBEN, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Hector, was born in Douglas county, Minn., Oct. 24, 1880, son of Joseph and Louisa (Butler) McKibbin, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Indiana. The parents were married in Douglas county where they engaged in farming until the spring of 1881 when they moved to Day county, South Dakota They were successful and representative people and there followed farming until the spring of 1903 when they retired and moved to Webster, South Dakota, where they now reside. They have the following children: Harry E., of Hector, Minn.; Guy, who now operates the farm in Day county, South Dakota Addie, now wife of Emil F. Peterson, a miller of Webster, South Dakota; Ray, who is studying engineering at the University of Minnesota; and Lloyd, a student at the Webster (South Dakota) High school. Harry E. McKibben attended district school in Day county and entered the Webster High school where he graduated in 1900. He then attended the College of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Minnesota from which he graduated June 17, 1904. June 29, 1904, he came to Hector, where on July 7, he opened an office and engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery. He had been very successful, has built up a good practice both in the city and the surrounding country, and specializes in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. In 1910 he took a post-graduate course in general practice at the Chicago Postgraduate School and during the summers of 1911 and 1912 he took post-graduate courses in the Eye, Ear and Throat College at Chicago. Dr. McKibben owns a sightly residence in Hector and is a member of the Commercial Club and of the Auotmobile Club. He has served on the board of health and is the surgeon of the C. M. & St. P. Railway Co. at Hector. Fraternally he is associated with the Hector Lodge 158, A. F. & A. M. He is a stockholder in the Hector Farmers Elevator and in the Hector Telephone Exchange. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. McKibben was married June 18 1907, to Ella F. Lunder. WESLEY SMALLEY, native of Vermont, was born in 1849. At the age of eighteen he moved to Massachusettes, and one year after went to Kansas; attended Normal school, then taught for a time, before commencing the study of medicine; [graduated] from the medical department of the Iowa State University, and began practice at Nemaha, Kansas; from there he came to Hector in 1881. His influence on educational life in Hector was especially strong. After living in Hector a while he went away. Later he returned and practiced many years before removing to Seattle, Wash., where he died some two years ago. HENRYVILLE HENRY SCHOREGGE was born April 18, 1816. He attended school at different places in Germany, his native land, and after graduating, devoted some time to the study of medicine. Upon coming to this country he practiced four months in New York city, and then in Boston until 1870, when he located on his farm in Henryville, where he farmed and practiced medicine. He was also justice of the peace and postmaster. Dr. Schoregge married, November 26, 1846, Johanna Laidner; and had eleven children. MORTON FLETCHER W. PENHALL, M. D., was born in Brooklyn, Ontario, Canada, July 24, 1862. He graduated from the Port Perry (Ontario) High school in 1885; the Trinity Medical College, Toronto, Canada, in 1889; and the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, in 1891. He has been in practice in Morton since May, 1891. He is surgeon for the M. & St. L. Ry., and a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ontario, the American Medical Association, the Minnesota State Medical Association and the Camp Release Medical Society. REUBEN D. ZIMBECK graduated from the Rush Medical College, Ill., in 1885, received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Sept. 16, 1886, and presented his certificate for record Sept. 17, 1886. He located in Morton in August, 1886, and in April, 1890, moved to Montevideo, this state, where he is still in active practice. He was preceded at Morton by Dr. Prather and succeeded by Dr. Penhall. OLIVIA GEORGE H. MESKER, M. D., a resident physician of Olivia, Minnesota, was born in Kelso township, Sibley county, Minnesota, July 10, 1873, son of Herman and Wilhelmina (Buesing) Mesker, natives respectively of Hanover and Baden, Germany. Herman Mesker was brought to America by his parents as an infant. Wilhelmina Buesing came with her parents at the age of eighteen. Both families located in Ohio where the young people grew to manhood and womanhood and married. In 1858 they came to Minnesota, driving through Iowa to Sibley county by team and located a piece of wild land where they built a log cabin and lived the rest of their days. Herman Mesker died at the