Hiram E. McNutt, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 832-833 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	A photo of Hiram E. McNutt, M. D. faces page 832

	HIRAM E. McNUTT, A. M., M. D., of Aberdeen, is a native of Warren 
county, New York, where he was born on the 21st day of September, 1848. 
His lineage is of a distinguished order and has long been noted for 
high intellectuality and scrupulous honor. His father, Hiram McNutt, 
who was also a physician and surgeon, rose to a position of signal 
usefulness in the profession and practiced for many years in the state 
of New York. After receiving a preparatory education, the subject, when 
a young man, entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 
1869, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and two years later received 
the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the same institution, in addition 
to which he was also honored with the degree of Master of Arts. With a 
mind thoroughly disciplined by intellectual and professional training, 
the Doctor, in the early seventies, began practicing with his father, 
but two years later left New York and located at Huron, Erie county, 
Ohio, where he built up a lucrative professional business and remained 
until 1879, when he found a new field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His 
career in the latter city covered the greater part of four years, 
during which time he continually added to his reputation as an able 
physician and surgeon and rose to a high rank among his professional 
associates.  

	Closing out his practice in Milwaukee in the spring of 1883, Dr. 
McNutt, on April 23d of that year, came to Aberdeen, South Dakota, 
being among the first medical men to open an office in this city. He 
soon won an extensive practice, which for some years extended over 
thirteen of the surrounding counties, and to visit his patients 
scattered throughout this large territory required almost constant 
travel and an expenditure of vital energy of which the present day 
physician can form but a faint conception. He has been continuously in 
practice ever since, and is now regarded as the leading physician and 
surgeon of Aberdeen and one of the ablest men of his profession in the 
state of South Dakota.  

	In 1885 Dr. McNutt took a leading part in organizing the State 
Medical Society, of which he served for several years as secretary. He 
was also prominent in establishing the District Medical Society of 
Aberdeen, serving for several years as its secretary. He was honored by 
a place on the state board of health, retiring from the position in 
March, 1903, to accept the appointment as a member of the state board 
of medical examiners under the new law of that year, of which body he 
has ever since been secretary. He served as United States pension 
examiner for some years, and has for several years held the position of 
local surgeon for the Northwestern Railroad Company. For several years 
he has served as superintendent of the Brown county board of health. 
Perhaps the greatest service rendered South Dakota by Dr. McNutt, 
greater than that of any other man in his profession, was his work in 
bringing about favorable action of the legislature in creating the 
state board of medical examiners, and regulating the practice of 
medicine and surgery in the state. This was accomplished in 1903, in 
March of which year Governor Herreid signed the bill providing for a 
board of seven members representing the different schools of medicine, 
the object of the board being the issuance of licenses to physicians 
practicing in the state and for the protection of the people against 
quacks, charlatans and itinerant doctors without professional standing. 
This bill, which embodies the most careful investigation in the matter 
of medical supervision, has received not only the sanction, but the 
highest encomiums from the leading men of the profession in the united 
States and stands as a model document of the kind, both from a literary 
and professional standpoint. Suitable recognition has been accorded Dr. 
McNutt for his earnest and untiring efforts in securing its passage, 
and in the capacity of secretary of the board he has been equally as 
strenuous in enforcing all of the provisions and requirements of the 
much needed law.  

	While living in Milwaukee, Dr. McNutt became identified with the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen joining Lodge No. 74, of which he was a 
charter member. He rose rapidly in the councils of the order in 
Wisconsin, was chosen representative to the grand lodge in 1882, and, 
after removing to South Dakota, was elected grand overseer of the grand 
lodge of this state in 1891, two years later being honored with the 
highest office within the gift of the organization. that of grand 
master. During his incumbency in the latter position, he traveled 
extensively over the jurisdiction, which includes both North and South 
Dakota, at a great sacrifice to his professional business, visited and 
established lodges in a number of counties, increased the membership by 
over three thousand, and dot only greatly strengthened the order, but 
systematized its work and added much to its efficiency and usefulness. 
The impetus given the work of the organization under his official 
direction is still maintained, and today the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen of Dakota is in as good if not better condition than in any 
other state in the Union.  

	Dr. McNutt is prominent in Masonic circles, being a thirty-
second-degree Scottish-rite Mason. He holds membership with the Valley 
of Aberdeen Consistory No. 4, and served two years as venerable master 
of the Lodge of Perfection. In addition to this high station, he has 
been honored with other important positions in the order from time to 
time. Being a man of scholarly tastes, he is well read, not only in his 
profession but in general literature, and is well informed on the 
leading questions and political issues of the day. Since his twenty-
first year he has been an ardent and uncompromising Republican, and as 
such has attended a number of county, district and state conventions as 
a delegate. He has always manifested a pardonable pride in the city of 
Aberdeen and, as a member of its common council for two years, was 
instrumental in bringing about a number of needed reforms and 
improvements, although conservative in the matter of public 
expenditures. He has faith in the future of South Dakota and, being 
imbued with the energetic and optimistic spirit characteristic of the 
true western man of today, lends his energy and influence to whatever 
makes for the present growth and ultimate development and prosperity of 
the commonwealth.  

	On the 20th day of May, 1874, Dr. McNutt married Miss Delia L. 
Snow, of Albany, New York, a lady of many estimable qualities of head 
and heart. Mrs. McNutt was reared and educated in New York, and a 
number of years ago united with the Presbyterian church from which time 
to the present her life has been consecrated to the Master's service 
and to the good of humanity. She has borne her husband a daughter, 
named Fanny, who is now pursuing her studies under favorable auspices 
at St. Marguerites's Boarding School for Young Ladies at Buffalo, New 
York