Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....East, M. D. , Eric Hjalmar February 2, 1866 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com August 29, 2010, 12:31 am

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 541 - 542
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     DR. ERIC HJALMAR EAST, M. D., who enjoys a large practice in medicine and 
surgery in Portland, has led a busy and useful life, during a part of which he 
passed through unusual experiences, and his efficient and successful 
professional career and his consistent private life have gained for him high 
standing among all who know him. Dr. East was born in Sweden, on the 2d of 
February, 1866, and is a son of Carl Peter and Fredrika (Oster) East. The 
mother died in 1870. His father, who was born in Sweden in 1818, was for many 
years an instructor in the Swedish army, and his death occurred in 1887. They 
were the parents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters.

     Dr. East received his early education in the public schools of his native 
country and in 1885 came to the United States. He pursued his classical 
studies in Chicago University, and then took up the study of medicine in the 
University of Kentucky, completing his professional work in the medical school 
of the University of Louisville, from which he was graduated with the degree 
of Doctor of Medicine in 1901. He served in the clinic of the Louisville City 
Hospital, after which he took postgraduate work in the New York Lying-in 
Hospital, the Chicago Polyclinic and the New York Skin and Cancer Hospital. He 
then went to Burmah, India, locating at Chin Hills. In the course of his 
medical work there he covered an area of two hundred by four hundred miles, 
over much of which travel was difficult and often dangerous, and most of his 
work was with the wild Chin people, a barbaric tribe. "On one occasion I was 
to be killed by a company of about fifty natives in a village on my first 
visit among them. On another occasion one of the headhunters came to my house 
and frankly told me that he wanted the head of a white man — and as I was the 
only white man there at the time he of course wanted my head, but we parted 
friends he with his head and I with mine in their respective and proper 
places." Dr. East became familiar with the territory covered and described by 
Marco Polo, the noted early Spanish traveler and writer. While there Dr. East 
made an exhaustive study of conditions causing goitre, and has written on that 
disease, as found there, his articles appearing in leading medical journals. 
At Fort Haka he designed and built the Emily Tyzzer Memorial Hospital. In 1912 
Dr. East came to Portland, where he has since devoted his attention to the 
general practice of medicine and surgery, in which he has been very successful.

     In 1903, in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. East was united in marriage to Miss 
Emily Johnson, who was born in Sundsvall, Sweden. She was brought to this 
country when two years old, attended the public schools of Moline, Illinois, 
graduating from high school, and took a course in Augustana College. Dr. and 
Mrs. East have six children, namely: Allen W., now twenty-four years of age, 
who was born in India, attended the public schools of Chicago and Portland, 
and Redland University, in California, and is now a student in the University 
of Oregon, where he is preparing for a professorship in literature; Paul 
Warren, aged twenty-two years, was also born in India, attended Redland 
University, and is devoting his attention to business affairs; Kenneth H., 
aged twenty years, was born in India; Eleanor Charlotte, aged fifteen years, 
Marjorie Emily, aged twelve and Elizabeth Eva, aged seven are at home. Dr. and 
Mrs. East are deservedly proud of their children, to whom they are giving 
every educational advantage.

     The Doctor is a member of Hawthorne Lodge, No. 111, A. F. & A. M.; Oregon 
Consistory, No. 1, A. A. S. R.; the Portland City and the Multnomah County 
Medical Society. He and his wife are earnest members of the White Temple 
Baptist church of Portland, and give their support to every worthy cause 
having for its object the advancement of the public welfare. The Doctor is a 
man of wide educational attainments, a man of mature convictions and broad 
views of life and its problems, is an interesting conversationalist and 
throughout the community honored by his residence he is held in the highest 
esteem.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/eastmd1253gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/

File size: 4.9 Kb