age of seventy-eight and his wife at the age of forty-seven. They had nine children, George H. being the youngest. He attended the district school and the Henderson High school. Then he taught school in his home township a year In 1896 he graduated from the College of Medicine and Surgery, University of Minnesota. After a year spent as a hospital interne, he came to Oliva in 1897, opened an office, and has since continued in practice. Dr. Mesker has held office as a council member, is on the school board and is a member of the Olivia Lodge No. 220, A. F. & A. M. He was united in marriage to Ella Dressel, born in St. Paul, daughter of early pioneers of the state who came from Germany. Two children, Douglas and Clifford, have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Mesker. ADOLPH AUGUSTUS PASSER, A. B., M. D., physician and surgeon of Olivia, was born in Luverne, Minnesota, Jan. 3, 1880, son of Ludwig and Pauline (Boehlke) Passer, Minnesota pioneers, the father who now resides at Waseca, this state, having been a clergyman in the German Evangelical Church for some fifty years. Dr. Passer graduated from the Waseca High school, and then took the four-year course in the Academic Department of the University of Minnesota, receiving his degree in 1902. Then for five years he was principal of the High school at Virginia, this state, and then engaged as a druggist at St. Cloud for a year. In 1908 he began the study of medicine at the University of Minnesota, completing his course in 1912. While attending medical school he served as assistant surgeon of the Soldier's Home Hospital at Minneapolis for a year and was for a similar period interne in the St. Thomas Hospital. He is a member of the Phi Beta Pi, the medical fraternity. After graduation he spent a year as an interne at the Minneapolis City Hospital, and in April, 1913, came to Olivia, where he is now engaged in general practice. He has taken his part in the life of Olivia, is a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank, a member of the Rod and Gun club, and of the Commercial club. Fraternally his affiliation is with the A. F. & A. M. Dr. Passer has been county coroner since 1913, and has served for some years as a member of the Olivia village Board of Health. He is also second lieutenant of Company H, Third Regiment, M. N. G. His professional connections are many. He belongs to the Camp Release Medical Society, the Minnesota State Medical Association and the American Medical Association, and is local examiner for the N. Y. Mutual Life Insurance Co.; the Northwest Mutual, of Milwaukee; Fidelity Mutual; Equitable Life Insurance Society; Minnesota Mutual Life; Dakota Life Insurance Co.; the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors. He is a member of the staff of the West Side General Hospital of St. Paul. In politics he is a Republican, and his faith is that of the German Evangelical church. Dr. Passer was married May 15, 1913, in Minneapolis, to Irene Morek, daughter of James and Caroline (Locke) Morek. JAMES B. FERGUSON, for some forty years a Medical Officer in the United States, and for some time a physician at Olivia, first came to Minnesota in 1870, when he reached St. Paul on his way to Ft. Totten, North Dakota. In all he spent some twenty years in the Department of Dakota. Nov. 30, 1891, he resigned from the army, and after considering a number of places decided upon Olivia as the scene of his future activities. He reached Olivia, Dec. 25, 1891, and while looking about for a home, boarded at the old Merchants Hotel, at that time kept by Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, Sr. Dr. Ferguson located in Olivia because he had confidence in the people who were interested in its welfare and growth and because at that time there was a need of a physician, none being then located here. The country around was an excellent farming area, the village had good railroad facilities, and even at that time it seemed the logical place for the county seat. Dr. Ferguson at once won the esteem of the people and established a good practice. He took part in the county seat fight and was an able assistant to such county-seat fighters as Peter W. Heins, Hans Gronnerud, P. H. Kirwan, Thad. P. McIntyre and others. The doctor found, however, that after so many years of army service the life of a village physician was too strenuous, so on June 4, 1898, in response to a telegram from the Surgeon General, United States Army, Washington, D. C., asking him to reenter the service, he accepted, and was assigned to Ft. Yellowstone, Wyoming. In April, 1911, he retired, and with his wife, who in the meantime had continued to live in Olivia, moved to St. Paul, where he now lives. J. D. ELLIS practiced in Olivia for a year in 1891. GLENN HYMER practiced in Olivia for a year or two about 1911. He moved to Williston, North Dakota, where he died in 1913. F. C. MILLER was born on a farm near Northfield, this state, worked as a druggist, attended a school of pharmacy at Portland, Oregon, graduated from the medical department of Hamline University with honors, and started practice in Olivia in October, 1899. CHARLES WEINSMA graduated from the University of Utrecht, Holland, in 1872, received a certificate from the Medical Examing Board, Sept. 18, 1884, and presented his certificate for record Dec. 18, 1890. He practiced at Olivia some two to five years. ROCK PHELPS MILLER received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Oct. 13, 1896, and offered it for record Nov. 9, 1899. He remained in Sacred Heart a short time but is out of practice now. EDWARD T. CONGNGHAM graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Minneapolis, Minn., in 1886, received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board June 3, 1886, and presented his certificate for record April 13, 1887. He practiced in Olivia for about six months in 1887. RENVILLE The first physician in Renville was DR. FLEISHMAN, an eccentric character well remembered by the early settlers. EDWARD M. CLAY, M. D., physician and surgeon of Renville, was born in Oronoco, Olmsted county, Minnesota, March 2, 1866, son of Mark W. and Johanna P. (Stoddard) Clay. He attended the public schools of his native county, and in 1884 removed with his father to Hutchinson, in this state. It was in 1887 when he came to Renville, then without a paper, and became editor of the Renville Weekly News, which was established by C. L. Lorraine the same week of his arrival, and continued editing it until 1889. In the meantime he had engaged in private study, and upon leaving the newspaper desk, found himself well-qualified to enter the Minneapolis College of Physicians and Surgeons at Minneapolis, from which he graduated in 1893 with the degrees of M. D. and C. M. Having thus realized an ambition of many years, he opened an office in Renville, where he still continues to practice. He has built up a large practice, and is well deserving of the esteem and confidence in which he is held by the people of the village and surrounding rural districts. Keeping thoroughly abreast of the latest discoveries in science and medicine, he has perfected his previous study and experience by post-graduate work in several branches. Being thoroughly ethical in the practice of the ideals of his profession he has allied himself with the Camp Release District Medical Association, the Southern Minnesota Medical Association, the Minnesota State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He is medical examiner for eighteen Old Line, so-called, insurance companies, and has been local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for some twenty years. Locally the health and sanitation of the community has benefitted by his valued services as county coroner twelve years, county physician four years, and village health officer for several years. Dr. Clay is past worshipful master of Renville Lodge, No. 193, A. F. & A. M., and in 1904 he served as deputy grand master, Minnesota Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen and other orders. Too busy with his work to mingle actively in political life, he nevertheless has consented to serve for two years as alderman of Renville from the second ward, and his sane and conservative judgement was thoroughly appreciated by his contituents. Dr. Clay was married October 14, 1893, to Belle C. Benson, daughter of David a nd Carrie (Knutson) Benson, of Renville. This union has been blessed with two children. Florence J. was born May 20, 1906. An unnamed infant is deceased. Mark W. Clay, one of Minnesota's sturdy territorial pioneers, was a native of the Granite State, having been born of New England ancestry in the state of New Hampshire. In the early fifties, when so many of the scions of the early settlers on the Atlantic slope were striking westward to take their part in the suduing of the Northwestern wilderness, Mark M. Clay joined the vanguard, and the year 1853 found him located in Oronoco, Olmsted county. He engaged for many years in the mercantile business in Oronoco in that county. In 1884 he moved to Hutchinson, in this state, where he died at the age of sixty-eight years. At the outbreak of the civil war he organized Company K, Third Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and was elected captain. He was mustered in on November 14, 1861, and retired December 1, 1862. Mark W. Clay was married in 1857 to Johanna P. Stoddard, a native of Massachusetts, who came to Minnesota with her estimable parents in 1853. She died at Oronoco, in Olmsted county, this state, in 1884, at the age of fifty-three. Later in life Mr. Clay married Emma Brundage. By his first marriage he was the father of seven children: Ida A., Maggie W., Edward M., Harvey J., Wellington S., Zelda M., and Charles F. Ida A. is the wife of William H. Hoffman, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, a contractor. They have four children: Mark (deceased), Merle, Claude and Charles. Maggie W. is the wife of John W. West, a harness manufacturer of Browntown, Minnesota, and they have three children: Earl, Ruth and Donald. Edward M. is a physician at Renville. He married Belle C. Benson, and they have one child, Florence J. Wellington S. lives in Hutchinson, Minnesota. He married Effie Powell, and they have five children: James, Josephine, Mark, Elizabeth and Warren. Harry J. lives at Hutchinson. He married Maud Sofford and has one son, Arthur Clay. Zelda M. is the wife of Frank Chase, of San Franscisco, and they have one daughter, Margaret. Charles F. is proprietor of Sacred Heart Hotel at Sacred Heart. He married Byrdina Lambert, and they have four children: Marshall, Marcia, Virginia and Lambert. JOSEPH W. PREISINGER, M. D., was born Dec. 22, 1874, in Nicholette county, Minn., son of Wolfgang and Juliana (Gerl) Preisinger. On completing the work of the country school he entered the New Ulm High school, from which he graduated in 1900. He then entered the School of Medicine of the University of Minn., receiving his diploma in 1904. He began practicing in Renville, where he still remains, having a large practice. He is a democrat in politics, and for two terms was a health officer of Renville. Catholic Foresters and Knights of Columbus. Dr. Preisinger was married Oct. 12, 1911, to Ella Wigdahl, born Aug. 22, 1890, in Westby, Vernon county, Wisconsin, her parents being Peter and Mary Wigdahl. They have one child, Myrtle, born Dec. 3, 1912. Wolfgang Preisinger was born in 1828 and died at New Ulm, Minn., in 1898. He came to America with his parents in 1861 and settled near New Ulm, where he engaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the Second Battery, Light Artillery, Minnesota Volunteers, and saw service in Kentucky and Tennessee under General Rosecrans. During the year of his enlistment he received word at Frankfort, Ky., of the Indian outbreak at his home and asked for leave of absence to go home and look after his folks. He was refused and a few days later deserted, but before reaching home was taken prisoner by the Confederates. He escaped and went home, instead of returning to his regiment. On his arrival he found that the country had been laid waste. After spending two weeks in hunting for his folks he found them all safe at Mankato and St. Peter. Returning to the farm they rebuilt their houses and barns and in the fall of 1862 Mr. Preisinger went to Wisconsin and enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry under an assumed name. He was with Grant beforeVicksburg and Richmond. He was mustered out at the close of the war. Returning home he married and took up a homestead near New Ulm where he lived until 1897 when he sold his farm and moved to New Ulm. Six children were born to him as the result of his marriage in 1868: Mary, now Mrs. A. J. Fischer, of Brown Co., Minn.; Annie, the wife of Frank Bartl, of Stirum, North Dakota; Frances, widow of George Dauscheck, of New Ulm; Joseph, of Renville; Sophia, who resides with her mother; Theresa, who died in 1887. Peter Wigdahl was born in Wisconsin in 1859 and his wife was born in the same state in 1861. They had fifteen children, thirteen of whom are living: Carl, George, Mabel, Nordahl, Ella, Jeanette, Edward, John, Myrtle, Hazel, Esther, Lloyd, and Emerson. Two died in infancy. Mr. Wigdahl is a farmer and for several years has lived on his farm in Crooks township, Renville county. EDWARD CARLE ADAMS received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Oct. 13, 1905, and offered it for record Nov. 17, 1908. ALLISON W. LUMLEY received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Oct. 5, 1894, and offered it for record Oct. 1, 1895. In about 1912 he left for Ellsworth, Wisconsin. L. T. FRANCIS has practiced in Renville since Nov. 23, 1909. He studied medicine in the Bennett Medical College, of Chicago, in 1881-82, and then became associated with Dr. L. Pratt, of Wheaton, Ill., who proved a most excellent preceptor. It was through his influence that the young student adhered to the Homeopathic school of practice. In the spring of 1884, Dr. Francis took his degree from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. Then he practiced with his preceptor for another year, subsequently going to College Springs, Iowa, where he remained for a year and a half. He then found himself compelled to come north on account of the malaria. Sept. 2, 1886, he located in Wasioja, Minn., where he practiced for some seventeen years, moving from there to Hammond, Minn., from which town he came to Renville for the purpose of placing his three sons in the Renville High school, from which institution all three have since graduated. In the winter of 1889-90, Dr. Francis took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Polyclinic College. Since that time he has not confined his practice to the Homeopathic school but uses those remedies which he believes for the highest interest of his patients. JOHN R. PETERSON received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board June 10, 1897, and offered it for record August 2, 1897. He then located at Renville. In 1900 he went to Madison, Minn., and left there for Willmar in 1904 or 05. In about 1910 he moved to Minneapolis where he is still practicing. REBECCA SHOEMAKER received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Dec. 31, 1883, and offered it for record January 19, 1884. WILLIS CLAY was born in 1854, in Chicago, Ill. About four year later he went with his widowed mother to New York but one year after removed to Minnesota. Dr. Clay attended the high school at Plainview and began the study of medicine there in 1877, with Dr. J. P. Waste. Two years after, he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, and after graduating from there in 1880 was in practice in Renville. Dr. Clay taught school while studying medicine. In 1900 Dr. Clay moved from Renville to Iowa, where he remained about two years and then moved to Waterville, Minn., where he operates a drug store and practices medicine. RICHARD RANDALL practiced in Renville in the early days. He was educated in the college at Keokuk, Iowa, and came to Renville from Le Sueur county, this state. He afterwards returned to Le Sueur county and died there. SACRED HEART O. K. BERGAN received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Oct. 9, 1891, and offered it for record Nov. 4, 1891. F. L. HAMMERSTRAND was born on a farm in the vicinity of East Lunn, Ill., Oct. 11, 1881. He received his early education in the grammar school in the country and then worked on his father's farm until fourteen years of age. Next he attended the Augustana College, at Rock Island, Ill., taking up a business course and for the next three years was bookkeeper with the Northern Milling Company of Chicago, Ill. In 1903 he again entered the collegiate department of Augustana College with the intention of preparing for the medical course. In 1905 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons., Medical Department of the University of Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1909. He then served as interne for two years at the Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, Ill. In the fall of 1911 he located at Sacred Heart, where he has since practiced medicine. E. O. LYDERS was an early physician of Sacred Heart, practicing there in the early eighties. JOHN B. SETNAN received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board, June 9, 1896, and offered it for record Dec. 23, 1897. OTIS O. BENSON received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board April 11, 1902, and offered it for record August 4, 1906. Dr. Benson is now in Tower, Minn., engaged in the government service. He practiced at Hector before going to Sacred Heart. OLAF R. KROGSTADT received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board, April 8, 1892, and offered it for record March 15, 1901. CARL HENRY LAWS received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board July 5, 1911, and offered it for record August 14, 1911. F. F. LAWS graduated from the Chicago Medical College, Illinois, in 1874, received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board July 16, 1886, and presented his certificate for record Aug. 14, 1911. JEROME H. TITUS received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board, Jan. 24, 1901, and offered it for record, Nov. 25, 1901. WILLIAM H. WELCH graduated from the Medical Department, University of Vermont in 1880, received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Dec. 31, 1883, and presented his certificate for record Jan. 2, 1889. ERICK LINGER practiced in Sacred Heart for a while. FRED FOSS is another physician who has practiced in Sacred Heart. MISCELLANEOUS JOHN EDMUND DORAN receivied a certificate from the Medical Examining Board June 16, 1898, and offered it for record July 10, 1902. LAURITZ FOP graduated from the Eclectric Bennett Medical College, Illinois, in 1872, received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board Dec. 28, 1883, and presented his certificate for record Jan. 10, 1884. WILLIAM DAVIDSON REA receivied a certificate from the Medical Examining Board June 16, 1898, and offered it for record Sept. 19, 1907. HOWARD S. CLARK received a certificate from the Medical Examining Board June 10, 1897.